Who’s zoomin’ who?

One big weekend story suggests that someone inside the United States government “leaked” intelligence documents — is “leak” the right term? — bearing on Israel’s impending strike on Iran. CNN’s story describes the documents as follows:

They describe preparations Israel appears to be making for a strike against Iran. One of the documents, which says it was compiled by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, says the plans involve Israel moving munitions around.

Another document says it is sourced to the National Security Agency and outlines Israeli air force exercises involving air-to-surface missiles, also believed to be in preparation for a strike on Iran. CNN is not quoting directly from or showing the documents.

The documents are dated October 15 and 16 and were posted on Friday by Middle East Spectator, a pro-Iran Telegram account. According to Adam Kredo’s excellent Free Beacon story following up on the CNN report, the documents “expose how Israel is preparing for the attack, including the types of aircraft and munitions that are expected to be used.”

The documents are marked top secret and bear other markings indicating they are meant to be seen only by the US and its “Five Eyes” allies — Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, but the “leak” is sourced to the United States, according to Kredo:

[A] former U.S. intelligence community official who reviewed them said there is no question they emanated from the U.S. side. The documents, the former official said, appear to have been posted on a U.S. classified system that can be accessed by “thousands upon thousands” of American officials from across the government.”

“They all can literally log onto a classified computer and pull up the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency’s website and look at whatever is made available to them,” the former official said. “Why would you allow any intelligence like this, whether it’s compartmentalized or not, why would you ever allow that to be generally available?”

The Middle East Spectator has released this statement pointing to the Pentagon:

At this point, Kredo’s is the go-to story. Kredo quotes an unnamed senior administration official: “For at least the past year there has been a concerted campaign to leak what at least seems to be classified information by anti-Israel elements in large part to impact media narratives—but, if true, this obviously goes beyond that.”

Kredo also quotes Michael Rubin: “This is not the first time a U.S. administration has leaked top secret details meant to sidetrack Israeli efforts to undermine Iran’s nuclear program.” Yes, indeed, see Lee Smith 2012 Tablet column “Who leaked Israeli Iran plan?”

Let it be noted. The Iranian regime that seeks the destruction of the United States as well as Israel has some close friends in high places. You can look it up.

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