America to keep man who helped Israel imprisoned

[pakdefender]

(CNN) -- The next time an Israeli official petitions the U.S. government to release Jonathan Pollard from prison, we should tell our friend and longtime ally in an unequivocal tone: He will die in an American prison, so stop asking!

Since he was convicted of espionage in 1987 and sentenced to life in prison, thousands of Israelis have made it their mission to get him released and sent to Israel. Why? So he could be treated like a hero?

Let's be clear: Jonathan Pollard is no hero. Other than an American killing a president, he committed the most heinous crime someone from this country could do. You don't go against your own country by passing on secrets to another nation, even if it's an ally like Israel.
This week, Israeli President Shimon Peres, who was in Washington to receive the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom, brought with him a petition signed by 70,000 Israelis calling for the release of Pollard.


He told Fox News that Israelis "feel very strongly about (Pollard.) And I understand their sentiment. But I am doing it not as a diplomat ... but as a human being."

Yet Israeli leaders have used their official position to seek Pollard's release.

In 1998, Benjamin Netanyahu, in his first go-round as prime minister of Israel, demanded Pollard's release as part of his attendance at the Wye River Conference, an effort to broker peace in the Middle East.

Various reports from Israelis who have talked with Netanyahu said President Bill Clinton either considered releasing him or actually agreed to do so, but later reneged. In 2002, Netanyahu even visited Pollard in prison.


Pollard is a deviant man who sold his country out for money, and no sort of pressure from Israel or any other country should cause a single American official to relent.

When asked this week about the request of Peres, White House press secretary Jay Carney said: "Our position has not changed, and will not change today. Mr. Pollard was convicted of extremely serious crimes."

It would behoove President Barack Obama to go even further. He should say that as long as he is president of the United States, Pollard will never be a free man.

While we are at it, we should also tell Reps. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, and Eliot Engel, D-New York, to pipe down. Those two are asking House members to sign a letter saying Pollard has served in prison long enough, and because his health is reportedly failing, should be released.

Really? So is this how they feel about a member of our military who sold this nation out?

America should make no apologies. Jonathan Pollard deserves to rot in prison. When he joined the Navy, he took the same oath every member of the military must: "I, Jonathan Pollard, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the president of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

The next time an Israeli official presses for Pollard's release, we should give them a copy of this and say, "Enough said."

Israel wrong to demand Jonathan Pollard's release - CNN.com

 

[Developereo]

This whole "request" during an election year was a stunt by the Israelis to stick a dagger in Obama's back for dragging his feet on Iran.

 

[rubyjackass]

Let's be clear: Jonathan Pollard is no hero. Other than an American killing a president, he committed the most heinous crime someone from this country could do. You don't go against your own country by passing on secrets to another nation, even if it's an ally like Israel.

Will Americans please apply the same logic to Shakil Afridi?

 

[tvsram1992]

wow in India life time means 14 years not more than that and can be released in 7 years if conduct is good

 

[airuah]

Will Americans please apply the same logic to Shakil Afridi?

Osama Bin Laden was Pakistan's national secret?

 

[pakdefender]

Osama Bin Laden was Pakistan's national secret?

A US national provided infromation to a US ally (Isreal) via collaboaration with a foreign intellegence agency, the information that Jonathan Pollarad provided to Isreal was something US should have provided to Isreal anyway given that US and Israel are allies.

A Pakistani national provided information to a Pakistani ally (US) via collaboaration with a foreign intellegence agency , the information the Shakil Afridi provided to US was something Pakistan should have provided to US anyway given thay US and Pakistan are allies.

Whether the information is about OBL or documents about the US navy is all secondary.

Pakistan should ask the americans to free Jonathan Pollard , it seems that he helped Pakistan also

Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) investigator Ronald Olive has alleged that Pollard passed classified information to South Africa,[20] and attempted, through a third party, to sell classified information to Pakistan on multiple occasions.[21]

America should free this man immediately , he helped not one but two american allies.

 

[somebozo]

So would he be treated the same if he was a Pakistani?
Duplicitous American policies.

 

[Homajon]

Maybe this is smart propaganda. The US wants to show, that it can also be tough on Israel.

 

[Patriot]

Americans have double standards and they don't even recognize this.They lie and then act like they not lied.Like Neo Con American Administrations officials who claimed that not a single civilian died in drone attacks.Hell even American President lied to save Raymond Davis a$$He said Raymond Davis was a diplomat which was false as it was later proved that he did not have diplomatic immunity and was a spy for CIA.

 

[rubyjackass]

Osama Bin Laden was Pakistan's national secret?

How can you tell?

 

[anti-hero]

I 've always wondered how can a small country like Israel have such a strong lobby in USA?
No offense to Israel, just saying

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Osama Bin Laden was Pakistan's national secret?

The killing of OBL is not the issue, spying for a foreign intelligence agency without the authorization of the government or relevant institutions is what constitutes treason on Afridi's part.

Theoretically one could argue that Pollard did no harm to US National Security either, since Israel is a strong US ally, and by assisting Israel in obtaining nuclear weapons technology, Pollard strengthened the security and capability of a US ally against potential US enemies in the region.

I 've always wondered how can a small country like Israel have such a strong lobby in USA?
No offense to Israel, just saying

A very prosperous Jewish American community, many of whom fund the Israeli cause, strong conservative Christian support and Islamophobia/Arabophobia