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Harman Selling Out America?

By Larry Johnson on April 21, 2009 at 12:55 AM in Current Affairs

(Bumped up from Monday morning)

Jeff Stein’s story in the Congressional Quarterly is not just “happen stance” in my view. How did he learn that Jane Harmon, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, was bargaining with an Israeli spy to secure a personal advantage? That’s an interesting question. Let me suggest one possible explanation–this info was deliberately leaked to undercut supporters of Israel who are pushing for Israel to strike Iran. This also sends a clear, unmistakable signal to Israel that it’s ability to muck around in U.S. domestic politics is being challenged. Check out Pat Lang’s take on this?

Pat, as is his style, starts with the relevant quote:

“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.” Jeff Stein

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Life is just not fair. Rod Blagojevich was impeached for corruption, is under massive indictment for the same and was pilloried for seeking to bargain with people (various) over President Obama’s vacated senate seat.

Jane Harman (according to CQ and Jeff Stein) bargained with a suspected foreign espionage and covert action agent (Israeli) on an open telephone line in a discussion as to whether or not she would attempt to have espionage charges reduced in the case of two men who are still awaiting trial for illegally handing over US secrets to the Israeili embassy. In return the suspected Israeli operative (not an American) offered to go to Nancy Pelosi to influence her to appoint Harmon chair of the House Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI), a position in which she would have been able to do a lot for Israel (or anyone else).

Firstly, consider the fact that this spook was comfortable enough with Harmon to make her an offer like that… Harmon and her husband, Sidney, are major figures in the world of political think-tankery, charity, etc. BENS, WINEP, AIPAC, JINSA, etc. They get around. She has had to “settle” for a lesser committee chairmanship. As I said, life is not fair.

Then there is the fact that this spook said that he, a foreigner, would go to the minority leader of the House of Representatives (Pelosi) with some prospect of success to ask for Harmon to be made chairman of the HPSCI. Chutzpah indeed! There must have been a good case that he knew Pelosi well enough for Harman to think that plausible. I guess if enough people go to enough dinner parties, eventually everyone knows everyone?

Who was this person, the mysterious voice on the phone? Did he flee the country at some point? Is he now likely to visit Washington soon as a member of a new government? Will there be a dinner party? pl

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docid=hsnews-000003098436

PS. There is some thought that the “Israeli operative” may be a naturalized dual Israeli/American national. This is unclear, but not very important.