US Might free Jonathan Pollard

[JoeB131]

The United States is talking with Israel about the possibility of releasing convicted spy Jonathan Pollard early from his life sentence as an incentive in the troubled Mideast peace negotiations, a person familiar with the situation said Monday. Such an extraordinary step would show the urgency of U.S. efforts to keep negotiations alive.

The person cautioned that a Pollard release — which would be a dramatic turnaround from previous refusals — was far from certain and that discussions with Israel on the matter were continuing. The person spoke only on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the negotiations on the record.


Read more: U.S. talks with Israel on release of spy Jonathan Pollard - Associated Press - POLITICO.com

I'm all for this. Not a fan of Israel in general, but Pollard got an excessive sentence for spying for an allied country.

 

[editec]

The United States is talking with Israel about the possibility of releasing convicted spy Jonathan Pollard early from his life sentence as an incentive in the troubled Mideast peace negotiations, a person familiar with the situation said Monday. Such an extraordinary step would show the urgency of U.S. efforts to keep negotiations alive.

The person cautioned that a Pollard release — which would be a dramatic turnaround from previous refusals — was far from certain and that discussions with Israel on the matter were continuing. The person spoke only on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the negotiations on the record.


Read more: U.S. talks with Israel on release of spy Jonathan Pollard - Associated Press - POLITICO.com

I'm all for this. Not a fan of Israel in general, but Pollard got an excessive sentence for spying for an allied country.

Is it? You might be right.

Do you have examples of other spies from "allied" nations who got softer sentences for the same degree of betrayal?

 

[JoeB131]

[

Is it? You might be right.

Do you have examples of other spies from "allied" nations who got softer sentences for the same degree of betrayal?

Robert Kim, an American Citizen who spied for South Korea, was only given 9 years and was released after 7.

Incidently, the South Korean government didn't rally for Kim the way that Israel has rallied for Pollard. They pretty much threw him to the wolves.

Bitter South Koreans Rally Behind Spy Convicted in U.S. - Los Angeles Times

 

[SAYIT]

[

Is it? You might be right.

Do you have examples of other spies from "allied" nations who got softer sentences for the same degree of betrayal?

Robert Kim, an American Citizen who spied for South Korea, was only given 9 years and was released after 7.

Incidently, the South Korean government didn't rally for Kim the way that Israel has rallied for Pollard. They pretty much threw him to the wolves.

Bitter South Koreans Rally Behind Spy Convicted in U.S. - Los Angeles Times

Pollard was not found guilty of spying on the US but rather of passing our spying results regarding Israel's Mideast neighbors on to Israel. According to the WIKI link below "Pollard is the only person in US history to receive a life sentence for spying for an ally, and the only American citizen convicted of such a crime to be sentenced to more than 10 years in prison." He has served 30 years.
That said, something about the story doesn't make sense. It says we are offering to free Pollard in exchange for the release of more Palestinian terror-rats and more flexibility from Israel in the peace talks. Why would Israel risk their national security in order to free an aging American from an American prison?

Jonathan Pollard - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Jroc]

Pollard should be released but not in exchange for 400 terrorists and murderers..... **** that

 

[Jroc]

So here's the deal, Obama releases Pollard. Israel releases 400 more terrorists, and gives away half the country to the Arabs. Which would in turn mean the eventual destruction of Israel..... Yeah great deal in Obama utopia world ..**** that

 

[Manchester]

Pollard has done his time and should be released. He was rightly jailed but with him no longer being any threat as a spy any more and with probably nearly half his life gone I don;t see any reason not to release him. If his release can be used to help along a peace process then all the better.

 

[Two Thumbs]

He's a traitor.

But we should give him back to israel, in a ******* urn.


This trading of criminals never brings peace, everyone know this won't work, so don't bother.

 

[Lipush]

It's called emotional blackmail. They know just how much Pollard means to Israel and therefor try and use him to make Israel release hundreds of killers.

**** that.

America is pulling a Hamas gig on Israel?!

 

[Manchester]

He's a traitor.

But we should give him back to israel, in a ******* urn.


This trading of criminals never brings peace, everyone know this won't work, so don't bother.

Northern Ireland juest called, they said you're wrong.

 

[fairandbalanced]

I am no fan of this guy and abhor the act of treason, but it seems to me, the folks here and elsewhere who demand his head, have no problem with all the other traitors whose espionage harmed this country a lot more than Pollard spying for an ally to survive.
He is not getting a free pass, he served 30 years, while some spies simply disappear in back door deals.

 

[Phoenall]

Pollard has done his time and should be released. He was rightly jailed but with him no longer being any threat as a spy any more and with probably nearly half his life gone I don;t see any reason not to release him. If his release can be used to help along a peace process then all the better.

How can his release be seen as anything else but weakness on the part of the USA. The peace process will not be helped along it will just escalate more terrorist violence around the world. The peace process will only be helped along if the Palestinian Leaders see that they are in danger of being killed.

 

[RoccoR]

JoeB131, et al,

No question, the two cases were handled differently. That is a reflection of the distinction between both the cases themselves, and the agencies involved.

Is it? You might be right.

Do you have examples of other spies from "allied" nations who got softer sentences for the same degree of betrayal?

Robert Kim, an American Citizen who spied for South Korea, was only given 9 years and was released after 7.

Incidently, the South Korean government didn't rally for Kim the way that Israel has rallied for Pollard. They pretty much threw him to the wolves.

Bitter South Koreans Rally Behind Spy Convicted in U.S. - Los Angeles Times

(COMMENT)

Contrary to popular belief, the ROK Government did not just throw KIM to the wolves. What is not generally realized is that the ROK Embassy arranged monthly visits to KIM while in prison, where the Israelis did nothing similar.

There is a very big difference between the intelligence relationship between the ROK and Israel. It starts at the very bottom - working upward. The US has a very close - up and personal relationship at every level of the ROK Intelligence Community. For more than three decades, the US had a Counterintelligence Liaison Program that stretched across the entire country with nearly every ROK Intelligence activity of any consequence (police, military, and other civilian agencies). There is no such equivalent program with the Israeli system of intelligence and security; being much less cordial and personal, and much more centrally controlled (by the hierarchy from both sides); and with fewer people involved and many fewer contacts. I was once a [low shelf (Provincial Level) - four tours] Military Intelligence - Counterintelligence Liaison Agent in Korea for several years. And I met with ROK counterparts daily, sometimes several in a day; combat units, Special Forces, Defense Security Command, and the National Security Planning Agency. The ROK understood exactly how US Counterintelligence worked and understood how the US Intelligence Community thinks to a degree that the Israel Intelligence Community could never match.

Secondly, unlike KIM, Jonathan POLLARD passed classified information to both South Africa and China; not just Israel.

A Last thing that one should not forget is that the Jonathan POLLARD (Analyst, Naval Intelligence Command) espionage activities occurred prior to November 1987; less than 20 years after the incident with the USS Liberty (AGTR-5). I don't care what anyone says, in 1987, the USS Liberty was remembered. It may have not been spoken about, but it was not forgotten. I was still active then, and we all remembered what they did.

There is more than just one reason for the differences in which the POLLARD case was handled different then the KIM case.

Most Respectfully,
R

 

[aris2chat]

If terrorists with blood on their hands are part of the bargain to be released, I don't thing Pollard would want to responsible for that.
His release should not be conditional or as part of blackmail. No bargains.
Israel has released enough terrorist and palestinians. There might be some more that could be released but not those with blood.
Abbas has already said the only reason for the "talks" is to get prisoners released. It is not intended to find a compromise for peace.

 

[JoeB131]

So here's the deal, Obama releases Pollard. Israel releases 400 more terrorists, and gives away half the country to the Arabs. Which would in turn mean the eventual destruction of Israel..... Yeah great deal in Obama utopia world ..**** that

Demographics probably doom Israel, anyway.

The real question is, what do the Zionists do in an Israel/Palestine where Muslims are the majority.

Do they become South Africa, or do they become Rhodesia/Zimbabwe?

 

[Bill Angel]

I can think of a better swap. We will release Pollard to Israel if Russia turns over Snowden to the US Government.

 

[SAYIT]

So here's the deal, Obama releases Pollard. Israel releases 400 more terrorists, and gives away half the country to the Arabs. Which would in turn mean the eventual destruction of Israel..... Yeah great deal in Obama utopia world ..**** that

Demographics probably doom Israel, anyway.

The real question is, what do the Zionists do in an Israel/Palestine where Muslims are the majority.

Do they become South Africa, or do they become Rhodesia/Zimbabwe?

There is no reason that a majority Muslim Israel is inevitable. In fact, I'd say the chances of a Muslim-free Israel is even greater.

 

[Truthseeker420]

I can think of a better swap. We will release Pollard to Israel if Russia turns over Snowden to the US Government.

Why would Russia trade a traitor that is helping them for a traitor that helped Israel?

 

[pbel]

So here's the deal, Obama releases Pollard. Israel releases 400 more terrorists, and gives away half the country to the Arabs. Which would in turn mean the eventual destruction of Israel..... Yeah great deal in Obama utopia world ..**** that

Demographics probably doom Israel, anyway.

The real question is, what do the Zionists do in an Israel/Palestine where Muslims are the majority.

Do they become South Africa, or do they become Rhodesia/Zimbabwe?

There is no reason that a majority Muslim Israel is inevitable. In fact, I'd say the chances of a Muslim-free Israel is even greater.

Anybody with half a brain knows that, of course, you don't measure up jackass.

 

[aris2chat]

Pollard waives parole hearing as Middle East peace talks stumble - The Washington Post

Pollard declined parole hearing. He does not want to be a pawn.