[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Jei) writes:
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2002 07:34:17 +1100
> From: Bond <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: [ParanoidTimes] Spying on America
>
> Spying on America
> Charles R. Smith
> Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2002
> FBI Investigates Foreign Spy Ring - U.S. Companies Deny Involvement
>
> 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.
>
> Employees of U.S. Companies Reportedly Involved
>
> 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.
>
> FBI Response Raises Questions
>
> 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.
>
> Are Israeli Spies in the U.S.?
>
> "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.
>
> Damage to U.S.-Israeli Relations
>
> "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.
>
> http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/1/16/110443.shtml
