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● 펜타곤(Pentagon) 스파이 사건 : 래리 프랭클린(Larry Franklin)은 유태인이 아니다





- 예루샬라임(Yerushalayim, Jerusalem)은 프랭클린 「활동」을 부정한다 -





예루샬라임의 소식통들은, 전하는 바에 의하면 펜타곤 중간급 관리가 기밀자료를 워싱턴에 있는 이스라엘 로비단체 AIPAC(The American Israel Public Affairs Committee)에 넘겨, 전하는 바에 의하면 AIPAC이 그것을 차례로 이스라엘에 넘겼다고 하는 보도를 「美 국내의 정치적 이야기」라고 간주하면서 미국에서의 이스라엘 스파이 활동을 강력하게 부정했다.





『이것은 부시(George W. Bush) 대통령을 중상(中傷)하고 비난하기 위한 미국의 정치적 이야기, 선거 이야기, 전당대회(全黨大會)를 앞둔 이야기이다. 그것은 우리와 관련이 없다』라고 예루샬라임의 한 소식통은 말했다.





8월28일 저녁에 총리실(Misrad Rosh Ha'Memshalah)로부터 발표된 성명은 『이스라엘은 미국에 어떠한 정보 제공자도 고용하지 않고 있다』라면서 정부는 그 사건을 알지 못했다고 했다.





크네세트(Knesset)[이스라엘 국회] 외교·국방위원회 위원장 유발 스타이니츠(Yuval Steinitz)는 이스라엘에 기밀을 넘긴 것 때문에 美 해군 분석관 조나단 폴라드(Jonathan Pollard)가 1985년에 체포된 이후, 모든 對美 스파이 활동을 정지시키기 위한 결정을 했다고 말했다.





『20년전 폴라드 위기 이후, 美 정부나 그 하부기관들에 대해 스파이 활동을 하지 않기 위한 결정이 있었다. 나는 이것이 여전히 그 경우 라고 확신한다』라고 스타이니츠 의원은 말했다.





이란의 핵 프로그램에 대한 이스라엘의 깊은 걱정에도 불구하고, 이스라엘은 그 금지를 깨려고 하지 않을 것이라고 스타이니츠 의원은 말했다.





『이스라엘은 아야톨라들(Ayatollahs)[아랍국가들]이 핵무기를 갖게 되는 것이 매우 근심스럽다』라고 그는 말했다.





『그러나 그것이 미국에서 스파이 활동을 하지 않도록 한 이전의 결정을 변화시킬 것이라고 당신이 생각한다면, 그 대답은 No이다』





예루샬라임의 소식통들은, 뉴욕에서의 공화당 전당대회 하루 전에 나온 그 이야기는, 폴 월포비츠(Paul Wolfowitz), 더글러스 페이스(Douglas Feith), 그리고 엘리어트 아브람스(Elliot Abrams)처럼 부시 대통령과 가까운 네오콘들(Neo-Conservatives)을 공격하기 위한, 그리고 대다수가 유태인들(Yehudim)[단수는 Yehudi]인 그 네오콘들이 이스라엘에 유리하기 때문에 부시 대통령을 이라크 전쟁으로 이끌었고 지금은 이란에게 같은 것을 하려고 노력하고 있다는 인상을 주기 위한, 지난 몇달 동안의 시도 가운데 나온 것이라고 말했다.





『이것은 부시 대통령의 흠을 잡아, 그를 유태 지오니스트들(Zionists)에 의해 둘러싸여 조종되고 있는 사람으로 만들려는 노력의 일환이다』라고 한 관리는 말했다.





이들 소식통들에 의하면, 그 이야기는 부시 대통령의 이라크 전쟁 배후(背後) 라고 이스라엘을 비난하는 미국에 있는 어떤 사람들의 反유태주의적인 의제(Agenda)와 반듯하게 들어맞는다.





그 소식통들은, 부시 대통령의 통치·지휘능력에 촛점을 맞춘 현재의 선거운동과 함께, 이 이야기는 그의 이미지를 손상(損傷)시키기 위해 계획된 것이라고 말했다.





예루샬라임의 소식통들은 이스라엘이 워싱턴에 두더지들(Moles)을 운용할 것이라고 믿는 것은 2가지 이유 때문에 비논리적이라고 말했다. 첫째, 이스라엘의 외교·안보기관은 폴라드 사건에 의해 여전히 외상(外傷)을 입고 있어. 그러한 행동을 반복함으로써 미국과의 친밀한 관계를 위태롭게 하지 않을 것이다. 둘째, 미국과의 관계가 매우 강하고 친밀해, 이스라엘은 규칙적인 외교 채널들을 통해 매우 민감한 자료를 얻을 수 있었다.





이스라엘의 안보기관은 지난 주말에 그 보도의 진실성(Veracity)를 검증하기 위해 모든 안보·정보조직에 대해 철저한 조사를 실시했다고 말했다.





『그 조사는 우리가 기대한 것을 드러냈다』라고 고위 안보 관리가 「The Jerusalem Post」에 말했다. 『진행중인 허가된 對美 스파이 활동은 없다. 이 보도에 어떠한 사실도 없다』





『우리는 미국인들과 매우 훌륭하고 우수한 활동 관계를 갖고 있으며, 우리는 그것에 대해 매우 신중하다. 미국에서 펜타곤이나 다른 곳에 스파이들을 운용할 필요는 없다』라고 그 고위 관리는 말했다. 『또한, 우리가 수년동안 구축해 온 이 관계를 위태롭게 할 조치를 취하는 것은 우리의 이익이 되지 않을 것이다』





예루샬라임의 소식통들은, 부시 대통령을 중상하기 위한 한 방법은 그가 美 유태 로비(Lobby)에 너무 강하게 의지한다고 말하고, 제1 충성심(Loyalty)이 미국이 아니라 이스라엘로 향한 유태인들에 의해 둘러싸여 있다고 강조하는 것이라고 말했다.





그 소식통들은, 이런 타입(Type)의 이야기가 아직 결정하지 않은 유권자들로 하여금 부시 대통령이 민감한 안보 문제들을 서투르게 다루고 「유태 로비에 굴복」하는 또다른 사례(事例)로 보게 할 수도 있으므로, 어느정도 부시 대통령에게 손해를 주는 능력이 있다고 말했다.





그 소식통들은, 로비스트들(Lobbyists)이 [정부] 관리들과 갖는 일상적인 대화의 일환으로서 추정(推定)의 펜타곤 정보 제공자인 래리 프랭클린(Larry Franklin)[유태인이 아님]이 AIPAC 관리들을 만났을 가능성이 매우 높지만, 이것이 스파이 활동으로 해석될 수 있었을 것이라고는 상상도 할 수 없다고 말했다.





그럼에도, 예루샬라임의 관리들은 그 이야기가 이스라엘의 대외관계에 단기적인 피해를 줄 수도 있을 것이라고 믿는다. 그러나, 그들은 새롭고 극적인 폭로가 없다면, 그 주목(注目)은 이번 주말이 되면 사라질 것이라고 믿는다.





외교 관리들은, 워싱턴의 이스라엘 대사관 스폭스먼(Spokesman)[대변인] 다비드 시겔(David Siegel)에게 그 이야기를 다루게 하고 예루샬라임으로부터 공식적으로 그것에 대응하지 않는다는 결정이 예루샬라임에서 취해졌다고 말했다. 이 자체가 예루샬라임은 이것을 이스라엘이 관련된 것이 아니라, 美 국내 이야기로서 본다는 표시다.











● [JERUSALEM POST]





Aug. 29, 2004 00:34





Jerusalem views 'spy' story as local US political fare





By HERB KEINON





Sources in Jerusalem vehemently denied any Israeli espionage


in the US, terming as an "internal US political story" the


reports that a mid-level Pentagon official is under


investigation for allegedly passing classified material to


AIPAC, which in turn allegedly passed it on to Israel.





"This is an American political story, an elections story, a


pre-convention story to try to slander and criticize [US


President George W.] Bush. It has nothing to do with us,"


one source in Jerusalem said.





A statement from the Prime Minister's Office released


Saturday night said the government was not aware of the


incident, adding that "Israel is not employing any


intelligence assets in the United States."





Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Yuval


Steinitz said Israel had taken a decision to halt all


espionage activities against the US following the 1985


arrest of American naval analyst Jonathan Pollard for


passing on secrets to Israel.





"Following the Pollard crisis 20 years ago, there was a


decision not to spy against the US government or its


subsidiaries, and I am confident that this is still the


case," Steinitz said.





Despite Israel's deep concern about Iran's nuclear program,


it would not be tempted to break that ban, Steinitz said.





"Israel is very concerned... that the ayatollahs will


acquire nuclear weapons," he said. "But if you think this


might change our previous decision [not] to spy on the US,


the answer is no."





The Jerusalem sources said that the story, which broke on


the eve of the Republican National Convention in New York,


comes amid an attempt over the last few months to attack the


neo-conservatives close to Bush, such as Paul Wolfowitz,


Douglas Feith, and Elliot Abrams, and to create the


impression that the neo-cons, many of whom are Jewish, led


Bush into war in Iraq because it was good for Israel, and


now are trying to do the same with Iran.





"This is part of the effort to find fault with Bush, and


cast him as someone who is surrounded and controlled by


Jewish Zionists," one official said.





The story, according to these sources, fits in neatly with


the anti-Semitic agenda of some in the US who are accusing


Israel of being behind Bush's war in Iraq.





The sources said that, with the current election campaign


focusing on Bush's competence to govern and command, this


story is designed to tarnish his image.





Sources in Jerusalem said that it is illogical to believe


that Israel would be running moles in Washington for two


reasons: First, because the Israeli diplomatic and security


establishment is still traumatized by the Pollard Affair,


and would not risk jeopardizing intimate ties with the US by


repeating any such measures. Secondly, the relationship with


the US is so strong, and the ties so close, that Israel


could get highly sensitive material through regular


diplomatic channels.





Israel's defense establishment said it conducted a thorough


examination over the weekend with all security and


intelligence bodies to verify the veracity of the reports.





"The examination revealed what we expected," a senior


defense official told The Jerusalem Post. "There are no


sanctioned espionage operations going on against the United


States. There is no truth to these reports.





"We have very good, excellent working relations with the


Americans, and we are very discreet about it. There is no


need to operate [spies] in the Pentagon or anywhere else in


the United States," said the senior official. "Also, it


wouldn't be in our interest to take actions that would


jeopardize these relations that we've built up over the


years."





Sources in Jerusalem said that one way to slander Bush is to


say that he relies too heavily on the American Jewish lobby,


and highlight that he is surrounded by Jews whose first


loyalty is to Israel, not the US.





The sources said this type of story has the capacity of


harming Bush somewhat with undecided voters, who may see it


as another instance of Bush bungling sensitive security


matters and of "succumbing to the Jewish lobby."





The sources said it is quite possible that Larry Franklin,


the alleged Pentagon informant, met with AIPAC officials as


part of routine conversations lobbyists have with officials,


but that it is inconceivable that this could be construed as


espionage.





Regardless, officials in Jerusalem believe the story could


cause Israel short-term public relations damage. But, they


believe, if there are no new, dramatic revelations, the


attention will disappear by the end of the week.





Diplomatic officials said a decision was taken in Jerusalem


to let David Siegel, the spokesman at Israel's embassy in


Washington, deal with the story, and not to formally respond


to it from Jerusalem. This itself is an indication that


Jerusalem sees this as a local American story, and not one


involving Israel.





Arieh O'Sullivan and AP contributed to this report.





http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1093674510956











● [JERUSALEM POST]





Aug. 28, 2004 23:57





Who is Larry Franklin?





By MATTHEW GUTMAN





The FBI is investigating whether a mid-level Pentagon


official in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Larry


Franklin, passed classified material regarding internal


policy deliberations on Iran to two staffers at the American


Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), who in turn


provided the information to Israel.





Franklin, a colonel in the US Air Force Reserve, served in


the past as an attache at the US embassy in Israel, one


source told The Jerusalem Post.





A US Embassy spokesman in Tel Aviv said, "the Embassy has no


comment on this issue."





Sources in Jerusalem said it is quite possible that Larry


Franklin, the alleged Pentagon informant, met with AIPAC


officials as part of routine conversations lobbyists always


have with officials, but that it is inconceivable this is


something that could be construed as espionage.





The FBI's investigation of Larry Franklin began not long


after it was leaked that the Pentagon's Office of Special


Plans sent two Defense officials, one of them Franklin, to


Paris to meet with a dissident Iranian arms trader.





The latter, Manucher Ghorbanifar, played a central role in


the Iran-Contra affair - in which Israel had a major


involvement - in the mid 1980's.





The purpose of the meeting with Ghorbanifar was to undermine


a pending deal that the White House had been negotiating


with the Iranian government. At the time, Iran had


considered turning over five al-Qaida operatives in exchange


for Washington dropping its support for Mujahadeen Khalq, an


Iraq-based rebel Iranian group listed as a terrorist


organization by the State Department.





Franklin met Ghorbanifar through Washington's neo-con guru


Michael Ledeen. Ghorbanifar at the time (before the invasion


of Iraq), had spun the Pentagon men with unsubstantiated


allegations of Iraqi transfers of uranium to the Iranian


nuclear weapons program, according to The Nation magazine.





Franklin, and a Pentagon Islam expert Harold Rhode, had also


played a key role in establishing the Defense's Office of


Special Plans, and feverishly pushed for an American


invasion of both Iraq and Iran, said The Nation.





One Iranian dissident living in Paris who knows Ghorbanifar,


Franklin and Rhode, said the "Franklin Affair," is "fishy."


He said that the US relies on Israel for intelligence on


Iran, and due to the "zigzagging" of US policy on Iran,


wondered what Franklin could allegedly smuggled to Israeli


officials.





With Herb Keinon





http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1093674510896











● AIPAC Statement on Recent Events





Aug. 29, 2004





Today, AIPAC learned that the government is investigating an


employee of the Department of Defense for possible


violations in handling confidential information. News


stations tonight reported that the investigation centers


around a supposed "mole" in the Department of Defense who


allegedly disseminated internal White House policy


deliberations on Iran to Israel through two AIPAC staff


members.





Any allegation of criminal conduct by AIPAC or our employees


is false and baseless. Neither AIPAC nor any of its


employees has violated any laws or rules, nor has AIPAC or


its employees ever received information they believed was


secret or classified.





AIPAC is cooperating fully with the governmental


authorities. It has provided documents and information to


the government and has made staff available for interviews.


We will continue to offer our full cooperation and are


confident that the government will find absolutely no


wrongdoing by our organization and its employees.





AIPAC is an American organization comprised of proud and


loyal U.S. citizens committed to promoting American


interests. We take our responsibilities as American citizens


seriously. We do not condone or tolerate any violation of


U.S. law or interests, and we have and will continue to


follow the law in all its facets.





As American citizens concerned about the enduring strength


of the U.S.-Israel relationship, AIPAC has and will continue


to have discussions with policymakers at all levels of


government. The right to petition our government is one of


the fundamental rights of American citizens, which AIPAC


members proudly exercise every day.





We will not let any innuendo or false allegation against


AIPAC distract us from our central mission-supporting


America's interests in the Middle East and advocating for a


strong relationship with Israel.





http://www.aipac.org











(끝)