This story, if proven to be true. Could be extremely huge.
This one comes via CQ Politics:
Rep. Jane Harman , the California Democrat with a longtime involvement in intelligence issues, was overheard on an NSA wiretap telling a suspected Israeli agent that she would lobby the Justice Department to reduce espionage-related charges against two officials of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee, the most powerful pro-Israel organization in Washington.
Harman was recorded saying she would “waddle into” the AIPAC case “if you think it’ll make a difference,” according to two former senior national security officials familiar with the NSA transcript.
In exchange for Harman’s help, the sources said, the suspected Israeli agent pledged to help lobby Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif., then-House minority leader, to appoint Harman chair of the Intelligence Committee after the 2006 elections, which the Democrats were heavily favored to win.
Seemingly wary of what she had just agreed to, according to an official who read the NSA transcript, Harman hung up after saying, “This conversation doesn’t exist.”
This, by the way, is not big news, it was reported back in 2006:
They were widely reported in 2006, along with allegations that the FBI launched an investigation of Harman that was eventually dropped for a “lack of evidence.”
What is new is that Harman is said to have been picked up on a court-approved NSA tap directed at alleged Israel covert action operations in Washington.
And that, contrary to reports that the Harman investigation was dropped for “lack of evidence,” it was Alberto R. Gonzales, President Bush’s top counsel and then attorney general, who intervened to stop the Harman probe.
Why? Because, according to three top former national security officials, Gonzales wanted Harman to be able to help defend the administration’s warrantless wiretapping program, which was about break in The New York Times and engulf the White House.
So, ol’ Alberto or as some like to call him fredo; figures he would save her skin, so she could defend his program.
Of course, Harman is doing the obvious spin and deny routine:
Harman declined to discuss the wiretap allegations, instead issuing an angry denial through a spokesman.
“These claims are an outrageous and recycled canard, and have no basis in fact,” Harman said in a prepared statement. “I never engaged in any such activity. Those who are peddling these false accusations should be ashamed of themselves.”
Yes, How dare they expose me as the crook that I am?!?!? I mean, can’t a gal be a little crooked without some johnny do-gooder opening his mouth and ruining my fun? 😉 😛
However, there are those that do not quite see it that way:
As for there being “no evidence” to support the FBI probe, a source with first-hand knowledge of the wiretaps called that “bull****.”
I read those transcripts,” said the source, who like other former national security officials familiar with the transcript discussed it only on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of domestic NSA eavesdropping.
“It’s true,” added another former national security official who was briefed on the NSA intercepts involving Harman. “She was on there.”
So, it looks like Harman was caught with her hand in the proverbial cookie jar on this one here, and her buddy Alberto was running cover for her. How quaint.
Now I know, every Paleo-Conservative that reads this, is going to go; “Hey, Wow! AIPAC is caught in a scandal! Maybe we’ll get lucky and the Justice Dept. will finally bust these idiots and they’ll be ran out of Washington D.C. for good.” In fact, I have heard rumors that Pat Buchanan went into a full body orgasm, when he heard about this. 😉 Well, I hate to be the one to wee wee on your little parade. But, if you think for one minute that the Israeli lobby is not going to go down without a huge, and I do mean, HUGE fight; you are very highly mistaken. As most of you already know, AIPAC and the rest of them Israeli lobby have money; big money, as in “Donald Trump” kind of big money. As in enough money to stave something like this off and make them walk away smelling like a rose. What will most likely happen is, AIPAC will just say that it was rogue element within thier organzation and will deny that they knew anything about it. Now, Rep. Harman? I hope she’s got good lawyers! Because AIPAC and the rest of ’em will leave her out to dry. There always has to be a fall guy; well, in her case, A fall gal.
This should be a very interesting story to follow!
Finally! Something worth blogging about! 😀 😉 😛
Very interesting story. You’re right, in all likelihood, nothing will happen to AIPAC. In addition to their money, they have their media benefactors. We already know from the reception of Walt and Mearsheimer’s book “The Israel Lobby,” that even when a coherent and objective case gets made against the Lobby, the authors were shouted down for being sham historians and anti-Semites.
I would probably take some comfort that the Lobby has perhaps been a little weakened in the aftermath of the Chas Freeman witch-hunt. It was a rare instance of the Lobby facing direct pressure as Freeman swung at them as he was going down. Let us hope that that will repeat itself here.
Thanks for comments.
Harman was a strong proponent for the rush into the Iraq war.Influenced by the likes of Billionaire media mogul Haim Saban.Saban an Israeli citizen who unabashedly says he is a one issue guy:Israel.Necons and other Israel firsters railroaded this country into an illegal war.Israel and supporters provided the cooked up intelligence,and the feckless US Congress went along.Presently the Israel crowd have Iran in there sites for an attack.
Failing to convince GW to attack Iran in the waning months of his administration,
Israel might launch the attack themselves.
The gas,planes,munitions and fallout of an attack on Iran will ofcourse be paid for by the US Taxpayer.
It’s time to try and punish those who betray the US,and it’s more than time to register the Israel lobby,AIPAC as an agent
for a foriegn country.