Pollard to Be Freed?
CNN is reporting that’s a possibility.
I’d best shut the hell up now before I say something I’ll later regret.
Category: Foreign Policy, Military issues
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
Just more proof that this administration’s foreign policy has been an across the board failure. He’s been in jail through 5 different presidents, and not one of them had to offer him up as a negotiation chip to Israel.
Actually, I think you are mistaken. According to reports at the time, President Clinton offered to release J. Pollard to get PM Netanyahu to sign the Wye Accords during his first round as PM. After Netanyahu signed, Clinton reneged as I recall.
I was hoping this was April Fools. This administration defines the word feckless. Pollards spying was out of greed and only after he was caught was it “out of an extreme sense of loyalty to Israel”. Fucker should have hung.
Man you called it… April Fools! Are we (US) the fools?
There are a few that should have had an appointment with the business end of a noose, instead of 3 hots and a cot at taxpayer expense, but that’s just me.
More than a few, OT.
Exactly what you said. There was no loyalty to Israel until it was an angle to be played. I swear if he gets out, I’ll follow my daughter on her Birthright trip and I’ll be looking for him.
So they want to let this guy go free so Israel and Palestine will get along. I suppose that Israel will also release all of the old Nazis they have in prison so that Germany and Russia will get along better. Makes about as much sense.
When do we quit sucking up to Israel??
When do you quit sucking up to the Palies?
Whether Israel is an ally or not, spies are spies and this one has no business ever breathing free air again.
But then again, just when you thought the Obama administration has fucked up as much as anyone can, they throw another surprise into the mix.
Israel doesn’t hold old Nazis. With very few exceptions, they are held by the countries where they committed their crimes.
Just cause this gets posted elsewhere on the internet…a first for here…..
“President” Ballrog, HUSSEIN, Sombrero, Fresh Prince of Bill Ayers, al-Chicago, Chocolate Jesus, B-Rock the Islamic Shock, Barky McTeleprompter, Wizard of Uhhs, BoBo the Clown, Oblahbla, Jug Ears, Saunas breach akimbo, Waffles The Clown, Borborygmos Hammerhiem, The Rainbow King, Bukkake O’Bunga, OBIGOT, El Jefe Chocholate, “Jace the Mindsculpter”, Hopey McChangeypants, Oyobi, Bonzo the Time Traveler, La Bamba yo’ Mamma, Samurai Kebab Nachos, Barackabeedoobeedoobeedo, Hussein-In-The-Membrane, Black Thunder, Dr. Utopia, Obamarambo, Fartbongo, II”
0bama and John F’n Kerry want the agreement between Israel and the Palestinians so bad, to make this administration appear as if the still have clout on the world scene, they would do something this low.
Agreed Ohio. Barrycade and Jawn F’ing sKerry will do anything to take the heat off of Obamacare, the lack of a coherent foreign policy and the rest of the mess that is this Regime.
That said, it’s not like this is being reported by a news organization.
I’ve never quite understood WHY the United States government was so adamantly insistent on making certain that Jonathan Pollard received the harshest sentence possible (short of execution), coupled with the harshest conditions possible, along with the continuous public vilification of Jonathan Pollard.
In contrast, our government is generally silent about all other convicted espionage agents.
If the United States of America and the State of Israel are military allies, then what damage was done?
Specifically, what information did Jonathan Pollard surreptitously obtain for Israel which, apparently, was so devastating to our United States of America?
I think I once read something about he gave Israel information about our AWACS aircraft, but I’m not certain.
I do remember reading over and over, endless reports of how Jonathan Pollard did an unprecedented amount of irreparable damage to our Country.
But, WHAT, exactly?
And HOW was it done?
So far as I am aware, neither Jonathan Pollard, nor the governments of the State of Israel and the United States of America have ever produced any detailed clarification.
From what I’ve ascertained thus far, my impression is that there is a whole lot more to this case, than has been revealed and disseminated to the general public.
Look at the timing, for one. Right after Walker/Whitworth.
They could very well have executed him, but chose not to. Frankly, the guy is lucky to be breathing.
I used to tell the guys back on the boat when I was an LPO, “It’s okay to make a mistake. You learn from it, and move on. However, you don’t want to be the SECOND person to make the mistake.”
I’ll buy that for mistakes, NHSparky.
I won’t buy it for selling out your homeland. Selling out your homeland – even to an “ally” – isn’t a “mistake”.
He didn’t receive a conviction for treason or espionage, he released classified documents. I wasn’t sure death was even on the table at the time….it was my understanding he was the only person in US history to get life for what he did. The statute on that crime currently limits punishment to 10 years…
I’m not defending him, he’s a rat bastard traitor in my opinion. But, that’s not what he was prosecuted for or convicted of so the law should be applied equally based on what he was convicted of at trial.
Of course we all know equal application of the law in the US is never actually equal….so…
VOV: Pollard pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to deliver national defense information to a foreign government. That appears to be 18 USC 794 – which is indeed the crime of espionage.
As for the “he’s gotten the worst punishment of any spy” argument – bull. The Rosenbergs were convicted of spying on behalf of the USSR during World War II. When the Rosenbergs spied for the USSR, the USSR was a wartime ally. The Rosenbergs were executed for their crime.
Pollard should remain in prison until he draws his last breath. Sadly, since the law in effect when he committed his crimes allowed parole after serving 30 years of a life sentence, he’ll almost certainly be paroled next November.
Addendum: Pollard also agreed to his plea deal in exchange for leniency for both himself and his wife. The deal was that the govt would not ask for life imprisonment for either. In exchange, Pollard would not release details of what had happened w/o government approval.
Pollard violated that agreement before he was even sentenced (Wolf Blitzer interview while awaiting sentencing, in which he disclosed information he agreed he would not). And the prosecution did not ask for life for Pollard – the judge, after reviewing the evidence and circumstances, determined that Pollard’s plea agreement had been nullified and gave him life imprisonment without the government requesting same.
I would like to be a spy and make lots of money.
Are there any foreign countries (or anybody) who would be interested in purchasing information about the Armed Forces Retirement Home?
https://www.afrh.gov/afrh/
I could also betray the VA hospital, the golf course, shrimp boats, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Amazon and Walmart web sites.
But, first, I want the money.
Oh, wait – – – ,
I forgot – – – ,
Our money’s no good anymore, is it?
In case anyone’s interested, here’s a declassified CIA damage assessment of Pollard’s work.
http://www2.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB407/docs/Pollard%20damage%20assess%20CIA.pdf
A one-sentence excerpt from the intro (emphasis added):
Pollard recalled that his first and possibly largest delivery occurred on 23 January and consisted of five suitcases-full of classified material, and that he maintained the biweekly schedule — interrupted only by a second operational trip abroad — until his arrest in November 1985.
I just now finished reading that PDF document, and it appears that over half of the pages are still classified, as they are blanked out.
Even the declassified pages are filled with blank spots, indicating additional classified data.
I saw no mention of United States nuclear targets in the Soviet Union.
I wonder why Jonathan Pollard didn’t just emigrate to Israel, instead of betraying the United States of America?
Because had Pollard emigrated to Israel he couldn’t make $50k in about 18 months of part-time work betraying his native country to at least 3 others (Israel, Pakistan, and South Africa – accounts indicate he provided info to all of those countries), John Robert Mallernee. Nor could his wife have used that stolen information to further her business interests and prospects.
Follow the money. It generally leads you to the “why”.
Hey Schulzy and Bud MacFarlane want Pollard to get clemency for his actions….Pollard can’t be that bad…
/sarc
It is my one humble opinion that Israel is and has been our only friend and ally in the Mid East. I do not think Pollard should be released because he committed a crime against the US not Israel. Is Israel sometimes self serving in trying to maintain their borders and freedom? Yes. To the point of spying on us, their ally? Yes. But then again, they will have to sit in the back of that bus when it comes to our endeavors to protect ourselves through similar means. Including our spying on Israel. For Obama and Kerry this is not about Israel at all. It is about making the Palestinians happy and looking for another Nobel Prize for Obama and/or Kerry. I personally could give a crap about the Palestinians. In my book they are just a different flavor of the same Jihadist terrorists we know of elsewhere in the world. I do not think we should bend and release Pollard to appease Israel. Part and parcel of being allies and helping one another, even in a bad part of the world and with a very close ally, is also being able to say, NO, when it is necessary. I believe Israel needs the US. I also believe we need them and their support in that area of the world. If anyone can and has given Israel doubts about our resolve to our alliance with them, it has been Obama and Kerry. But I admit, Israel has done their part in causing us some doubts. Again, just my one opinion here.
Never forget Lord Palmerston’s famous quote, Sparks: “Nations have no permanent friends or allies, they only have permanent interests.”
Today’s ally can end up an enemy tomorrow, and vice versa.
Hondo I know what you wrote is true. However much I wish it were not so.
The ghost of Pollard hangs over the head of American Jews in the United States Army whether they realize it or not.
I love Israel almost as much as I love my country, but I tell you what, any American Jew that supports Pollard’s freedom because he’s some noble, misunderstood creature is despicable and I’d like to punch them in the nuts. The guy was mercenary…he tried to sell intel to more than just Israel, so he wasn’t some well-intentioned fellow trying to help his fellow Jews. He was a greedy putz.
That said, there are folks that have done more damage that are serving shorter sentences (the Manning manboygirlthing, for instance). I have no problems with him being released, provided he be required to make a public statement telling American Jews EXACTLY what he is. But my Israeli and American Jewish brothers and sisters can line up to suckle on my circumcised shmendrick if they think he’s some kind of folk hero.
But that’s just the opinion of this yid.
If they let this asshole out it will be a travesty. I understand why we have “worked with” Israel for all these years but certainly we are beyond that. There was some advice given years ago by who I don’t remember but paraphrased it said don’t get involved with ancient feuds that you’ll never understand, much less effect.
I’m not anti-israel or Jewish.
We have been trying to get the conflict over there mitigated since the palastein state was created. How much good have we done.
Pollard was a spy, it doesn’t matter he was spying for a “friend”. He should rot in jail for his entire life term!
If you need sign off on your comments from a pro-Israel American Jew, you have it.
My fellow Heebs are dumb if they exchange Pollard for concessions to the PA and the current administration.
I get the sense that Kerry is half-stepping over there, anyway. If they get any traction with Israeli concessions on the merits of Pollard…ugh, perish the thought.
I recall reading somewhere that the reams of documents Pollard passed to the Israelis may have included detailed info about our nuclear warfare strategies, including our target lists inside the Soviet Union. And that the Israelis may then have turned around and passed that info to the Soviets, as a quid pro quo for allowing the emigration of more Russian Jews to Israel.
If that is true, then Pollard’s espionage really did cause grave damage to U.S. national security, at the height of the Cold War. And even if the Israelis didn’t pass the info to the Soviets, Pollard was still grossly irresponsible and traitorous, because he had not control over what the Israelis would do with that info after he passed it over to them.
It’s important to remember that even allies can have radically different agendas at times (e.g., the Israeli interest in facilitating the immigration of Russian Jews, vs. the U.S. desire to keep our nuclear strategies secret from our potential enemies). That’s why the argument that Pollard should be released because “he only spied for an ally” is such BS.
Pollard betrayed his oath and he needs to die in prison, period.