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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Stuxnet leak probe stalls for fear of confirming US-Israel involvement |
| 2015-03-15 |
| A sensitive leak investigation of a former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has stalled amid concerns that a prosecution in federal court could force the government to confirm a joint U.S.-Israeli covert operation targeting Iran, according to current and former U.S. officials. Federal investigators suspect that retired Marine Gen. James E. “Hoss” Cartwright leaked to a New York Times reporter details about a highly classified operation to hobble Iran’s nuclear enrichment capability through cyber-sabotage — an effort not acknowledged by Israel or the United States. Prosecutors will have to overcome significant national security and diplomatic concerns if they want to move forward, including pitting the Obama administration against Israel if that ally were opposed to any information about the cyber-operation being revealed in court. The United States could move forward with the case against Israel’s wishes, but such a move might further harm relations between two countries, which are already frayed because of a disagreement over how best to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Administration officials also fear that any revelations could complicate the current negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program. The case captures the tension between national security concerns and the desire of prosecutors to hold high-ranking officials to account for leaking classified secrets. The Obama administration has been the most aggressive in U.S. history in pursuing those suspected of leaking classified information. The Justice Department has offered no clues to whether it intends to proceed with a case against Cartwright, who helped design the cyber-campaign against Iran under President George W. Bush and was involved in its escalation under President Obama. Spokesmen for the Justice Department, the White House and the FBI declined to comment for this article. |
| Posted by:Pappy |
| #4 @#2: The Moonlite Bunny Ranch? |
| Posted by: Hupineger Glomomp52169 2015-03-15 21:14 |
| #3 From Wiki: The military investigated Cartwright in 2009 and 2010 for possible misconduct involving a female Marine captain, and investigators recommended administrative action for "failure to discipline a subordinate" and "fostering an unduly familiar relationship". Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, however, reviewed the evidence and found it insufficient to warrant corrective action for even the lesser offenses. He stated, “I do not agree with the conclusion that General Cartwright maintained an ‘unduly familiar relationship’ with his aide. Nor do I agree that General Cartwright’s execution of his leadership responsibilities vis-à-vis his aide or any other member of his staff was inconsistent with the leadership requirements”.[12] "[Q]uestions about how he oversaw his staff", however, were mentioned as a reason Cartwright had fallen out as favored candidate of President Obama for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 2011. Army chief Gen. Martin Dempsey was named to the post. |
| Posted by: Ulique Pelosi8805 2015-03-15 10:01 |
| #2 These are the same officials who declare that a certain installation outside of Las Vegas doesn't exit, even with satellite imagery to confirm to everyone else it does. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2015-03-15 09:51 |
| #1 [Stuxnet leak] could force the government to confirm a joint U.S.-Israeli covert operation targeting Iran, according to current and former U.S. officials. Does anyone really think otherwise? |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2015-03-15 08:09 |