| Topic: |
Politics > Politics-USA |
| User: |
"NotBush2004" |
| Date: |
01 Sep 2004 07:52:04 PM |
| Object: |
Neocons in panic mode, FBI raids AIPAC offices. |
September 1, 2004 by the Jerusalem Post (Israel)
FBI Seizes Computer from AIPAC Offices
by Janine Zacharia
NEW YORK -- FBI agents on Friday copied the computer hard drive of a senior
staffer at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee who has been
questioned in relation to the case of a Pentagon official suspected of
turning over a classified document either directly to Israel, or via the
pro-Israel lobby group.
Sources in Washington said the hard drive was that of Steve Rosen, AIPAC's
director of foreign policy issues.
It was not clear if FBI agents also seized other materials from Rosen's
office. AIPAC says it is cooperating fully with the FBI's investigation.
Government lawyers, according to Tuesday's New York Times, are preparing to
make the first arrests in the case by issuing a criminal complaint against
one or more figures who are said to be involved. The case is being handled
by federal prosecutors in Virginia.
But experts suggested that the rush to file a complaint could be a sign that
the charge will be less severe than that of espionage, as was originally
reported.
"The fact that they're going to file a complaint instead of an indictment is
an indication of the weakness of their case," said one criminal defense
expert. A criminal complaint would allow the government to proceed with
arrests more quickly.
AIPAC and Israel have denied any wrongdoing in a case that has become
increasingly muddled since CBS News reported on Friday that the FBI was
about to arrest an Israeli mole in the Pentagon.
Investigators suspect that a mid-level Pentagon staffer, Larry Franklin,
provided either AIPAC or Israel with a secret draft of an internal planning
document on US policy toward Iran.
Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz and Undersecretary of Defense
Douglas Feith have been briefed on the case, as have officials at the White
House, State Department, and congressional leaders.
Congressional leaders continued on Tuesday to rally around AIPAC, whose
image, many in the pro-Israel community fear, has been tarnished by
accusations of wrongdoing.
"AIPAC has worked hard to build its credibility with members of Congress on
both sides of the aisle," House Majority Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri said.
"While the House will want to look carefully at any allegations that might
endanger our national security, it will begin that look with a record of
great confidence in our relationship with AIPAC and our strongest ally and
the only democracy in the Middle East, Israel."
The House Democratic Whip, Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) also expressed
confidence in AIPAC. "I have worked with AIPAC for many years. They are a
very successful, strong, and committed organization and do a tremendous job
advocating for the important US-Israel relationship."
Despite those voices of confidence, some in Washington said they expected
that US officials would be reluctant to meet with AIPAC staffers, at least
in the immediate short-term, now that there is a suspicion that AIPAC is
being monitored by the FBI.
"The biggest implication, is that mid-level officials will not be meeting
with AIPAC. They don't want to be seen with them," said one Washington
lobbyist.
http://tinyurl.com/6qqph
--
"From the brief time that we did spend occupying Iraqi territory
after the war, I am certain that had we taken all of Iraq, we would
have been like the dinosaur in the tar pit - we would still be there,
and we, not the United Nations, would be bearing the costs of
the occupation. This is a burden I am sure the beleaguered
American taxpayer would not have been happy to take on."
- Norman Schwarzkopf, from his 1993 autobiography, "It Doesn't
Take a Hero."
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