Israels diplomatic and military correspondents got quite the surprise watching the live feed of the Senate Intelligence Committee when Chairman Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) revealed the head of the Mossad had made a secret visit to Washington earlier this week to hold talks with senior U.S. officials.
The item led the Mabat main newscast on Israels government-run network IBA on Tuesday evening and was the headline on Haaretz newspapers website.
The travels of Mossad Director Tamir Pardo are usually kept secret and in fact, the name of the head of the Mossad and Shin Bet [Israels version of the FBI] were up until a few years ago kept secret from the public.
Haaretz reports:
The clandestine Washington visit was exposed during a hearing of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, which was participated by CIA Director David Petraeus, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, and Dianne Feinstein, who chairs the Senate panel.
During the meeting, Feinstein asked Clapper whether or not Israel intended to strike Irans nuclear facilities, with the top U.S. intelligence official answering that he would rather discuss the issue behind closed doors.
Feinstein then indicated that she had met Mossad chief Pardo earlier in the week in Washington, with Petraeus adding that he too met Pardo and cited what he called Israels growing concern over Irans nuclear ambitions.
The CIA chief also said that it was important to note that Israel considered a nuclear Iran as an existential threat.
In Sen. Feinsteins defense, the travels of the head of the CIA to close allies is not as closely guarded, and she might not have known Israels modus operandi on the matter. On the other hand, as head of the Intelligence Committee, the senior Senator from California might have considered that with tensions running so high, some meetings are best held close to the vest. The question also remains: why did CIA Director Petraeus also publicly confirm the meetings?
He called it part of an ongoing dialogue.
Threats to U.S. National Security - C-SPAN Video Library
It was also nice of Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to tip off Iran by saying that he had discussed with Israel the possibility of an attack this spring. He even said openly the months that they may have discussed. Sometime in March, April, or May.
I'm sure Iran thanks you for the help bro.
Leon Panetta 'believes Israel could attack Iran in the spring' - Telegraph
Looks like Afghanistan is getting ready for a rushed withdrawal of US troops before the November election. They're betting on Obama pulling the stunt to help his reelection.
Maybe they know him better than Democrat voters do.
Afghan soldiers 'co-operating with the Taliban and signing ceasefire deals'
Afghan soldiers are selling their weapons and vehicles to the Taliban, sharing intelligence and even signing covert ceasefire agreements with the insurgent group as they prepare for the withdrawal of Nato forces, according to a classified military report.
Links
US military prepares to shed 100,000 troops - Telegraph
Afghan soldiers 'co-operating with the Taliban and signing ceasefire deals' - Telegraph
Leon Panetta says US Marines urinating video 'utterly deplorable' - Telegraph
Leon Panetta toasts Osama bin Laden's death with £6,000 Chateau Lafite Rothschild - Telegraph
Video: Al-Qaeda leader supports Arab Spring in 9/11 anniversary video - Telegraph