Article

2008-04-24 Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Israel says no spying on US since 1985

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Posted by Steve White 2008-04-24 00:00|| || Front Page|| [10 views ] Top

#1 IIRC, Hillary was somehow involved in trying to get either a pardon, reduction of sentence or a transfer to an Israeli prison for Jonathan Pollard.

Posted by Rambler in California">Rambler in California 2008-04-24 01:16|| 2008-04-24 01:16|| Front Page Top

#2 I think you're right, Steve.

This sort of thing used to raise my hackles (where are those, exactly?) - but given the stupefying and outrageous behavior of USG employees WRT sensitive information and their astonishing pretentions to wiser-than-thou status since 9/11, I would consider the Israelis insane to not at least keep an eye on things.

Sort of on-topic, I'm wondering about US/Israeli intel cooperation that might have lead to the Syrian nuke site strike. Or was that another case of the pipsqueak helping out the blind colossus?

Posted by Verlaine 2008-04-24 02:37|| 2008-04-24 02:37|| Front Page Top

#3 "Israel said on Wednesday it has not conducted any spying on the United States since 1985..."

Oh reallywonder what Lawrence Franklin has to say about that.

Posted by DepotGuy 2008-04-24 08:39|| 2008-04-24 08:39|| Front Page Top

#4 let 'em spy they'll do it anyway, they are very crafty... but at least they're on our side.

Posted by Kublia Kahn 2008-04-24 10:08|| 2008-04-24 10:08|| Front Page Top

#5 If Israel operates anything like the US, spying and other covert ops are on a need-to-know basis, and very few are deemed needy, including the President or intel honchos.

Posted by Thealing Borgia6122 2008-04-24 12:13|| 2008-04-24 12:13|| Front Page Top

#6 Maybe.

Either way we ain't sending you the F-22.

Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader 2008-04-24 13:14|| 2008-04-24 13:14|| Front Page Top

#7 1. I think they are quite aware of the costs of gathering intell. I think there was a strong sense in the polity that the early 1980s activity was a strategic mistake. That doesnt mean they would never do it, but the claim that they havent actually done any more activities of this type, is not ipso facto incredible.

2. Ive never heard Hillary did anything to get a pardon for Pollard. In the 90s there WAS a movement to get one - at that point the US was pressuring Israel to free Pal prisoners cause the conflict was "over" The response was, well then why not release Pollard, since the secrets he stole were related to the same conflict. Sy Hersh then wrote an article, sourced to unnamed CIA (irony?) that said Pollard had given stuff that the Israelis traded to the USSR for imprisoned Jewish scientists. At that point Clinton didnt dare pardon.

3. Franklin was sharing stuff with a friendly lobbyist, stuff he apparently thought was being shared at levels where it was authorized, in line with DOD goals, AFAIK. He mishandled docs though. But he wasnt exactly an agent being run, like Pollard was.

Posted by liberalhawk 2008-04-24 13:47|| 2008-04-24 13:47|| Front Page Top

#8 Franklin was sharing stuff with a friendly lobbyist

Ohwellalrighty thenI get it. Kind of like the guy who caught his wife having an affair but after he discovered shed been cheating with his good friend he felt sooo relieved that he continued to help pay his friends rent.

Posted by DepotGuy 2008-04-24 14:36|| 2008-04-24 14:36|| Front Page Top

#9 Im not saying he was right, but this seems to be stuff that happens in DC all the time. Like NIE's gets leaked to reporters, etc. Thats also quite illegal, but I havent heard the FBI charging off after that stuff. Franklin just gave teh info to a AIPAC instead of to a newspaper.

Posted by liberalhawk 2008-04-24 16:12|| 2008-04-24 16:12|| Front Page Top

#10 This sort of thing used to raise my hackles (where are those, exactly?)

The "Hackles" refers to the hairs up the spine (On Horses) it generaly means a chill running up the spine (Since humans have no ridge of hair up their spine)

Posted by Redneck Jim">Redneck Jim 2008-04-24 22:55|| 2008-04-24 22:55|| Front Page Top

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