DATE=07/05/99
TYPE=U-S OPINION ROUNDUP
NUMBER=6-11366
TITLE=SPYING CASES
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
TELEPHONE=619-2702
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS
CONTENT=
INTRO: SUSPECTED CHINESE ESPIONAGE IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE
CASE OF 13 JEWS ACCUSED OF SPYING IN IRAN ARE THE FOCUS OF
EDITORIALS IN TWO OF AMERICA'S MAJOR NEWSPAPERS THIS MONDAY.
HERE WITH A LOOK AT THEM IS ________ WITH TODAY'S U-S OPINION
ROUND UP.
TEXT: THIRTEEN JEWS IN IRAN ARE CHARGED WITH SPYING FOR ISRAEL,
AND THE QUESTION FOR THOSE FOLLOWING THE CASE, BOTH IN IRAN AND
ABROAD, IS WHETHER AUTHORITIES IN TEHRAN WILL PROSECUTE. THERE
ARE INDICATIONS THE DEFENDANTS HAVE BEEN SET UP: IRANIAN
AUTHORITIES HAVE NOT ALLOWED THEM LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND NO
EVIDENCE SUGGESTING GUILT HAS BEEN MADE PUBLIC.
"THE NEW YORK TIMES" WRITES IRANIAN PRESIDENT MOHAMMAD KHATAMI
NEEDS TO STEP IN AND STOP THE PROCESS IF HE WANTS TIES WITH THE
WEST TO TAKE A STEP FORWARD.
VOICE: MR. KHATAMI SEEMS LOATH TO RISK ACCUSATIONS OF
ENDANGERING NATIONAL SECURITY BY INTERFERING WITH THE
PROSECUTION OF ALLEGED SPIES. BUT SO FAR, THIS CASE
SEEMS TO BE LESS ABOUT FOREIGN ESPIONAGE THAN ABOUT A
CAMPAIGN BY MR. KHATAMI'S DOMESTIC ENEMIES TO SABOTAGE
HIS PROGRAM OF REFORM AND DIALOGUE WITH THE WEST. THE
IRANIAN PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY PAID A HIGH PRICE FOR THE
INTERNATIONAL ISOLATION THEY HAVE ENDURED FOR TWO
DECADES. IT WOULD BE A PITY IF MR. KHATAMI'S REFORMS
WERE NOW UNDERMINED BY A CONTRIVED SPY CASE.
VOICE: QUITE A DIFFERENT CASE OF ALLEGED ESPIONAGE INVOLVES
CHINA. BEIJING STANDS ACCUSED OF OBTAINING THE SECRETS ABOUT
AMERICA'S MOST SOPHISTICATED NUCLEAR WEAPONS FROM U-S GOVERNMENT
LABS. A CHINESE AMERICAN SCIENTIST FIRED FROM HIS JOB AT THE LOS
ALAMOS LABORATORY IN NEW MEXICO REMAINS THE CHIEF SUSPECT.
THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS GIVEN DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS ABOUT
WHEN IT FIRST LEARNED OF THE LOSS OF TOP-SECRET INFORMATION.
"THE WASHINGTON TIMES" WRITES THAT EITHER SENIOR WHITE HOUSE
OFFICIALS ARE INCOMPETENT, WHICH IT SAYS IS HARD TO IMAGINE, OR
THEY ARE LYING.
VOICE: ...IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BELIEVE ONE COULD BE SO
INCOMPETENT AS TO NOT REPORT THE THEFT OF THE NATION'S
NUCLEAR CROWN JEWELS TO THE PRESIDENT. THAT LEAVES THE
ALTERNATIVE: LYING. IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT THE CLINTON
ADMINISTRATION HAS A CLEAR INCENTIVE TO LIE ABOUT WHEN
THE PRESIDENT WAS TOLD. ... IF...THE PRESIDENT WAS
WARNED IN JULY OF 1995, AS HE SURELY SHOULD HAVE BEEN,
THEN THE ADMINISTRATION IGNORED CHINESE NUCLEAR
ESPIONAGE FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS -- EVEN AS IT WAS
PURSUING ITS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH CHINA'S LEADERS,
WHO, SIMULTANEOUSLY, WERE ENGAGED IN A MASSIVE OPERATION
TO FINANCE MR. CLINTON'S REELECTION.
VOICE: TWO AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS RESPONDING TO TWO DIFFERENT CASES
OF SUSPECTED OF ESPIONAGE. THAT IS MONDAY'S U-S OPINION ROUND
UP.
NEB/NJS/RAE
05-Jul-99 10:33 AM EDT (1433 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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