We take seriously the issue of humanitarian release for Jonathan Pollard. Twenty-nine years in prison– half his life until now– is enough. Let him go.
But what should be the terms of his release?
First, The Israelis have never come clean about what they got and what they did with it. They must give us that information before the U.S. unlocks Pollard’s cell. There’s a strong suggestion in Seymour Hersh’s coverage of the case, and others, that some in the intelligence community believe Pollard’s secrets were traded to the Soviet Union in exchange for Soviet Jewish emigres to Israel, at a huge risk to US national security. It’s possible US agents were killed. Were they? Who? We’d like to know. Let us have the answers.
Second. It’s clear that thirty years ago, Israeli intelligence took advantage of an emotionally-distressed young man with drug problems. Have any Israelis paid the price for helping to put this man in prison for thirty years? Pollard certainly approached Israel and offered to spy for them. But who in the end is to blame for this: Israel intelligence handlers stuck him in prison for nearly 30 years and walked away with a boatload of our secrets.
The real villain here isn’t Pollard. He’s a pathetic guy who’s suffered enough. Let him go, but we want answers and the answers don’t come from him. They come from Tel Aviv. Has anyone in the Israeli security apparatus been punished for taking advantage of an insecure young man with drug issues? Why did the investigation of this spying episode stop with him? What was Israel doing? And were any of these Israeli handlers– better called his manipulators– punished for taking advantage of this young man and sticking him in prison and violating American friendship?
Three, What does releasing Pollard on humanitarian grounds have to do with the Israeli occupation of Palestine? Nothing. Why should an American who spied for Israel have anything to do with why Palestinian people who live in Hebron should be free of the crushing burden of apartheid and occupation? (See Yousef Munayyer, who makes a similar point).
Let him go… in exchange for one of the people responsible for attacking USS Liberty.
Moshe Dayan is dead, but I’m sure there’s some commander who was young’ish at the time who surely has a few decades left. And if we can’t have him in prison, where he(and his colleagues) belong, then at least do a real investigation. It’s past time.
Finally, Pollard gets a shot at parole in 2015, so for Obama/Kerry to give him up now doesn’t really matter that much on substance.
Optics/politics is different, however, where this deal has been seen as yet another craven attempt by desperate Americans to blow fumes into a process that never lived. Just read the NYT comments, the readers of a “liberal” Zionist paper. They are savaging the administration, it’s 99-1 against the release of Pollard.
” First, The Israelis have never come clean about what they got and what they did with it. They must give us that information before the U.S. unlocks Pollard’s cell. ”>>>
Well, that’s never going to happen. The Israelis have never and will never come clean about anything, regardless of what they are offered or given.
Pollards release or continued imprisonment has no effect on anything.
Release him or not, Israel will keep on doing what its doing.
Cant change a scorpion’s nature.
First, The Israelis have never come clean about what they got and what they did with it. They must give us that information before the U.S. unlocks Pollard’s cell.
Why? There are two different issues here. One is the actions of Pollard. Two is the actions of what is perceived of the US’s closest allie, Isarel.
I don’t think we should be taking revenge on Pollard for the actions of Israel. Pollard is responsible for his own actions and the consequences of those actions. Israel is responsible for its own actions and the consequences. While Pollard’s actions led and allowed Israel’s actions we need to draw a line here. It is wrong to hold Pollard hostage to try and force Israel’s hand. If he should be released (and I agree that he should) then he should be released, regardless of the actions of Israel. It is the difference between being responsible for one’s own actions and the consequences of those actions, and being responsible for the actions of someone else. Pollard is not responsible for the actions of someone else.
Sometimes, the most reliable websites and individuals seem to defend positions that are not understandable. Like when Glenn Greenwald was pleading FOR Scooter Libby in the Plame affair.
Why on Earth would North and Weiss all of a sudden push for a long standing goal of the Israel lobby on “humanitarian grounds”? I think James and Phil have things obviously backwards. First let us know what happened and then decide on letting Pollard go. How do we know that Pollard he’s not lucky he has not been sentenced to death at this point? It is altogether possible that justice has had kid gloves with him. We don’t know.
Releasing Pollard now is sending a clear message: if the lobby is now strong enough to have him freed, anyone can spy for Israel without taking any risks: we have your back!
This is disastrous. Why are James and Phil now pushing for this??? I think honest players concerned about Pollard can only ask for the truth, then, maybe, for his release.
/We take seriously the issue of humanitarian release for Jonathan Pollard/
Bullshit.