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
.