It's now becoming clear that Netan-yahoo totally plays politics of the worst kind when dealing with the US. He converts willing repuglica$$es to traitors on a whim undermining US policy with stupids help like boner.

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Report: Israel spied on Iran-U.S. talks and shared information with lawmakers
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By Fred Barbash and Brian Murphy March 24 at 5:27 AM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu greeted supporters at the party’s election headquarters in Tel Aviv on March 18. (Oded Balilty/AP)
UPDATE: President Obama addressed the report on Tuesday. Head here for more.

Israel obtained sensitive information about the nuclear talks between Iran and the United States and turned it over to members of Congress, the Wall Street Journal is reporting. The insider details came from “confidential” briefings from U.S. officials as well as from “informants, diplomatic contacts in Europe and eavesdropping,” the paper said.

Citing “current and former officials,” the paper said the “spying operation was part of a broader campaign by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to penetrate the negotiations and then help build a case against the emerging terms of the deal.”

Boehner 'not aware' of information passed from Israelis to Congress(0:49)
While addressing members of the media Tuesday, House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) said he was "baffled" by a report alleging Israel shared intelligence on the U.S. and Iran with members of Congress. (AP)
The Journal, in its Tuesday edition, reported the “espionage” did not concern the White House “as much as Israel’s sharing of inside information with U.S. lawmakers and others to drain support” for a possible deal with Iran to rein in Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for easing of international sanctions.

The White House learned of the operation, the paper reported, when U.S. intelligence agencies “intercepted communications among Israeli officials that carried details the U.S. believed could have come only from access to the confidential talks, officials briefed on the matter said.”

Israel denied the charges, according to the Journal, which quoted a “senior official” in Netanyahu’s office calling the allegations “utterly false.”

But the Journal said its story was based on interviews with “more than a dozen” officials, including Israeli diplomats, intelligence officials and lawmakers.

Relations between the administration of President Obama and the government of Israel have become openly hostile since Netanyahu accepted an invitation from House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to address the U.S. Congress earlier this month.

The chill deepened during Netanyahu’s come-from-behind election victory last week. Just before the vote — with polls showing Netanyahu’s Likud party trailing — Netanyahu reached out to his right-wing base by appearing to reject the possibility of a Palestinian state. On election day, he then appealed to his backers to cast ballots to counter “droves” of Arab Israeli voters who likely supported his challenger.


Netanyahu later tried to massage his stance on the the so-called two-state solution — the cornerstone of peace efforts led by Washington — by saying he could support the idea if the region’s security situation improved in the future. He also sought to calm anger among Israel’s Arab population. But a prominent Arab-Israeli politicians, Ahmed Tibi, said Tuesday that many rejected Netanyahu’s outreach as “not an honest apology.”

If the Journal’s story is accurate, there were plenty of other reasons for the tension as well.

It quoted a “senior U.S. official briefed on the matter,” saying that it is “one thing for the U.S. and Israel to spy on each other. It is another thing for Israel to steal U.S. secrets and play them back to U.S. legislators to undermine U.S. diplomacy.”

On Monday, the White House chief of staff, Denis McDonough, reinforced the predictions that the Obama administration could be making recalculations in its dealings with Netanyahu.

“We cannot simply pretend that these comments were never made,” McDonough said.

In a speech to J Street, a Washington-based Israel advocacy group that is critical of Netanyahu, McDonough said Israel faced “total isolation” from the international community if it refuses to consider ending an “occupation that has lasted more than 50 years” in Palestinian lands.

Talks over Iran’s nuclear program are scheduled to resume later this week in Switzerland in a final push to reach a general framework before a self-imposed March 31 deadline.

Details of the possible deal have not been made public, but among the chief aims is seeking to limit and closely monitor Iran’s uranium enrichment capacities as part of efforts to keep Tehran from moving toward a nuclear weapon.

The West and its allies worry that Iran could one day upgrade its production of nuclear fuel to make material for an atomic weapon. Iran insists it only seeks reactors for energy production and isotopes for medical applications.

WHATS NEXT. Israel gives Iran a Nuc to prove they have one?

It's now becoming clear that Netan-yahoo totally plays politics of the worst kind when dealing with the US. He converts willing repuglica$$es to traitors on a whim undermining US policy with stupids help like boner.

Morning Mix
Report: Israel spied on Iran-U.S. talks and shared information with lawmakers
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter More Options

Resize Text Print Article Comments 4394
By Fred Barbash and Brian Murphy March 24 at 5:27 AM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu greeted supporters at the party’s election headquarters in Tel Aviv on March 18. (Oded Balilty/AP)
UPDATE: President Obama addressed the report on Tuesday. Head here for more.

Israel obtained sensitive information about the nuclear talks between Iran and the United States and turned it over to members of Congress, the Wall Street Journal is reporting. The insider details came from “confidential” briefings from U.S. officials as well as from “informants, diplomatic contacts in Europe and eavesdropping,” the paper said.

Citing “current and former officials,” the paper said the “spying operation was part of a broader campaign by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to penetrate the negotiations and then help build a case against the emerging terms of the deal.”

Boehner 'not aware' of information passed from Israelis to Congress(0:49)
While addressing members of the media Tuesday, House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) said he was "baffled" by a report alleging Israel shared intelligence on the U.S. and Iran with members of Congress. (AP)
The Journal, in its Tuesday edition, reported the “espionage” did not concern the White House “as much as Israel’s sharing of inside information with U.S. lawmakers and others to drain support” for a possible deal with Iran to rein in Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for easing of international sanctions.

The White House learned of the operation, the paper reported, when U.S. intelligence agencies “intercepted communications among Israeli officials that carried details the U.S. believed could have come only from access to the confidential talks, officials briefed on the matter said.”

Israel denied the charges, according to the Journal, which quoted a “senior official” in Netanyahu’s office calling the allegations “utterly false.”

But the Journal said its story was based on interviews with “more than a dozen” officials, including Israeli diplomats, intelligence officials and lawmakers.

Relations between the administration of President Obama and the government of Israel have become openly hostile since Netanyahu accepted an invitation from House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to address the U.S. Congress earlier this month.

The chill deepened during Netanyahu’s come-from-behind election victory last week. Just before the vote — with polls showing Netanyahu’s Likud party trailing — Netanyahu reached out to his right-wing base by appearing to reject the possibility of a Palestinian state. On election day, he then appealed to his backers to cast ballots to counter “droves” of Arab Israeli voters who likely supported his challenger.


Netanyahu later tried to massage his stance on the the so-called two-state solution — the cornerstone of peace efforts led by Washington — by saying he could support the idea if the region’s security situation improved in the future. He also sought to calm anger among Israel’s Arab population. But a prominent Arab-Israeli politicians, Ahmed Tibi, said Tuesday that many rejected Netanyahu’s outreach as “not an honest apology.”

If the Journal’s story is accurate, there were plenty of other reasons for the tension as well.

It quoted a “senior U.S. official briefed on the matter,” saying that it is “one thing for the U.S. and Israel to spy on each other. It is another thing for Israel to steal U.S. secrets and play them back to U.S. legislators to undermine U.S. diplomacy.”

On Monday, the White House chief of staff, Denis McDonough, reinforced the predictions that the Obama administration could be making recalculations in its dealings with Netanyahu.

“We cannot simply pretend that these comments were never made,” McDonough said.

In a speech to J Street, a Washington-based Israel advocacy group that is critical of Netanyahu, McDonough said Israel faced “total isolation” from the international community if it refuses to consider ending an “occupation that has lasted more than 50 years” in Palestinian lands.

Talks over Iran’s nuclear program are scheduled to resume later this week in Switzerland in a final push to reach a general framework before a self-imposed March 31 deadline.

Details of the possible deal have not been made public, but among the chief aims is seeking to limit and closely monitor Iran’s uranium enrichment capacities as part of efforts to keep Tehran from moving toward a nuclear weapon.

The West and its allies worry that Iran could one day upgrade its production of nuclear fuel to make material for an atomic weapon. Iran insists it only seeks reactors for energy production and isotopes for medical applications.

WHATS NEXT. Israel gives Iran a Nuc to prove they have one?

Iran has proven itself to be an enemy of Israel. It has threatened to destroy the Jewish state. The United States has also been threatened by this rouge state. It has taken American diplomats hostage, threatened to destroy American aircraft carriers in international waters, carried on terrorist attacks against our troops and carried on unrelenting propaganda against our country. Israel has given us intelligence for over forty years and supported us in all our activities in the Middle East since its inception.It has proven itself an important ally.Netanyahu made a serious mistake in coming here and making that speech before Congress. Not that he was mistaken in anything he said.Israel has depended on the good will of both parties. This action harmed the relationship between the US and Israel. Obama clearly over reacted and made it clear that an understanding between Iran and the US is more important than keeping primacies that the US has had for decades with Israel.

*********
Let's just discuss the minimum wage. It's been over 10 years since the last wage hike. In the meantime prices have increased on everything. In case you haven't been watching, the cost of food has risen to unbelievable heights. I'm sure there are others - even Righties - who can attest to that.

Four years ago, the supermarket gave me the excuse that because the price of gas has gone up, the store is paying more for shipping and therefore must raise its prices. Last year I brought to the manager's attention that the costs of particular items has risen outrageously. He attempted to give me the same excuse. I caught him there and said he was just repeating his four-year-old excuse and it wouldn't work this time. In addition, since the price of gas has been reduced - do you see the cost of food going down? If one cost is dependent upon the other, we should be getting fairer prices now. I haven't seen any. Have you?

Also, if you haven't noticed, the size of packaging has decreased. Compare the difference in size of a can of Campbell's soup. The price has risen and the can got smaller.

When you have people living on a limited budget and considering the can size, it will take an extra can of soup to feed the same size family. Please don't try to tell me that these foods stores are not taking advantage of its customers as well as the government which is footing a higher cost of living through SNAP users. In addition, the Righties have reduced the budget for all items in the safety net so that many have been brought to an even lower economic level.

At one time Tuna was a staple in my house. As soon as the gas prices rose, the cost of a can of tune went up 40 cents. Do you really think that sort of raise in price was necessary? Needless to say, I don't buy tuna any more and haven't for a few years. Guess what? I don't miss it!

Yes, because of our Congress that holds the purse strings, everything that can be used to build up this nation has seen a reduction in the budget. I sincerely do believe that they do hold a hatred for the poor and are working hard to see that class disappear - only to have what used to be our middle class fill that slot.

I've been called away. I'll get back to you as soon as I can take care of more important business.

*************
You certainly are naive. Every group decision (eventually) needs one person to do the talking and then come back with the results. Groups of people can never come to any decision as each individual will have his own preferences. In this country it is the Executive Branch (the President or his representative) that makes foreign policy decisions (in the Constitution). It is later that Congress can agree/disagree on the final outcome (also in the Constitution). As I said elsewhere, "too many cooks spoil the broth."

As an addition: This Congress cannot agree on anything besides voting against Obama on everything.