Pentagon Office in Spying Case Was Focus of Iran Debate

[seemslikeadream]

By ERIC SCHMITT

Published: September 2, 2004


ASHINGTON, Sept. 1 - The Pentagon's policy office, where a lower-level analyst is under suspicion of passing secrets to Israel, was deeply involved in deliberations over how the United States should deal with Iran, its conservative Islamic government and its nuclear weapons ambitions - all issues of intense concern to Israel as well.

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The analyst, Lawrence A. Franklin, a Farsi-speaking specialist on Iran in the office, participated in a secret outreach meeting with an Iranian opposition figure, had access to classified intelligence about Iran's nuclear program and was one of many officials involved in drafting a top-secret presidential order on Iran.

The authorities say that Mr. Franklin, a former Defense Intelligence Agency analyst, passed to lobbyists from a pro-Israel group a draft of the presidential order, known as a National Security Presidential Directive. But President Bush has not yet approved a final version because the policy questions themselves - including whether to use covert actions to destabilize the Tehran government, and even air strikes if its nuclear weapons program proceeds - remain under intense debate.

"We don't have a presidential directive on Iran," said a government official familiar with the internal debate. "We have an ad hoc policy that we're making up as we go along. And it is to squeeze Iran, using international pressure, to get them to rid themselves of their nuclear program."
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/02/politics/02pentagon.html

[hang a left]

1. Well this is what some people have been suggesting...

That Israel may start the conflict. I can't help thinking that maybe this thing has been leaked to prevent this *administration from attacking Iran.

snip>

'Israeli officials were intently interested in both Washington's policy debates and in the intelligence about the progress Iran is making in its nuclear program, a former Bush administration official said. Israeli officials have made it clear, a former senior American diplomat said recently, that if Iran passes some undefined "red lines" in its nuclear program, Israel will consider attacking the sites, much as it attacked Iraq's main nuclear plant 23 years ago.

"What the Israelis really want," the former diplomat said, "is as much detail as they can get about how close the Iranians are getting."
snip>

Then again I read the post that you led me to. I really don't understand all of this now.

[seemslikeadream]

2. It seems there are a couple of investigations going on

I don't know how much McNulty could influence the FBI?

I also think it was leaked to stop war with Iran

[seemslikeadream]

3. Affair May Slow Push for Regime Change in Tehran

Home > NewsNews
Affair May Slow Push for Regime Change in Tehran
By MARC PERELMAN
September 3, 2004

The disclosure this week of an FBI investigation into the activities of a Defense Department official involved in Iran policy is being seen as a blow to advocates of regime change in Tehran.

A key Pentagon supporter of such a policy, Lawrence Franklin, is reportedly under investigation for allegedly passing classified information about American policy on Iran to Israel through officials of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Analysts said the development could tilt the balance toward advocates of a softer approach to Iran, even if President Bush is re-elected.

News of the FBI probe comes as the administration is re-evaluating its policy toward Iraq in light of harsh congressional and public censure regarding intelligence failures and mistakes in planning for the postwar period. Many of the problems have been blamed on the Pentagon.

"Coming after Iraq, this could take away momentum for a regime-change policy in a second Bush term," Kenneth Katzman, a Middle East affairs specialist with the Congressional Research Service, said of the disclosure.

more
http://www.forward.com/main/article.php?ref=perelman20040901931