Uzi Arad met with Larry Franklin in the Pentagon cafeteria to shoot the breeze (if you believe Arad). I’ve got a few other ideas what they were doing. Because this senior Mossad operative was caught poaching U.S. secrets from Pentagon officials his U.S. visa was revoked by the Bush Administration in 2007.
But given that we’re talking about Israel here, its spies seems to have the resilience of a Punch and Judy show clown. Knock ’em down a few times and they bounce right back. At least, that’s what’s happened to Arad. After being appointed Bibi Netanyahu’s national security advisor, he gained a new lease on life. The Obama administration also restored Arad’s visa:
Netanyahu’s advisers – attorney Yitzhak Molcho, National Security Council head Uzi Arad and public relations chief Ron Dermer – will return Friday from preparatory talks in the U.S. capital.
Because of the regulation under which his visa was revoked only the attorney general or president may restore it. That means the decision to do so went very high. And no one either in Israel or here actually announced the decision. They just figured it would be better to let bloggers try to make something of it.
Eli Lake, who reported originally on Arad’s visa denial for the Washington Times seems to have dropped the story. I wonder why.
Frankly, I’m shocked that Obama would give in on this one. Unless he figures he’s going to sock it to Bibi at next week’s meeting and he might as well throw him a sop like Arad. H/t to Helena Cobban.
I’m hoping it’s a case of “you got to give to get.”
Israel out of Palestine.
RE: “I’m shocked that Obama would give in on this one. Unless he figures he’s going to sock it to Bibi at next week’s meeting and he might as well throw him a sop like Arad.”
MY COMMENT: We can only hope (and pray, if you’re so inclined).