Israel Says It Has No Need to Spy on U.S.

[Rose Siding]

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel, seeking to contain damage from a brewing spy scandal in the United States, said on Monday it already receives all the classified information it needs from the U.S. government through shared intelligence.

Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom reiterated Israel's strenuous denial of espionage after news the FBI was investigating whether a Pentagon analyst fed classified documents dealing with Iran via a powerful pro-Israel lobby group.

"There is no truth whatsoever in the claims that Israel spied or in any way acted against our great friend and ally, the United States," Shalom told reporters in Jerusalem.

"I think the ties between Israel and the United States are intimate. The cooperation and levels of information are so close, so intimate, that the information that is exchanged is much more classified that any conversation or another," he said.
...
Some Israelis have voiced fears that just a hint of scandal could hurt links with the United States no matter whether any allegations are ever prosecuted in court.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=6104099&src=rss/ElectionCoverage§ion=news

[aden_nak]

1. Right, and I'm sure we don't spy on them, either.

Because allies have complete and total trust in each other at all times. Yeah. . .

We're really waist deep in it today, no?

[Green Lantern]

25. Ask the survivors of the USS Liberty how they feel

about the Israeli-US relationship.

[sui generis]

2. I think this is going to be the spin now

They were using our resources to "spy" on Iran, not us. And we'll agree, because it allows us to save face too.

[dqueue]

5. the wash...

I suspect they'll tontinue washing the reverse angle, where Israel surreptitiously influences US policy. Franklin takes the fall, or doesn't due to an interrupted investigation (another bushco leak?), and the broken system spins down the same path.

This story needs some attention.

[newyawker99]

23. dqueue!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Green Lantern]

26. Yup

the pipeline can run FROM Israel to the Pentagon also. Golly-wonder who is feeding the neocons, like all the 'good intelligence' the Office of Strategic Plans used going into Iraq?

Wonder if his original cover was as an exchange officer, like they did with the Central American military leaders under Raygun?

[jeff30997]

3. Yeah, right.

And i'm the next in line to become King of England.:eyes:

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. The relationship is so intimate

that Sharon has some of his own people on staff in the US Government. Now, that's not spying, is it?

[Hornito]

6. No need? Of course not. When you've got dozens of radical...

Zionist neoncons ensconced in the Pentagon and State, most, I am sure, quite willing to turn over information without being asked, why do they need "spies"?

The Bush regime is so compromised with neocons, it's a wonder we're not yet embroiled in WW-IV. This nation's founders warned against "outside influence", as being the greatest danger to the country. They were right then, they're right now.

Those in government who engage in activities not in the best interests of this nation, and who promote the interests of an outside nation, are traitors, plain and simple. All of these dual-loyalists should be rounded up, tried, and and given the harshest sentence allowed by law.

In addition to being traitors, they are also war criminals.

[shadu]

12. Sad that those bastards send spies even though, as you said:

"When you've got dozens of radical Zionist neoncons ensconced in the Pentagon and State, most, I am sure, quite willing to turn over information without being asked, why do they need "spies"?"

Time to drop all aid to israel, sworn enemy of the best interest
of the US common man.
And hang these traitorous spy bastards high.

[thecrow]

7. Israel

"already receives all the classified information it needs from the U.S. government through shared intelligence"

Like the mole in the Pentagon?
Geez, how blatant

[truth2power]

8. See Juan Cole's article

http://www.juancole.com/2004_08_01_juancole_archive.html#109383994241733290

"It isn't about spying. It is about conspiring to conscript the US government on behalf of a foreign power or powers."

This is even more odious, IMO.

[denverbill]

11. You nailed it. They aren't spying. They are controlling policy.

That's a helluva lot more serious.

[Larkspur]

13. Yes, in the old days, it was called TREASON!!!!

Israel doesn't need to spy on us because they got the PNAC crowd and Joe Lieberman to lobby for them.

[Just Me]

30. I am so sick of "revolving doors",...aren't you? n/t

[daleo]

9. They have no need to spy

Because the Bush administration tells them everything they want to know. That's how this reads, whether they meant it that way or not. If I was an American, I wouldn't find it all that reassuring. Every country needs to keep some secrets.

[dqueue]

14. secrets...

I wonder how many secrets of this administration that are kept from the American public are openly shared with the Israeli government. That would be interesting to determine.

[BeHereNow]

18. Welcome to DU!

I would bet Sibel Edmunds knows what those
secrets are...that's what she alluded to in an interview.
She knows and that is why she was gagged.
BHN

[sam sarrha]

17. after all it was a "Rough Draft" that was spied... maybe fresh out of the

Oval Office..

[lil-petunia]

10. Not with DeLay, wolfie, rummie or Perle here

Just wait until they get booted on Nov. 2, and see how many "new administrative assistants" the Israeli embassy brings in.

For now, all the spying work has been done for them. Once Justice starts arresting people, look out.

[The Sushi Bandit]

15. F*CK THEM!

End the US support for Isreal NOW!

[BeHereNow]

19. Israel needs our tax dollars!

The billions and billions of tax dollars
are needed in Israel SushiB!

How else are they going to continue to afford
send art students here?
Never mind that our students are only educated
to become cannon fodder.

Plus they are training our cannon fodder the
finer points of terrorizing civilian populations,
torture and assassination.

I think you need to consider that you
are being unpatriotic by not supporting Israel,
possibly anti semitic too...I think you should
turn yourself in the IDF.

<S.O.>
BHN

[The Sushi Bandit]

24. I just put my hand-cuffs on...

I am Frickin guilty!

[sam sarrha]

16. they dont need too.. they just do it for fun....

[necso]

20. Considering

the record of the FIB in recent years, one must wonder whether this is just a cover for what is clearly an improper relationship between elements of this government, its supporters and far right elements in Israel.

Remember Hatfill, for example. And, of course, remember the general pattern of nothing but lies from this government.

[necso]

21. Dupe.

Slow posting response and "stop". Sorry!

[bobbyboucher]

22. That statement is more worrisome than actual spying, IMO.

Why don't we just make them a state?

[CHIMO]

27. Official Notice

To all US allies.
Please note that any intelligence shared with the US may be and probably is being distributed by Israel.

The cooperation and levels of information are so close, so intimate, that the information that is exchanged is much more classified that any conversation or another,"

Talk about being pushed into a corner.

[Just Me]

28. They own a time-share with the neocons at "Camp Denial".

Go figure.

Very weird sheetzka with these neo-powercons (and I specifically identify the ultra-radical leaderships without "broad-brushing" the people over whom they exercise "control). They exude democracy and exert despostism. They imagine themselves so "righteous" (e.g. entitled)as to excuse imposing their will upon others.

Evil incarnate,...by every principled or moral or ethical or religious measure.

[Matilda]

29. Doesn't everybody spy on everybody else?

I've always thought it was par for the course that every embassy
or consulate tries to ferret out secrets of their host country.

It only becomes news when they get caught.