Why are scientists such bad spies?

Tue, 10/20/2009 - 1:05pm

It appears astrophysics isn't a good prerequisite for espionage. Hot off the heels of this month's arrest of an alleged al-Qaeda operative at the CERN lab, a U.S. scientist was brought down yesterday for trying to sell state secrets to Israel.

Stewart David Nozette, third from the left in the photo, once had top security clearance during his tenure with both the U.S. Department of Defense and NASA. While he worked in the George H.W. Bush administration, he had access to top secret and secret information about U.S. satellites. When approached by an undercover FBI agent, he offered to spill this information if Israeli intelligence could pony up the cash. (The sting's details are here)

The Department of Justice says Israel is in no way implicated in the sting, however Politico points out that Nozette said he expected to be contacted by Mossad at some point, and his former company, Israel Aircraft Industries, has had several employees charged with espionage.

In a statement, Nozette said he thought he was already working for Israeli intelligence while employed by Israel Aircraft Industries, as he thought they were a front. He will be in court today; if convicted, he could face life in prison.

These recent scientist-turned-spy stories remind one of when the two professions interfaced seamlessly.

STR/AFP/Getty Images

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Why do these people seem to

by Grant on Tue, 10/20/2009 - 7:40pm

Why do these people seem to have such comfort working for Israel? Are they under the impression that the United States foreign policy can't possibly be damaged by this?

I wonder how it was that

by A balanced view on Tue, 10/20/2009 - 7:56pm

I wonder how it was that Those other guys who were busted for espionage from the same Israeli (front) company that he worked as a "consultant" for were busted, and who it was (Hmmmm.... Israel?) that they were supplying information to.

Boy. What a special relationship we have with out great ally Israel. The settlers are busy using our aid money to help inspire new terrorist attacks against the US as they violate international law.

The Israeli government is working hard with the spys at AIPAC and their helpers such as Jane Harman and Haim Saban to goad our goverment into a war with Iran that will spark something WORSE than the great depression for the US and most of the world. All in an effort to save the settlements and to push the US into a corner with Israel that we will not get out of for decades.

Spying is a profession

by Pigasus on Tue, 10/20/2009 - 10:03pm

Mr. Nozette is a traitor, not a spy. It's an important distinction. Spies are professionals who lead an unenviable life in order to keep their countrymen safe.

Traitors are folks who betray their country, often merely for a few bucks.

Mr. Nozette's use of tradecraft no more makes him a spy than a serial killer's use of a knife makes him a surgeon.

What's interesting about CERN

by musicmaster on Wed, 10/21/2009 - 7:32am

I still don't get it why a man working for CERN would be of interest for Muslim extremists. As far as I can see his knowledge is just as interesting as that of an astrophysicist. They might appreciate his capacity for cracking numbers - important in nuclear matters - but nothing more specific.