@@ U.S. is just a province of Israel @@
Arash
September 2, 2004
Israel group in FBI probe wields influence in U.S.
By Jerry Seper
The American-Israel Public Affairs Committee, which is a focus of an FBI
investigation about classified government information being given to Israel,
has a mission of "stopping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, fighting
terrorism and achieving peace."
But above all, the 65'000-member AIPAC, founded in the 1950s, seeks to
ensure through an active and well-financed lobbying campaign on Capitol Hill
and the White House that Israel is strong enough to meet those challenges.
AIPAC is believed to be the most important organization affecting the U.S.
relationship with Israel, and has consistently ranked among America's most
powerful special interest groups -- helping to pass more than 100 pro-Israel
legislative initiatives last year and procuring nearly $3 billion in aid
critical to Israel's security.
In the FBI probe, several Pentagon and State Department officials, including
Pentagon Undersecretary for Policy Douglas J. Feith, have been interviewed
or briefed by agents trying to find out whether Pentagon analyst Larry
Franklin passed classified materials on Iran.
The inquiry has focused on accusations that Mr. Franklin passed the
information to AIPAC, which then forwarded it to Israeli officials. Two
AIPAC employees reportedly have been interviewed by the FBI in the matter,
including Steven Rosen, director of foreign policy issues, and Keith
Weissman, an Iran analyst.
No charges have been filed in the probe, and no arrests have been made.
AIPAC believes it is likely Iran will have nuclear, biological and chemical
weapons and the missiles to deliver them within a few years and wants
Congress and the White House to "contain Iran and to expand U.S.-Israel
strategic cooperation to build a defense against this threat."
In May, President Bush spoke at an AIPAC policy conference, saying the group
had "spoken out on the threat posed by Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons."
He called its continuing efforts "more vital than ever."
An Israeli Embassy senior diplomat, Naor Gilon, head of the embassy's
political department, has acknowledged meeting with Mr. Franklin but denied
any wrongdoing.
AIPAC, in a statement, said any suspicions of criminal misconduct by the
organization or its employees was "false and baseless."
"AIPAC is cooperating fully with the governmental authorities. It has
provided documents and information to the government and has made staff
available for interviews," the statement said.
The statement also said the organization took its responsibilities as
American citizens seriously and did not condone or tolerate any violation of
U.S. law or interests.
"As American citizens concerned about the enduring strength of the
U.S.-Israel relationship, AIPAC has and will continue to have discussions
with policy-makers at all levels of government," the statement said.
The statement continued: "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."
AIPAC has taken credit for isolating Hamas, Hezbollah and the Palestinian
Islamic Jihad by advocating that the Bush administration place the groups on
a more restrictive terrorist list, allowing the United States to sanction
foreign financial institutions if they fail to block the organizations'
assets.
Hamas financing was disrupted, they said, by AIPAC by urging the
administration to freeze the assets of the U.S.-based Holy Land Foundation,
accused of funneling money to the terrorist group.
AIPAC also said it urged the administration to cut off U.S. relations with
Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Authority if Mr. Arafat fails to fight
terrorism.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/functions/print.php?StoryID=20040901-111122-3737r