It’s an amazing and tragic case. I’m not certain, though, that it’s just Ames provided info. Here is a link to a Jewish author commissioned by the Jewish Investigative Journalism Fund for Jewish Journals and newspapers http://web.archive.org/web/20060107223010/http://www.forward.com/issues/2002/02.06.28/news.pollard.html , who agrees that there are some legal questions in the case, yet admits that the damage that was done was above content to the heart of the sources and methods of which the US relies, mainly it’s electronic eavesdropping and surveillance system around the world.
an excerpt,
“Although the declaration was signed by Weinberger and submitted as the Secretary’s personal affidavit, the damning document was in fact assembled piecemeal by an inter-agency group of intelligence officials independently assessing Pollard’s damage to their own operations. A redacted copy of that sworn 46-page declaration, obtained by this reporter, together with information and analysis reported by several of the actual contributors, indicates that Pollard indeed compromised the most sensitive aspect of American intelligence. More than just intelligence substance, Pollard revealed the carefully guarded aspect of American intelligence, known as “sources and methods.”
>>the most sensitive aspect of American intelligence. More than just intelligence substance, Pollard revealed the carefully guarded aspect of American intelligence, known as “sources and methods.”
Yup, the Crown Jewels summation.
You can find credible people who say he deserved the sentence, and credible people who say it’s a miscarriage of justice. While I recognize attorneys represent all sorts of people, I’m tempted to believe that Theodore Olson wouldn’t have represented him for years if he didn’t believe he was denied justice. It’s not the kind of case you pad a political resume with. We simply won’t know until the sentencing letter is released. As I noted before, I think the judicial record is problematic.