FBI charges Pentagon analyst in AIPAC affair

[Scurrilous]

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/572501.html

<snip>

"Pentagon analyst Larry Franklin was formally charged yesterday with passing classified military information about Iraq to two individuals, believed to be former officials of the pro-Israel lobby group AIPAC.

Franklin, an analyst on the Iranian desk in the Pentagon, turned himself in to the FBI yesterday morning and was placed under arrest. He made a brief appearance in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va., and was released on $100,000 bond on condition he surrender his firearms and passport. A preliminary hearing was set for May 27. Franklin's lawyer, John Richards, said he expects his client will plead innocent. If convicted he faces up to 10 years in prison.

The charges made no mention of suspected espionage; that Franklin knowingly helped a foreign government, as originally reported when the scandal was revealed last summer; nor of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee or the state of Israel.

Nonetheless, official sources involved in the inquiry say that AIPAC officials are suspected of receiving the secret information. The Justice Department said that the investigation continues, which presumably means focusing on the two former AIPAC officials, Steven Rosen and Keith Weissman, who allegedly received the information, as well as on the activities of the lobbying group. That kind of probe could end with indictments against the two or a plea bargain. Rosen and Weissman were fired by AIPAC last month."

[Coastie for Truth]

1. Link to earlier thread

[newyorican]

2. Israel's Amen Corner silent on AIPAC-Franklin spy scandal

Michelle Malkin has not one but two posts on the stunning silence emanating from the right wing of the "blogosphere" when it comes to the Larry Franklin-AIPAC spy caper. She writes:

"So far, the commentariat and blogosphere (both left and right sides) have been curiously quiet about the news that Pentagon official Larry Franklin was arrested for improperly passing classified information to AIPAC."

She then goes on to cite "colleagues I respect and admire" who are "downplaying" Franklin's treason. Why, even the New York Sun is "continuing to pooh-pooh" Franklin's alleged actions.

I have news for Malkin: the New York Sun is to Israel what the Daily Worker was to the old Soviet Union.

read more...

Silent is right. Oh well...Pollard could use the company.