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Analysis & Commentary

TABLECLOTHS

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NAPKINS & PLACEMATS

Beautifully Laundered

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Dangerous Fallout

The machinations behind the FBI's
AIPAC investigation.

It's not clear just what the
Washington
FBI originally set out to find;
ven if the FBI
but if the wiretaps, surveil-
determines that the
lance and searches were legal,
American Israel
any information gathered can
Public Affairs Committee
be used for any purpose,
(AIPAC) was not an illegal
including those unrelated to
conduit for classified infor-
the handling of classified
mation between the
DOUGLAS M. information, according to a
Pentagon and the Israeli
BLOOMFIELD Washington insider familiar
Embassy, the fallout from
Special to the with the FBI. That means
the case could potentially
Jewish News
whatever they hear on AIPAC
cripple the pro-Israel
phones or read in e-mail mes-
lobby's effectiveness.
sages is fair game.
FBI agents reportedly
have been going through the office
files and computers of AIPAC offi-
Key Charges
cials, tapping their phones, reading
Two potentially devastating charges
their e-mail and following them
of concern to Israel's supporters
around town. The investigation may
involve foreign agency and federal
have begun with a focus on leaked
election law violations, both some-
secrets, but it could lead in some
dangerous directions for a group that what gray areas where AIPAC is vul-
nerable, according to sources famil-
boasts it is the most influential for-
iar with the organization.
eign policy lobby in Washington.
If the government concludes
AIPAC's most precious commodity
AIPAC was acting on behalf of the
is its identity as the voice of the
American Jewish community on crit- Israeli government and not just
Americans interested in Mideast pol-
ical questions involving Israel's sur-
icy, it could demand the organiza-
vival. American is the first word in
tion register with the Justice
its name to emphasize it is an
Department as a foreign agent.
American group, lobbying on behalf
There is nothing illegal about act-
of Americans, to influence American
ing as a foreign agent, but it would
policy.
eviscerate the group's identity as an
In their strenuous and repeated
American organization. Instead of
denials of any wrongdoing, AIPAC's
being able to distinguish itself as the
leaders have insisted that the real
target of the probe is "the U.S.-Israel representative of the American pro-
Israel community, it would legally be
relationship."
just another hired mouthpiece of a
The 2-year-old investigation of
foreign government, even if that
AIPAC appears fueled in part by the
government is a good friend like
battle between old-guard conserva-
Israel.
tives at the Pentagon and the neo-
The Foreign Agents Registration
cons now running the place under
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Act (FARA) requires public disclo-
sure of all efforts to influence public
Deep differences over Iran and Iraq
policy exacerbate the rivalry between opinion, policy and laws on behalf
of a foreign entity.
the two conservative wings.
FARA's Web site says a foreign
The neo-cons are considered
agent is "any individual or organiza-
strong supporters of Israel, particu-
tion which acts at the order, request
larly the right-wing Likud, and crit-
or under the direction or control of
ics charge their views of Iran and
a foreign principal" or "engages in
Iraq are colored by their affinity for
political activities" on its behalf.
the Jewish state.
It carries with it burdensome
reporting requirements, but that's
Douglas M. Bloomfield is a Washing-
the least of the matter. The real
ton-based syndicated columnist and con-
damage is the loss of credibility and
sultant; previously, he was the legislative
image, undercutting the group's very
director of AIPAC. E-mail him at
FALLOUT' on page 36
dmb@his.com

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