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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 .