oaf@mit-vax.UUCP (Oded Feingold) (12/14/85)
> Why has the government of Israel chosen to spy against > its closest ally and defender? [Farzin Mokhtarian] ------------------------------ 1. It needs certain information, for example on the capabilities of Arab armies armed with American weapons, or activities of the American 6th fleet. Example: Avoiding US patrols while enroute to/from Tunis. 2. "Closest" isn't quantified. Are you implying US and Israeli interests are identical? That Israel is a US puppet (or the reverse)? > Isn't that the kind of thing you expect from an enemy or at > least an unfriendly government? ------------------------------ No, I expect everyone to spy on everyone else. The US spies on Israel, too. [Israel's a bit better-natured about it - they deport and return spies quietly. They also return captured Soviet advisers or pilots quietly. No point in looking for trouble when you're small.] Besides, friendly overall doesn't mean friendly on every point. We've sold AWACS to the Saudis and HAWK SAMs to the Jordanians. Did they sign peace treaties with Israel or something? [It can be plausibly argued that Saudi Arabia needs AWACS to deal with Iranian incursions on her oilfields. But Jordan is placing its HAWK batteries along the Jordan River, not along the Syrian border. A careful reading of history will show that although Jordan fought two wars/episodes with Israel, it started both. However, the Syrians attacked Jordan in 1971, with the express intention of toppling Hussein. Israel has never been remotely interested in that.] > Would Israel risk a very close, beneficial relationship > with the U.S. over a silly spy game ... ------------------------------ Some people may not share your definition of "silly spy game." For us, it's an incremental diminution in our security, probably unrelated to our true enemy, the USSR - for them, it may be the difference between success or failure in a war. > ... if it truly expected a more critical reaction from the U.S.? ------------------------------ Finally, the hidden Mokhtarianism bubbles to the surface. "Israel has the US in its nasty little pocket, so it knows we haven't the guts to oppose it." (You see, Farzin, your talent for leaving a snide interpretation open is only exceeded by my penchant for making said interpretation.) Two explanations: <1> Pollard recruited himself, offering info in return for money, and they couldn't resist. [$2500/month for quality info is birdfeed - cheep, cheep.] <2> Rafael Eitan or someone else worried about various things impeding the Israeli air force's ability to do its thing [after all - the 6th fleet is the only force with that capability - not even the Russkies can get air superiority over Israel in that part of the world] and took a chance. Israel's first priority is staying alive - friendship with the US comes second. [Another after all - after all, the US forced Israel to give up her territorial gains in return for NOTHING in 1956, and kept Israel from knocking off the Egyptian 3rd army in 1973. Not the same as staying pocketed.] Those aren't innocent explanations - so who's innocent? Good shot, though, Mr. Mokhtarian - you sure can leave a sour taste. -- Oded Feingold MIT AI Lab. 545 Tech Square Cambridge, Mass. 02139 OAF%OZ@MIT-MC.ARPA {harvard, ihnp4!mit-eddie}!mitvax!oaf 617-253-8598