Jane Harman and Rod Blagojevich
By Patrick L. Lang on April 21, 2009 at 6:01 PM in AIPAC, Intelligence, Israel, National Security, Rod Blagojevich
(Editor’s Note: Stay tuned for Part II later this evening.)
"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
—————————————————
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 Harman 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 Harman to make her an offer like that… Harman 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 Harman 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
PS. There is some thought that the "Israeli operative" may be a naturalized dual Israeli/American national. This is unclear, but not very important.
(Release: November 13)
on sale for only $16.95.
has a spatula.)
And check out these: 
("This crazy redhead is on to something. Her pink Rambler story alone is worth the price of the book," writes 
- “Richard Sale’s reportage on Washington, the CIA, the American armed forces, and foreign intrigue has created a perfect background for this account of the steady growth of President Clinton as a master of the game of nations.”--W. Patrick Lang, former head of Middle East Operations, DIA
"Anne C. Heller's stunning biography of Ayn Rand" uses a "plethora of newly unearthed research and fresh insight."
This is just priceless Jane! Jane!
she should be prosecuted just like ROD.
What could an Israeli operative offer Pelosi in return for her [favor(s)]? Seems as if the entire democrat party from the president down is in the process of selling America out to every foriegn nation on the planet.
A big concern that our government was spying on congressional members. What it done for policial reasons? One step away from being the Soviet Union!
“Our government” was monitoring the suspected Israeli spy’s phone calls and Harman just happened to be one of them. Nobody was spying on her, although as a major pusher of spying on Americans in the US, it is very ironic that she was caught this way.
Well this is certainly also going to make the rest of Congress wonder what the NSA has on them from the wiretap program.
Was that the intention of this leak? A subtle blackmail warning?
Good points Ellen D. This may explain why Congress, Democrats included, rolled over for GWB. It may also explain why they continue to roll over for Obama. After all, Obama has continued, and in some cases, expanded the powers Bush had.
Of course Obama did visit the CIA. Will it get him what he wants? Maybe that’s the deal Obama made. I don’t prosecute you for the crimes I released publicly that you committed. You cover my a$$. Quid pro quo.
Oooooooooooo good point - the worm turneth (and turneth and turneth)
Children of the Corn
Harmon just made a fool of herself in an interview on NPR.
Glen Greenwald mocks Harmon’s fervant support of lawless surveillance until she was caught in the web and now asks “how could they do this to me we must investigate”.
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/04/21/harman/index.html
Not a politician in DC at this time from either party who would get my vote, they are all corporate whoring degenerates.
I still have faith in Judd Gregg of New Hampshire.
There are a lot of decent people out there, such as Dennis Kucinich and (depending on the issue) Ron Paul. It’s just that they are largely ignored by the MSM and the Beltway elite because they don’t play “the game.” Just because you don’t see or hear them doesn’t mean they don’t exist. It just means you’ve become way too reliant on media mouthpieces as the elite will only allow people to see and hear what they want people to see and hear. They know that to be truly informed requires effort that 99% of people just don’t want to do for themselves. People just want to b*tch.
Just look at the Obama campaign… his warts were visible for all to see … unless you read most newspapers and watched televised news. The Elite wanted Obama and they got him and boy is he givin’ ‘em everything they hoped for … and it hasn’t even been six months yet!
I’ll bet the Princess has a huge grin on her botoxed face. No love lost there.
[...] (Editor’s Note: See Part I: “Jane Harman and Rod Blagojevich.”) [...]
Good points Ellen D. This may explain why Congress, Democrats included, rolled over for GWB. It may also explain why they continue to roll over for Obama. After all, Obama has continued, and in some cases, expanded the powers Bush had.
zitmeds
There are a lot of decent people out there, such as Dennis Kucinich and (depending on the issue) Ron Paul. It’s just that they are largely ignored by the MSM and the Beltway elite because they don’t play “the game.” Just because you don’t see or hear them doesn’t mean they don’t exist. It just means you’ve become way too reliant on media mouthpieces as the elite will only allow people to see and hear what they want people to see and hear. They know that to be truly informed requires effort that 99% of people just don’t want to do for themselves. People just want to b*tch.
M.O. is a classic attempt atr a setup. Can’t get Harman to bite so you throw another’s name out.
This “informant” might want to lawyer up because he might be the focus of an extortion probe.
Who had her P and Q’s on the disclosure items done right before all of this? Harman.
Who leaked items on Harman anyways at election time? Think Karl Rove might have TWO cases involving leaks to deal with soon?
All you bullies out there got is the fear card. Shine the light of diclosure.
WHEN we get the rule of law restored to a point of confidence, people from the middle ground of this ‘war on phrases’(notice how w.o.t. is dropping from vocab?) will shake loose.
That means we get better prospects at interdicting this stuff and winning the fight on middle ground. Containment policy will follow.