Laura Rozen believes that the balance of probabilities is that Pentagon official Larry Franklin was not passing classified information about Iran and Iraq to the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee because he wanted it reported to the Israeli government. The balance of probabilities is that he was passing classified information to AIPAC because he wanted it reported to his own government. That's what her sources are telling her: that he didn't believe he could get the NSC or the White House to listen to the information if he tried to send it up through the normal Pentagon channels, but he did think the NSC and White House would listen to it if it reached them via AIPAC.
If it weren't for the Bush administration's track record, this would be completely unbelievable. As it is, it's only extraordinarily bizarre:
Posted by DeLong at August 28, 2004 09:33 PM | TrackBackWar and Piece: : Key Update: Here's my latest thought on this: As I understand, Franklin wasn't motivated to pass the information to Aipac to give it to the Israelis. He wanted our own government to act. He wanted to get it to the NSC and the White House. I'm not joking. From what I understand from my sources, Franklin was desperately trying to get the US government to act on this intelligence. Aipac was just a tool for getting influence in Washington and the White House.
Bullshit
Posted by: a at August 28, 2004 11:07 PMHere's an update:
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2004/0410.marshallrozen.html
The war within the WH continues...
Posted by: bakho at August 28, 2004 11:13 PMFrom Why Oh Why Can't We Have a Better Press Corps department (http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5853706/site/newsweek/):
A show of force: Iran displays its military might at the border with Israel
Read it again if you don't get it the first time
Posted by: a at August 29, 2004 12:19 AMAs this point: rumors, gossip and speculation. Remember the Wen Ho Lee affair, which unraveled to the embarrassment of the FBI and the New York Times.
Posted by: A. Zarkov at August 29, 2004 12:58 AMWhat don't these scoundrel idiots understand about the phrases "classified" and "secret". That is not an optional designation that one obeys if they feel like it.
I don't care who they "intended" to give it to or whatever. It is breaking a blatantly clear law. Screw your motive, you go to jail.
The heart of the problem: These jerks think they're beyond the law. May this spy and the Plame betrayer rot in prison.
Posted by: Tim B. at August 29, 2004 02:04 AMNote to Newsweek, there is an obscure website www.cia.gov where it is possible to check a country's borders. Iran is currently two whole countries away from Israel(Iraq and Jordan.)
Of course Greater Israel may have come about since the CIA updated its facts on 11 May 2004.
Reminder to the idiots in Washington, attack Iran only after you have finished digesting Iraq.
Posted by: Eunoia23 at August 29, 2004 05:57 AMEunoia 23:
You have it backwards.
Attacking Iran will be presented as the essential key to digesting Iraq. And if Iran doesn't do it, go after the long list of other troublemakers.
The worse, the better.
Posted by: Dave L at August 29, 2004 06:05 AMA Zharkov writes:
>
> As this point: rumors, gossip and speculation. Remember the
> Wen Ho Lee affair, which unraveled to the embarrassment of
> the FBI and the New York Times.
Yes, although there are reports that Katrina Leung (GOP fund-raiser and alleged Chinese spy) had a hand in that weirdness as well.
In any case, I would be a bit surprised if he heard anything definitive about this before the election, so nobody will be paying attention to the resolution of this, unless it's truly spectacular.
Posted by: Jonathan King at August 29, 2004 06:12 AMTim B. has it precisely right. It doesn't matter a atom's weight why he released classified information. Releasing it is illegal. He should pay the price.
Posted by: pfc at August 29, 2004 08:06 AM