Here’s a spy case that I hadn’t noticed until today.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A top Pentagon analyst with expertise in the Middle East pleaded guilty Wednesday to giving classified information to an Israeli embassy official and members of a pro-Israel lobbying group.Lawrence A. Franklin, 58, said during a plea hearing that he was frustrated with the government and that he had hoped the two members of the lobbying group could use their connections at the National Security Council to influence U.S. policy.
With as much paranoia, general hatred and barely disguised jealously that so many groups feel for the Jews—oh, excuse me, the neocons--and for Israel, one would expect to hear shouts of Zionist Plot!!! echoing throughout the land in regard to this case. Thankfully, that isn’t the case.
We seem, however, to have several allies who want to dig in our back pocket without telling us. Why is that?
(Thanks to Jeff Goldstein)
Yeah, this has been in the news fairly consistently (when something new happens) in the local papers/TV. I thought it was in the national news, too, but that may have been awhile ago.
Posted by: Marty | October 07, 2005 at 01:49 AM
I apologize for insulting my hostess by insinuating some stupid, unsupported crap about her hating the black and the poor--two groups to which she belongs--or that she is anti-Semetic; i.e. that she is a racist. I will remember that pointing out a fact has no morality either way.
I will also note that my hostess is getting very tired of me twisting her words around to suit my own agenda.
Posted by: Bill O.. | October 07, 2005 at 07:09 AM
Suggestion: If Banning is not good enough for trolls, how about Morongo?
Posted by: teal marie | October 07, 2005 at 10:17 AM
Sigh....
Now, see....
With as much paranoia, general hatred and barely disguised jealously that so many groups feel for the Jews—oh, excuse me, the neocons
The very idea that people are now linking "neo-cons" to "Jewish" to shutdown discussion is sickening.
Posted by: DarkStar | October 07, 2005 at 10:59 AM
Darkstar: sure is.
Posted by: baldilocks | October 07, 2005 at 11:01 AM
Friendly nations do spy on each other, but the punishment should be the same as for an enemy. Does anyone question that all the other friendlies are spying? But why is it usually the Israelis that get caught? I don't have an agenda asking this....just curious.
Posted by: Peggy | October 07, 2005 at 12:03 PM
I think that the problem is that we have people spying on others as well. So everyone is spying on everyone. They, and we, have always been, are now, and always will be. What we do to the spies caught here can be done to our spies caught over there, where ever "there" is.
I am guessing that many countries already know who some of our spies are but they instead leave them alone and spy on them. And so it goes.
I don't think punishment should be the same for the spies that are caught of our allies as it is for real enemies. Unless they have shared sensitive information with an enemy.
Posted by: Steve | October 07, 2005 at 04:10 PM
But why is it usually the Israelis that get caught?
The French were caught a few times in the 90s but the news it made wasn't big.
Maybe it's because Israel gets so much money from the U.S.
Posted by: DarkStar | October 07, 2005 at 04:41 PM
why give back to terrorists what you , won < back fair and square
Take a WALK AROUND .
Posted by: moose and squirrel | October 08, 2005 at 01:17 AM
1) America is now the only game in town - a mega-super-duper power that dwarfs most other nations in almost every area.
Consequently, tiny ripple-changes in American policy and funding have enormous impact on other countries.
Of course they are spying on us (or since I now live in Israel... on you).
2) The Israelis are particularly nervous because they have been stiffed before by American administrations that promised - and then withheld - vital aid, technology, and intelligence information.
Exhibit A: Jonathan Pollard is sitting in prison because he - on his own initiative - approached the Israelis to tell them that the US was not sharing info that it had promised to share.
If you treat your allies this way - and you're the only game in town - exactly what do you expect?
Posted by: Ben-David | October 09, 2005 at 04:31 AM
1) America is now the only game in town - a mega-super-duper power that dwarfs most other nations in almost every area.
Consequently, tiny ripple-changes in American policy and funding have enormous impact on other countries.
Of course they are spying on us (or since I now live in Israel... on you).
2) The Israelis are particularly nervous because they have been stiffed before by American administrations that promised - and then withheld - vital aid, technology, and intelligence information.
Exhibit A: Jonathan Pollard is sitting in prison because he - on his own initiative - approached the Israelis to tell them that the US was not sharing info that it had promised to share.
If you treat your allies this way - and you're the only game in town - exactly what do you expect?
Posted by: Ben-David | October 09, 2005 at 04:32 AM
1) America is now the only game in town - a mega-super-duper power that dwarfs most other nations in almost every area.
Consequently, tiny ripple-changes in American policy and funding have enormous impact on other countries.
Of course they are spying on us (or since I now live in Israel... on you).
2) The Israelis are particularly nervous because they have been stiffed before by American administrations that promised - and then withheld - vital aid, technology, and intelligence information.
Exhibit A: Jonathan Pollard is sitting in prison because he - on his own initiative - approached the Israelis to tell them that the US was not sharing info that it had promised to share.
If you treat your allies this way - and you're the only game in town - exactly what do you expect?
Posted by: Ben-David | October 09, 2005 at 04:33 AM
Sorry about the multiple postings - my browser hung up on me.
Posted by: Ben-David | October 09, 2005 at 04:38 AM