Opinion  Ron Ben-Yishai
US spies vindictive on Israel
Ron Ben-Yishai
Published: 11.05.14, 00:42
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28 Talkbacks for this article
1. Newsweek Ownership
Jay ,   Washington DC, USA   (05.11.14)
Ynetnews has done a great disservice to it readers and to journalism by not reporting the 'real story' behind this Newsweek spy story--- who owns the magazine and what their agenda is? Thankfully, real newspapers and media outlets like the Guardian, Mother Jones, USA Today and Huffington Post have done all the research. The least Ynet should have done their job and report it. Here is an excerpt of that research. *** Last year, when it was announced that International Business Times had bought the shrinking Newsweek brand, some media organizations started asking questions about IBT's connection to a shady Korean-born Christian minister. Now we have some new, weird info on that connection. A new feature story in Mother Jones by Ben Dooley details the role played in IBT—and in Newsweek—by David Jang, an enigmatic pastor who has spent the past decade helping to assemble the Community, a Christian ministry, and a religiously oriented media empire that uses Jang's faithful for cheap labor. Here are some of Dooley's major revelations: * International Business Times, the "flagship publication" that made IBT Media a mint and enabled his purchase of Newsweek, runs at least in part on illegal labor. * The way it works is: Jang courts members of his flock abroad, then brings them to the US on student visas to attend Olivet University, a Christian school in the Bay Area that he founded in 2004. But the students only do a little Bible study, instead spending "10 to 12 hours each weekday" and some weekends working for news sites, including translation of articles from English to Chinese for IBT. For this, the students make "between $500—their part of the rent for the group home they shared with 8 to 10 other Community members—and $1,000, depending on the month." That's less than minimum wage. IBT's "chief content officer," Jonathan Davis, formerly ran Olivet's "School of Journalism" and is married to Olivet's president. (He also is a believer in gay conversion therapy.) IBT's CEO, Etienne Uzac, used to be the university's treasurer and is married to Jang's translator. "Both Olivet and IBT described these positions as internships, and said no-one was allowed to work illegally," But MoJo spoke with several students who "say they were not told they were interns, and documents from Olivet and the businesses list students as reporters, editors, and salespeople." Many of Jang's followers believe he is the second coming of Christ: "They make you confess it," she told me, "like Peter did to Jesus Christ." The secret of Jang's true identity, she was told, must be protected because nonbelievers would "kill the Second Coming Lord as they did the first one." * International Business Times, according to a former church member who helped in IBT's launch, "was founded because Olivet University had just been started and it really needed money. [Jang] founded it by basically choosing some members of his church who had proved their business savvy." * Jang has claimed in sermons to his flock that the Community controls 1,400 web domains, along with click-ready "news" sites like Christian Post and Christian Today (whose name sounds a lot like Christianity Today, a much bigger publication connected to Billy Graham that's done an exposé on Jang's Community.) Does any of this bear on Newsweek's future? IBT Media's ostensible owners, despite their ties to Jang and the Community, downplay his role in the company. Yet they were clearly excited about purchasing Newsweek's "cachet," and IBT's labor supplier, Olivet University, makes no bones about spreading a "Gospel message" through its media holdings.
2. Angela Merkel ...where are you
Arnold-Canada ,   Montreal   (05.11.14)
I'd love to read what Angela Merkel would have to say about the USA spying service after reading this report.
3. Trade Versus Technological Advantage
Zechariah   (05.11.14)
There is a struggle of Power between Oil and Markets and Israeli and Jewish technological inventiveness in the Military Medical Entertainment and Other Essential Survival Advantage for the USA and Allies against PsychoSuicide Genocide Cults.
4. My better theory is that Obama mad as hell at Israel, leaks
Steve Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (05.11.14)
5. When it comes to "Spy Stories" there is none better
Israeli 2   (05.11.14)
than Ron Ben Yishai. His leftist opinions? Eh...questionable but this analysis is 100% accurate. Good job, Ron
6. CIA vs Mossad
Eugene F Barasch ,   Sacramento USA   (05.11.14)
CIA has big problems because it gets unlimited amounts of money (the exact amount is a state secret) and gets things wrong all the time. The Mossad makes errors but not as consistently as the CIA. But there is another problem. I think that most people in Israeli government know that there is never going to be a separate Palestinian State because every time the IDF pulls back, there is a war, the only exception being The Sinai, and the PA will never give Israel national borders. However, knowing this, Israeli politicians keep saying that they are in favor of a "two state solution". It is now getting apparent to the professionals at every level in the US government that Israeli officials are lying about their eagerness for a two state solution and this brings everything Israel does and says under scrutiny.
7. For sure mr Sotero (the sunni) is not happy..
Beary White ,   Norway   (05.11.14)
The Israeli superiority and effectiveness makes the sunni almost on the brink of making suicide :-) The sunni-boy fails in every area, domestically and externally. He completely fit in the common average of 88...as the rest of Islamic-cult-followers...
8. Newsweek/HuffPost is shilling for an Israel hater
Avi Israeli ,   Tel Aviv   (05.11.14)
It is the responsibility of the State Department to conduct technical surveillance counter-measures (TSCM), not the US Secret Service.
9. The U.S. "intelligence" community ...
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (05.11.14)
... is anti-Israeli for a very good reason. They are jealous. U.S. intelligence operatives could not find their nether orifices with two hands and a flashlight. They couldn't find bin Laden; it was Israel who told them about Abbottabad. It is in the United States' best interests not to antagonize Israel any further. We'll stop sharing intelligence, and then where will the United States be? All of the United States' electronic equipment didn't help them with respect to Qazvin, did it? They didn't know about the existence of that super-secret nuclear installation until it was destroyed -- BY ISRAEL. That's what caused Ms. Rice's unscheduled trip to Israel. How humiliating for the United States and the NSA. Perhaps the NSA ought to stick to listening in on the private phone conversations of assorted heads of state. The auditory equivalent of a peeping Tom. Hear anything you like, Susan?
10. China stealing weapons technology America shares with Israel
Steve Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (05.11.14)
"In December 2013, the then head of Israel’s Defense Export Control Agency (DECA), Meir Shalit, resigned after a joint US-Israeli investigation concluded that an Israeli miniature cooling system that can be used for missiles, and that had been licensed for sale to a French company, had been retransferred to China. In the months prior to this development, the Israeli state comptroller had reportedly published a report indicating that DECA was inadequately enforcing proper defense export controls."
11. Newsweek and Jeff Stein
David ,   Montreal, Canada   (05.11.14)
Newsweek is finished as a rival of Time and is about to go under. Jeff Stein, is a third rate imitation of Seymour Hersh and he has no following and zero credibility. His "revelations " are about as credible as those of Clifford Irving. The repeated efforts of the US intelligence officials to disparage Israel and its various intelligence services is nothing but sour grapes from a bunch of Inspector Clouseau's whose vindictive and petty behavior are the trade mark of intelligence services that have lost their way, embarrassed their country, and grossly underperformed ever since the ramp up to 9/11. The Snowden revelations indicate why the US intelligence services require more competent leaders and better strategies.
12. Spying on the Vice President of a super power.
Harold ,   USA   (05.11.14)
The United States has to do its utmost against this little monster as soon as possible. Their spies are everywhere and are very dangerous.
13. Ron on Israeli spying
Staffan ,   Stockholm   (05.11.14)
Did the Mossad dictate the text while you signed it?
14. stop dreaming....
Toledano Jean-Pierre ,   Israel   (05.11.14)
Let's face the truth: the USA is spying on us and on other countries. We and the other countries are spying on them, but on a lower level. It's like that. Not only the enemies but also the friendly countries - because a friend today can become an opponent or enemy - are the target. For example: the USSR/KGB was the ennemy of the USA/CIA,... Under Yeltsin a friendly contact between the 2 powers because of the installation of democracy. Nowadays with Putin and his dream to reunite the ex-USSR-states, so again a more hostile behaviour. Do you really think the CIA was stopping to spy on Russia or vice versa? Do you think that "democratic" Russia let fall completely their sleeping spies or spy rings in the Western or Eastern world? Stop dreaming guys.
15. BS
Miron ,   Israel   (05.11.14)
Maybe the Shin Bet inspected the air duct that they are safe and clean in order to protect AlGore .It is possible that same worker did not speak English and retrieved back after the job.
16. to summarise briefly
CJK   (05.11.14)
the us intelligence community has many members who are antisemitic. however, it is doubtful that this story would have seen the light of day were it not for permission from the obama administration. there were no stories like this one printed under previous administrations. all that said, relations between american and israeli intelligence agencies are reported to be very good.
17. was there a mouse? what was his religion?
CJK   (05.11.14)
what is most pertinent in the newsweek smear story is that it provides no proof and no sources. it refers to former aids to congressional staffs and former member of fbi. however, no proof is provided at all of the allegations. there is a segment of the us foreign policy and national security and intelligence agencies who harbour an unreasonable hatred for israel. these people have convinced themselves that were it not for israel, there would be peace in the middle east. one must keep in mind that most of these people are quite ignorant of cultures and societies in the middle east. very few speak the language. it is hence easy to blame the jewish state rather than multiple american policy failures.
18. China stealing weapons technology directly from America
Steve Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (05.11.14)
19. Bush caught real spies, Obama leaks about imaginary ones
Steve Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (05.11.14)
20. #12-The US is losing its Superpower status
thanks to Obama   (05.11.14)
Thanks to the current administration, the US is about to lose it super power status in the next few years.
21. 4,18,19 not mine.
Steve Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (05.11.14)
22. Excellemt article. Thank you Mr. Ben-Yishai
reader   (05.11.14)
23. 18,19 not mine.
Steve Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (05.11.14)
24. Maybe Bush spied Al Gore..
Shaly   (05.11.14)
Wasnt the Valery Plame affair during his presidency?
25. no. 21 - nothing intelligent is ever yours
(05.12.14)
26. Spying on Algore
Green Baron ,   Bethesda, MD, USA   (05.12.14)
Let the Mossad or anyone else spy on Algore in any way they wish. They will receive a treasure-trove of misinformation!
27. The united States and Israel
Sjoerd van der Velde ,   Hoorn, Holland   (05.12.14)
Gradually, Israel can do without the U.S. (in that case). Israel, forever, ever and always!
28. Israeli spying
Gene Graczyk ,   Santa Rosa, CA USA   (05.12.14)
Worst of all for Israel, this article rings true to many Americans who have links to intelligence and military groups. Did you think we wouldn't notice or did you simply not care? Israel is set on a course of self-isolation and if the rest of the world sees how Israel treats its one remaining friend, there will be no return to any kind of world acceptance for generations. Some will say you do not need the rest of the world--think again. If your tourist and export trade disappear, you cannot rely on your domestic economy alone to survive.
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