talk about agonizing choices!  I generally don't like citing stuff from sources with the word "conservative" in it, but...  And when you stop to consider that a co-founder of "The American Conservative" is none other than the vitriolic and volcanic Patrick Buchanan, well, it's clearly one of the lesser deals with the devil.

In any case, Giraldi's article is the wildest catchall of speculation, rumor, totally justified indignation and some real solid questions.  Ranging from Pollard to Kadish to a wierd group of Israeli "art students,"  an Israeli-owned owned-moving company in northern New Joisey, to some Israelis seem celebrating on 091101 prior to any knowledge that thet this event was an Arab terror attack, there's something for everyone who is not a lifelong dues-paying member of AIPAC.

Now I know, there are those folks, some of them regular contributors to this very high-toned forum, who will ask "so what?"  People spy on each other.  GM spies on Ford, and they both spy on Toyota. What's the big deal about spying? Gosh, why should this be any different, they ask, in both seriousness and feigned wonderment, if not sincerity.



Some excerpts :

"Virtually every U.S. government body concerned with security has confirmed that Israeli espionage takes place, though it is frequently not exposed because FBI officers know that investigating these crimes is frustrating and does no favors for their careers. But Israel always features prominently in the annual FBI report called “Foreign Economic Collection and Industrial Espionage.” The 2005 report states, “Israel has an active program to gather proprietary information within the United States. These collection activities are primarily directed at obtaining information on military systems and advanced computing applications that can be used in Israel’s sizable armaments industry.” It adds that Israel recruits spies, uses electronic methods, and carries out computer intrusion to gain the information.

The focus on U.S. military secrets is not limited to information needed for the defense of Israel, as was argued when Pollard was arrested. Some of the information he stole was of such value that many high-ranking intelligence officers believe the Soviet Union agreed to the release of tens of thousands of Russian Jews for resettlement in Israel in exchange. In early 1996, the Office of Naval Investigations concluded that Israel had transferred sensitive military technology to China. In 2000, the Israeli government attempted to sell China the sophisticated Phalcon early warning aircraft, which was based on U.S.-licensed technology. A 2005 FBI report noted that the thefts eroded U.S. military advantage, enabling foreign powers to obtain hugely expensive technologies that had taken years to develop."


How about this? :

"Between 55 and 95 other Israelis were also arrested in the weeks following 9/11, and a number were reported to be active-duty military personnel. The FBI came under intense pressure from several congressmen and various pro-Israel groups to release the detainees. The order to free them came from Judge Michael Mukasey, now the U.S. attorney general. An FBI investigator noted, “Leads were not fully investigated” due to pressure from “higher echelons.” According to one source, the White House may have made the final decision to terminate the inquiry. Though the investigation could have gone much farther, the FBI identified two of the Weehawken movers as Israeli intelligence officers and confirmed that Urban Moving was a front for Mossad to “spy on local Arabs.” One CIA officer involved in the investigation concluded, “The Israelis likely had a huge spy operation.” "  Ya know, i wonder howwe all missed this in the aftermath of 091101?  Could it be that our attention was entirely riveted on those flights which spirited all those Saudis out of the US in spite of the fact that US airspace had been totally closed to civilian air traffic.  Nah, couldn't be that?


And This :

"In May 2004, there were two incidents involving Israelis in moving vans in proximity to U.S. nuclear facilities. One occurred in Tennessee near the Nuclear Fuel Services plant, which reprocesses nuclear waste from hospitals. The van was pursued by the local sheriff for three miles after refusing to pull over. The two fleeing Israelis, who threw a bottle containing an accelerant, had in their possession Israeli military ID’s and false U.S. documents. In the second incident, two movers in a van tried to enter the Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base in Georgia, which is home to eight Trident nuclear submarines, but were arrested when dogs detected drugs inside their vehicle. The men had military ID’s and false documents. There was no follow-up by the FBI even though both incidents were reported to federal authorities."  

Yep, those interested might want to google the following :  NUCOR; Apollo, PA.; and Israeli nuclear weapons capability. Apollo, Pa., is as closely related to the birth of Israel's nuclear capabilities as is Dimona.  But again,  only if you're interested


Though I personally wonder about who slipped what very powerful  hallucinogens into Giraldi's Kool-aid when he's writes this final paragraph:

"Given the stakes involved, it would be reasonable for the United States to quietly offer Israel’s leaders a choice. They can continue to receive billions of dollars in aid, or they can persist in spying against their greatest benefactor. They should not be permitted to do both."


Yes indeed, our brave Solons in DC will get around to doing just that thing as soon as   February 31  rolls around.  For now, though, you'll have to excuse them, as AIPAC and the Xtian Fundies have a potential war with Iran to gin up for the rest of us sheeple. And there just ain't enough highly placed whistleblowers to blow the lid permanently of these very questionable activities.

I suspect, 50 years down the road, Giraldi's son will be composing similar essays.






http://www.amconmag.com/2008/2008_06_02/cover.html

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-- Modified on 6/17/2008 12:53:58 AM