In the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the FBI reportedly
stumbled on an espionage ring that had penetrated the wiretapping system of U.S. law enforcement. Fox News Channel reported that
the FBI was holding nearly 100 Israeli citizens with direct ties
to foreign military, criminal and intelligence services.
In a follow-up to these reports, the FBI did not deny that such
actions had been taken. However, FBI spokesman Paul Bresson
would not answer specific questions on the reported espionage.
"We have seen the Fox News segments that aired several weeks ago
on this topic and found some inaccuracies with it. Because they
are sensitive issues, I do not have the luxury of discussing
what precisely was accurate and what was inaccurate about their
reporting," stated Paul Bresson, spokesman for the FBI.
"Most of the questions [asked by NewsMax.com] are not directly
answerable by CALEA [Communications Assistance for Law
Enforcement Act]. Your questions may be more properly addressed
to our National Security Division, which I know would never
discuss this with you, unfortunately," stated Bresson.
The espionage operation reportedly includes employees of two
companies that perform official wiretaps for U.S.
local, state and federal law enforcement: Comverse Infosys and
Amdocs. Official spokesman for both companies denied any
involvement in the alleged espionage ring.
"Amdocs is unaware of any investigation or allegations and has
not been contacted by any agency," stated Dan Ginsberg, of the PR
firm Porter Novelli, for Amdocs.
"Amdocs has not been involved in any illegal or improper
activity," said Ginsberg flatly.
"We know of absolutely no factual basis for suggestions that
intelligence agencies or others have misused our products for
illicit purposes," stated Paul Baker, spokesman for Comverse.
"In particular, no company employees have been involved in any
of the incidents referred to in your December 19 story.
Moreover, the reference in that story to a suspected abuse of
our equipment in a foiled Los Angeles drug bust was completely
erroneous. Our equipment was not involved in any such
incident," said Baker.
"Comverse Technology is a New York–based corporation that has
been publicly traded for 15 years. It is an S&P 500 and a
NASDAQ-100 Index company that has won a worldwide leadership
position in telecommunications," noted Baker.
"More than 10 years ago, Comverse established Comverse Infosys
Technology as a separate subsidiary to meet the monitoring
applications needs of some U.S. customers. This group maintains
the high-level security clearances these customers require,"
said Baker.
"In full compliance with U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)
regulations, this subsidiary's operations are completely
segregated from all other Comverse businesses and are insulated
from any foreign influence," said Baker.
"The board of directors overseeing these operations consists of
former high-level military officers, including two retired Air
Force generals appointed by the DOD. In addition, the DOD
monitors Comverse Infosys Technology's operations to ensure they
remain in full regulatory compliance.
"All equipment supplied by Comverse complies with all applicable
government security requirements. The notion that 'backdoor'
access has been built into the systems is absurd. For more than
10 years, these systems have been sold to customers in more than
40 countries, who have subjected them to rigorous and continuous
security testing without a single reported breach," said Baker.
"As with any computer equipment that sits on a network, the
Comverse systems are protected by the security measures and
access restrictions imposed by the user of the network, whether
a government agency or telephone operator. We fully support the
evolving CALEA standard, and remain committed to maintaining our
industry leadership in providing secure and reliable systems,"
concluded Baker.
Despite the extensive denials by Amdocs and Comverse, the
curious response by the FBI has raised more questions than
answers. Sources inside Capitol Hill are investigating the
allegations and made no comments on the allegations of espionage
at this time. However, the demands for answers continued to
grow outside political circles.
"If national security is the overriding issue in the FBI's
treatment of this case, the correct response to your questions
should have been 'Sorry, we have no comment at this time,'"
said Douglas Brown of the Nathan Hale Institute.
"Of course, the most reassuring response would have been
'There's no truth to the stories,' but apparently the bureau
can't say that. Maybe the spokesperson is well-informed?"
questioned Brown.
"Something is up. One of the things that gave the Fox report
added credibility was 'investigators within the DEA, INS and
FBI have all told Fox News that to pursue or even suggest
Israeli spying through Comverse is considered career suicide.'
I think it pretty much captures the bizzaro world U.S. law
enforcement and intelligence continues to operate in during the
post-Clinton years," said Brown.
"Everything is opposite still in their world, since the
Clintonistas still control it. The more you screw up, the higher
you go. Forget 'The West Wing' and 'The Agency' type shows,
'Seinfeld' reruns do a better job of capturing reality in D.C.,"
said Brown.
"If the Israelis have used the companies named in the Fox
reports for intelligence purposes, it lies somewhere between the
Liberty incident and Jonathan Pollard affair for outrageousness.
Yet, if true, one has to admire the creativity and ingenuity of
Israeli intelligence," said Brown.
"First, they have taken advantage of a technically bumbling and
compromised law enforcement and counterintelligence community
and may have essentially made U.S. law enforcement wiretapping
activities a branch of Israeli intelligence. It would be quite
impressive if true," noted Brown.
"They have used their technical expertise in-house to identify
and exploit cutting-edge technologies and companies. In gaining
control over those technologies and companies, they would also
have shown a deft handling of merger and acquisitions, personnel
recruitment, and playing the capital markets.
"In addition, as publicly traded companies, private and institutional investors from around the world would be funding Israeli intelligence
activities. Again, pretty impressive, if true, and really pretty
much the model, or a variation of the model, now used by the
intelligence agencies of China, Russia and some of our European
allies," said Brown.
"If they [the Fox reports] do turn out to expose Israeli
intelligence operations, one's admiration for Israeli ingenuity
would be more than tempered by amazement at the sheer stupidity
and recklessness of the Israelis' actions," noted Brown.
"First, they would have seriously damaged their relationship
with the United States on many levels. Since that relationship
is fundamental to Israel's existence, not a smart move.
"Second, while Israel, like the prodigal son, will always be able to
ultimately rely on America's protection, Israeli high-tech
companies are a major target for Russian intelligence and
organized crime," stated Brown.
"The prodigal son may have left our back door open to some of
the most dangerous people in our global village. In other
words, Israeli ingenuity in infiltrating and exploiting the U.S.
high-tech industry may be seriously undermining the security and
power of the country that is, in fact, the ultimate guarantor of
its existence. Again, not a smart move," said Brown.
"Finally, if the Israelis are using such a modus operandus for
penetrating U.S. high-tech companies and government agencies, it
is not a method of operation appropriate or necessary for a
close ally to engage in. The risk of backlash and
recriminations are much too great. Russian and Chinese use of
such methods is understandable and a natural evolution and
outgrowth of intelligence operations conducted for decades, but
Israel should adhere more closely to the more open and,
unfortunately, usually perfectly legal methods used by allies
like Japan," stated Brown.
"It looks like Louis Freeh may have another chapter to write in
his memoirs – right after the Hanssen chapter," concluded Brown.