U.S. Investigating Sale of Snort as Security Risk

msmoriarty writes "The Associated Press is reporting today that the same U.S. committee that approved the Dubai ports deal is 'strongly objecting' to Israeli-based Check Point's acquisition of Snort's parent company, Sourcefire, because it doesn't want a foreign company to own Snort's underlying technology. According to the article, the broader 45-day review process rejected for the ports deal is already underway regarding this transaction, and 'secret' meetings between the FBI, DoD and Check Point have been held."

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Re:Slashdot prone to xenophobia?

[superyooser]

Now, Israel, on the other hand, has a history of spying on the US, including having their spies caught on US soil.

Your vagueness is telling. About how many spies? Spying for what reasons, you don't say. Maybe because the U.S. maliciously withholds information that Israel could use to protect itself--information about WMD warfare capabilities of neighboring enemy states. The U.S. State Department is fundamentally Arabist and anti-Israel. It doesn't matter who the president is. The bureaucrats are entrenched, and they wield much power in international affairs.

Israel, while nominally a US ally, could potentially be a great threat.

It may seem to be only "nominal" because the U.S. cannot publicize its collaboration without fallout in the Arab world. Really, Israel is far more valuable an ally than even Britain. Former Sen. Jesse Helms said, "Israel is at least the equivalent of a U.S. aircraft carrier in the Middle East. Without Israel promoting its and America's common interests, we would be badly off indeed." And from here:

Israel has played a remarkable role in supporting America both militarily and politically. Some may have forgotten that Gen. George Keegan, Head of America's Air Force Intelligence once stated that Israel was worth 5 CIAs based upon the Intelligence Israel provided her ally and benefactor, the United States.

When Saddam invaded Kuwait, it was Israel who provided on-ground Intelligence to the U.S. which proved invaluable. Gen. Dugan, who was in charge of operations during the First Gulf War, made the mistake of publicly thanking Israel for her assistance during an interview and was promptly fired. Israel raised an Air Umbrella for incoming U.S. Aircraft ferrying supplies, weapons and all the stuff that was needed for eventually attacking Saddam.

It was Israel who put teams in the Iraqi desert to pick up any American airmen shot down. (We all know what happened to those captured by Iraqis.) Israel proved her value as an Aircraft Carrier which protected American interests.

The Patriot missile used in the first Gulf War was based on Israeli technology. U.S. forces in the latest Gulf war were trained by Israelis for urban combat in Iraq. Security officials in New York City and other major U.S. cities visit anti-terror experts in Israel to learn how to protect our homeland. I could go on and on.

The offered world-class technology, top-notch intelligence, and superior anti-terror expertise, combined with a unique geographical importance in the war on terror, as well as shared ideals of freedom, democracy, and Western values make Israel a vital, natural, staunch ally.