Gay Ol' McGreevey

[bigkidpants]

here's more fuel for those who think that i unnecessarily drag israel into every topic. just so happens that gov. mcgreevey met his gay lover golan cipel in israel when, for some reason, it was appropriate for the governor of new jersey to tour israel. the scandal unfolded when mcgreevey appointed this totally unqualified israeli to be head of new jersey's homeland security. al jazeera is a fine source, but here's also a republican blogger (http://www.slantpoint.com/mt-arx/001691.html)'s view. feel free to post here about whether or not this is a victory for gay people or whatever. the real issue seems to be a foreign government's desire and success at blackmailing american politicians. this one gives a whole new meaning to the term "special relationship".

Israeli Espionage: When a Honey Trap Goes Bad A Governor Resigns (http://www.aljazeerah.info/Opinion%20editorials/2004%20opinions/August/15%20o/Israeli%20espionage%20When%20a%20Honey%20Trap%20Go es%20Bad%20A%20Governor%20Resigns%20By%20John%20An ast.htm)

By John Anast



Despite recent numerous pronouncements by both public and private figures alike that Mr. McGreevey’s sexual preference came as a shock, to the contrary it was widely known in political and business circles that the ex-governor had a per chant for male sex partners. There were any number of swirling allegations regarding his sexual exploits, not the least of which that the ex-governor broke his leg at a New Jersey beach during a homosexual act gone awry.

With the knowledge of the ex-governors preference for men, Mossad activated Cipel to lure McGreevey into a compromising position for exploitation, extortion and blackmail purposes. It is alleged that in a pre-arranged visit to Israel, organized by New Jersey Jewish organizations, Mr. McGreevey was introduced to the Jewish homosexual, Mr. Cipel at a political function.

In its zeal to penetrate the Governors office and homeland security, Mossad demanded that Cipel, an Israeli citizen who lacked any requisite experience or security clearances, be appointed to run New Jersey’s homeland security office. In that position Mr. Cipel could have not only obtained information on US security procedures, but also been in a position to access sensitive investigative information, methods and sources relative to US efforts to thwart Israeli espionage against the United States. New Jersey is still reeling from the Israeli espionage ring which was housed in Urban Movers that collapsed soon after it was discovered on 11 September, and more recently by the detention of two (2) Israelis, working for a New Jersey moving company, caught with classified submarine fuel near a US base in Tennessee where the fuel is manufactured.

[ASsman]

I want some pizza. Brb.

[Tone Capone]

This isn't political at all, just an observation. Ever since the Sopranos came out, everyone I've seen from New Jersey started acting wierd, like they would "wack" somebody for talking wrong, or be careful because their cousin's wife's doctor might know someone who's "connected". EVEN the dudes who weren't acting like that before the show came out :) I wonder if they are all gonna start acting like gay government officials now... that would be hilarious! :D

[bilbo]

wrong thread

[DroppinScience]

The McGreevey case is just weird, especially since the Israeli in question keeps claiming to be heterosexual and says he's been sexually harrassed.

No matter what, we better watch out for those gay Israelis, huh? ;)

[DroppinScience]

As for that Israeli espionage ring, here's something interesting:

http://www.israelinsider.com/channels/diplomacy/articles/dip_0142.htm

Fox claims of Israeli spy ring in U.S. unproven and tendentious
By Ellis Shuman December 21, 2001

The Fox News network reported this month on the existence of an Israeli spy ring, which purportedly had advanced warning of the upcoming September 11th terrorist attacks, but did not pass on this information to the American authorities. But close examination of the television news report reveals little proof and much speculation based, at best, on circumstantial evidence.

Fox News correspondent Carl Cameron reported on December 11 of the arrest and/or detention of more than 60 Israelis in the weeks following September 11 "either under the new patriot anti-terrorism law, or for immigration violations." According to Cameron, a "handful of active Israeli military were among those detained" and investigators said that some of the detainees also failed polygraph questions when asked about alleged surveillance activities against and in the United States.

Cameron emphasized that there is no indication that the Israelis were involved in the September attacks, but raised the suspicion that the Israelis "may have gathered intelligence about the attacks in advance, and not shared it." Fox News reported on one group of Israelis who kept an apartment in California allegedly to keep track of a group of Arabs, that the U.S. was also investigating on suspicion of links to terrorism.

The Fox News report focused on a number of various, unconnected spying allegations. Even before September 11, the network reported, as many as 140 Israelis had been detained as part of an ongoing investigation into suspected Israeli espionage. Some of the Israelis "targeted and penetrated military bases," according to the report. Many of the Israelis involved, Fox said, were art students from the University of Jerusalem [sic] and Bazala [sic] Academy.

Israelis working at mall kiosks
"Another part of the investigation has resulted in the detention and arrests of dozens of Israelis at American mall kiosks, where they've been selling toys called Puzzle Car and Zoom Copter. Investigators suspect a front." - Fox News

An estimated 60 young Israelis were arrested and detained in the U.S. on immigration charges since September 11. Many of them ended up spending a month or longer in prison before being deported. Many of these Israelis found work with a moving company, operated by former Israelis, or at mall kiosks, where they did, in fact sell the toys mentioned in the Fox News report. The network of toy kiosks was also operated by former Israelis, whose apparent real crime was offering jobs to Israelis who hadn't received visa extensions or work permits.

Oren Feldmann and four other young Israelis were arrested in Columbia, Missouri, after they had been selling the toys in a city mall. Yaniv Hani and Oren Behr were held in custody in Ohio for four weeks where they were first asked about connections to terrorism, then whether they worked for the Mossad.

"After a while, I think that they (investigators) understand that we are not terrorists,'' Hani said, "so they think that we are spies from the Mossad that come to the U.S. to spy - to follow after Arab groups or to get pictures of Arab people and get pictures of buildings or something.''

Five young Israelis, who worked for a moving company in New Jersey and had overstayed their visas, are planning to sue American authorities for the abuse they say they were subjected to. They were reportedly kept in solitary confinement, beaten, deprived of food, and interrogated while blindfolded and in their underwear, as American authorities questioned them over supposed links to terrorism.

After the Americans realized that the young Israelis had no connection to terrorism, they were released from prison and deported from the United States. But, according to Maariv, four Israelis detained after September 11 are still being held in American prisons.

Mark Regev, a spokesman for the Israeli embassy in Washington, said that "not a single one [of the Israelis detained] has been charged with intelligence violations. It has all been visa violations.''

Telephone records
"Some American terrorist investigators fear certain suspects in the Sept. 11 attacks may have managed to stay ahead of them, by knowing who and when investigators are calling on the telephone - by obtaining and analyzing data that's generated every time someone in the U.S. makes a call." - Fox News

According to Fox, most directory assistance calls, and virtually all call records and billing in the U.S. are done for the phone companies by Amdocs, an Israeli-based private telecommunications company. Amdocs has contracts with the 25 biggest phone companies in America, and more worldwide. It is virtually impossible to make a call on normal phones, Fox reports, without generating an Amdocs record of it.

Fox said that Amdocs has been subject to an FBI investigation in recent years, under the suspicion that a record of calls in the United States was falling into foreign hands. An internal Amdocs memo, the report said, suggested that the call records could be used to prevent phone fraud. According to American security officials, security breaches were possible.

Fox clarifies that "U.S. intelligence does not believe the Israeli government is involved in a misuse of information, and Amdocs insists that its data is secure." Apparently, American officials are worried about the possibility that Amdocs data could get into the wrong hands, particularly organized crime. In other words, the Amdocs billing system's faults, if they exist, are not connected to the terrorism of September 11.

"Amdocs is unaware of any investigation or any charges against it raised in the Fox News report," stated Thomas O'Brien, a vice president in the company. "No one turned to us from the government, or from any other agency. We are certain that Amdocs has no connection to any illegal activities, whatsoever," he said.

Electronic eavesdropping
"Custom computers and software, made by companies like Comverse Infosys, a subsidiary of an Israeli-run private telecommunications firm, are tied into that network to intercept, record and store the wiretapped calls, and at the same time transmit them to investigators." - Fox News

According to Fox News, the Comverse systems have a back door through which wiretaps themselves can be intercepted by unauthorized parties. Raising the investigators' suspicion, apparently, is the fact that Comverse works closely with the Israeli government. Yet Fox offered no suggestions that the company's systems were part of an Israeli espionage effort.

"We deny everything in the Fox report," said Danny Bodner, CEO of Comverse Infosys. "There are no direct allegations against us in the report, only insinuations that sound like we are connected. They didn't even ask for our response. We are not acting in the name of the Israeli government, and we have no interest other than to supply equipment to our customers," he said.

The Israeli Embassy in Washington also emphatically denied the Fox allegations. "The report on Fox News contains no quoted source; it has in no way demonstrated anything more than anonymous innuendo, and should be regarded accordingly," Regev said. "Israel does not spy on the United States of America and the allegation that Israel did not share intelligence regarding the September 11 attack with the Americans is "totally unfounded and incorrect."

The four-part Fox News report portrayed various scenarios that "could" be possible but which offered no proof to the existence of an alleged Israeli spy ring. The main allegation - that Israeli agents "may have been" aware of plans to perpetrate the September 11 attacks, in Fox's own words, was never proven. Other examples given incorrectly suggested the reason for the detention of so many young Israelis and raised the possibility that two well-known Israeli companies "could have" utilized their technologies to conduct espionage. The main question behind Carl Cameron's report was left unanswered - what underlying motive did he have for trying to tie together many unconnected loose ends and suggest that they offered proof for Israeli spying in the United States?

[bilbo]

As for that Israeli espionage ring, here's something interesting:

What's that got to do with McGreevey?
Anyway, too many Fox News' in that article. :rolleyes:

[DroppinScience]

What's that got to do with McGreevey?

In bgp's article, it discussed an espionage ring and it seemed clear that the overall point of the article was talking about the blackmailing and deception Israel may or may not be involved with. Thought it'd be good food for thought is all.

[bilbo]

In bgp's article, it discussed an espionage ring and it seemed clear that the overall point of the article was talking about the blackmailing and deception Israel may or may not be involved with. Thought it'd be good food for thought is all.


I see, thanks for the clarification. I am going to hold off on speculating on the whole Israel espionage thing.

[bigkidpants]

it's been quite a year for israel, eh? fake hate crimes, passport fraud, blackmailing american politicians, mossad agents caught in high-speed chases, aipac and jinsa ties to the iraq occupation, spies in the pentagon . . . all the while pressing ever closer to invasions of iran and syria. not to mention that awesome fence.

the real food for thought here, to me, is the complicity of people within the u.s. government. for example:

Officials Say Publicity Derailed Secrets Inquiry (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/30/politics/30spy.html)
By DAVID JOHNSTON and ERIC SCHMITT

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon official under suspicion of turning over classified information to Israel began cooperating with federal agents several weeks ago and was preparing to lead the authorities to contacts inside the Israeli government when the case became publicly known last week, government officials said Sunday.

The disclosure of the inquiry late on Friday by CBS News (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/08/27/eveningnews/main639143.shtml) revealed what had been for nearly a year a covert national security investigation conducted by the F.B.I., according to the officials, who said that news reports about the inquiry compromised important investigative steps, like the effort to follow the trail back to the Israelis.

As a result, several areas of the case remain murky, the officials said.

[D_Raay]

Well, I'll just say this. I can show you thousands of articles that say Sharon is manipulating our entire government in one form or another. Our government doesn't seem too concerned by their spies which kind of gives a lot of credibility to all the anti-Sharon stuff.

I am not sure if this is a proper metaphor but as far the Carl Cameron thing goes (which is repeated constantly by Mike Rivero) , it's kind of like catching the fox in the henhouse and then saying the fox doesn't eat chicken.

[DroppinScience]

the real food for thought here, to me, is the complicity of people within the u.s. government.

I understand, but shouldn't you be looking at stuff from both sides of the fence?

Are you even willing to consider that reports of an espionage ring can either be lies, exaggerations or half-truths?

I know Prison Planet wouldn't like to hear that, but still...

BTW, what's this about Mossad in high-speed chases? :confused: