David Lindenski
ISRAELI SPY UPDATE
Sun Aug 29, 2004 13:42
204.186.71.119


Last Update: 29/08/2004 16:31

FBI seeks Franklin's help; Wolfowitz may be questioned

By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent, Nathan Guttman, Haaretz Correspondent
in Washington, Haaretz Service and Agencies


The FBI is in contact with Pentagon analyst Larry Franklin, and is seeking
his cooperation in its investigation into suspicions that he passed
classified information to Israel via the pro-Israel AIPAC lobbying group,
the New York Times reported Sunday, citing unnamed government officials.


The newspaper, saying that the federal agents were seeking Franklin's
cooperation, also reported that two high-profile officials might also be
called upon to give testimony in the case.

"A government official who has been briefed on the investigation said that
FBI. officials had earlier expressed an interest in interviewing two of Mr.
Franklin's superiors, Douglas Feith, the under secretary of defense for
policy, and Paul Wolfowitz, the deputy defense secretary, although there is
no sign that they are a focus of the investigation."

It was unclear whether the FBI had decided to go ahead with those
interviews, the paper said.

Israeli sources, responding at the weekend to reports that the FBI had
launched a probe into allegations that Pentagon official Franklin had passed
intelligence information to Israel via AIPAC (the American Israel Public
Affairs Committee), said Franklin had work relations with Israeli officials,
but that these relations did not exceed the boundaries of accepted
diplomatic contact.

The sources said that checks conducted over the weekend negated all
possibilities of espionage or unacceptable conduct and that no Israeli had
received classified information from Franklin.

Israel on Saturday denied that it had any agents operating on American soil,
with one official dismissing the accounts as a "lie."

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SEE:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/08/27/eveningnews/printable639143.shtml
------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------
CBS NEWS
FBI Probes Pentagon Spy Case
Aug. 27, 2004

Also SEE:
New York Daily News
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ideas_opinions/story/214698p-184881c.html

Charles Krauthammer: Strike before Iran's nukes get hot
=============================================================


"We deny carrying out any intelligence activity. It is a strange story,"
said a government official, who declined to be identified. "Israel, for many
years, has not carried out intelligence activity in the United States," he
said on Saturday.

Franklin is a desk officer in the Defense Department's Near East and South
Asia Bureau, who worked with undersecretary of defense Feith.

No arrests have been made, said two federal law enforcement officials,
speaking to The Associated Press Saturday on condition of anonymity because
of the continuing investigation. A third law enforcement official, also
speaking anonymously, said an arrest in the case could come as early as next
week.

Two of those officials raised the possibility the government might not bring
espionage charges, but rather lesser ones that could include the mishandling
of sensitive government material.

A Pentagon analyst suspected of passing classified information to Israel
served as a U.S. Air Force reservist in Israel, The Washington Post reported
on Sunday.

The newspaper quoted a former colleague at the Defense Intelligence Agency
who said the analyst may have been based at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv,
but was never permanently assigned there.

Quoting unnamed officials and others familiar with the inquiry, the Post
said an FBI investigation had been broadened in recent days to include
interviews at the State and Defense departments and with Middle Eastern
specialists outside government.

Officials at the Justice and Defense departments declined to comment on the
report.

U.S. government sources said on Friday the FBI is investigating whether the
analyst gave classified documents to Israel via AIPAC .

The Post said the probe was focused on a career analyst at the Defense
Intelligence Agency who specializes in Iran and had risen to the rank of
colonel in the Air Force Reserve.

Early in the Bush administration, the analyst moved to the Pentagon's policy
branch headed by Undersecretary Feith, where he continued his work on
Iranian affairs, the newspaper said.

It was unclear whether the case would result in espionage charges or lesser
charges such as the improper release of classified information or
mishandling of government documents, the report said.

FBI may interview Wolfowitz in Pentagon 'mole' case — Jerusalem Post, Sun Aug 29 16:32
FBI is sending message: NO to new Intel "Czar" — Ace G Men, Sun Aug 29 14:11
• Franklin Went to Israel — Ace G Men, Sun Aug 29 14:25