A U.S. Navy sailor is reportedly under investigation by Navy authorities with spying for Israel and desertion. On July 29/30, WMR reported on the largely forgotten last Israeli spy in the military, Lt. Col. Jeremiah Matysse, an intelligence officer in Texas who deserted to Israel but was returned to the U.S. in 2000.
Navy Fire Control Technician Petty Officer Third Class Ariel J. Weinmann, who served on board the USS Albuquerque (SSN-706), a Los Angeles-class nuclear attack submarine, was detained by federal authorities at Dallas-Fort Worth airport after returning from Mexico City and while en route to Vancouver, British Columbia. Weinmann was listed as a deserter in July 2005. He is now being held in the Norfolk Naval Station brig under maximum security. Navy authorities have been reluctant to release the name of the country involved in the espionage case. The Middle East newspaper Al Watan, is reporting that the country in question is Israel. The Jerusalem Post is referring to the Al Watan story in today's edition. The Norfolk media is suggesting a Russian connection to the case. However, as noted in this editor's book, "Jaded Tasks," there are strong connections between Israeli intelligence and the global Russian-Ukrainian Mafia.
Reported Israeli spy aboard USS Albuquerque (SSN-706) being held in brig in Norfolk. May have passed classified Tomahawk cruise missile information to Israel prior to military attack on Iran.
Weinmann allegedly met his intelligence handlers and passed them classified information in three locations: Manama, Bahrain; Vienna, Austria; and Mexico City. Because of his rating, Weinmann would have had access to classified information on the Tomahawk cruise missile system. The Albuquerque is also capable of conducting signals intelligence operations and covertly inserting U.S. Navy commandos into coastal areas.
Weinmann enlisted in the Navy in July 2003. The classified data was contained on a Navy laptop computer that Weinmann took with him when he deserted. It is possible that the computer contained an encryption chip that permitted Weinmann and his handlers to continue to access classified Navy information online. The laptop computer was not returned and Weinmann was charged with theft and destruction of government property because Weinmann allegedly smashed the computer's hard drive with a sledgehammer while he was in Vienna.
U.S. intelligence sources suspect Navy is covering up Ariel J. Weinmann's Israeli espionage connections. Claim if Russia was involved, that information would have been released when suspect was first arrested in March.
Israel's intelligence interest in the Tomahawk is significant. Currently, the Israeli Navy has three German-built Dolphin class diesel electric submarines that are Popeye Turbo cruise missile capable. Israel's submarine deployment strategy is to keep one submarine on standby in Haifa (now likely deployed due to Hezbollah rocket attacks), one in the Red Sea and supported out of an Israeli support base in the Dahlak Archipelago in Eritrea, and one in the Persian Gulf that is on standby for an attack on Iran.
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