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Source: http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=6139249
White House Aware of Probe When Bush, Rice Praised AIPAC
(Reuters) Over two years ago, U.S. national security adviser Condoleezza Rice and her deputy, Stephen Hadley, were "apprised of the counterintelligence investigation of AIPAC" by the FBI regarding whether classified information was passed to Israel, Washington's closest ally in the Middle East, by the pro-Israel lobbying group, a senior administration official said Thursday. Since the White House National Security Council was informed of the case, Bush, Rice, and other senior administration officials have praised AIPAC. In May, Bush said AIPAC was "serving the cause of America," including its role in highlighting "the threat posed by Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons." In March 2003, Rice called AIPAC "a great asset to our country." "Apparently nothing turned up during this rigorous two-year probe of AIPAC's activities to deter President Bush from addressing AIPAC's policy conference on May 18, 2004. Nor has information surfaced that has prevented scores of other administration and congressional leaders from speaking regularly and candidly with AIPAC officials," the group said in a statement. The group has had high-level contacts with the Bush White House, as well as previous U.S. administrations.