Posted on 01/26/2011 11:02:01 PM PST by dervish
Former US Secretary of State who served under Ronald Reagan joins list of senior security officials calling for Pollard's release.
Former US secretary of state George Shultz has joined a long list of former senior American and Israeli security officials calling upon US President Barack Obama to release Jonathan Pollard.
In a letter obtained by The Jerusalem Post Tuesday night, Shultz wrote that he was impressed that the people who are best informed about the classified material Pollard passed to Israel now favor his release. He cited former CIA director James Woolsey, former chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee Dennis DeConcini, and former attorney- general Michael Mukasey.
RELATED: Obama mentor asks him to release Pollard Netanyahu sends Obama letter urging Pollard's release
“I am writing to join with many others in urging you to consider that Jonathan Pollard has now paid a huge price for his espionage on behalf of Israel and should be released from prison,” Shultz wrote.
Shultz served as the US secretary of state from 1982-1989 under President Ronald Reagan and played a key role when then-defense secretary Caspar Weinberger took action to ensure that Pollard would be given a life sentence. Shultz is currently the Thomas W. and Susan B. Ford Distinguished Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.
“This is huge because he is the only one out of the Reagan- Weinberger-triumverate who were involved in the case who is still alive, and he is saying enough is enough,” Pollard’s wife Esther said.
“This is startling news that a man of his stature has gotten involved. It adds dramatically to the compelling nature of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s call for Jonathan’s release.”
Shultz is the first former US secretary to openly call for Pollard’s release and is a respected Republican figure. People involved in the effort to release Pollard said Shultz’s endorsement would go a long way toward persuading other Republicans to join the campaign.
As secretary of state, Shultz handled some of the earliest high-level contacts with the Israelis when the case first broke. According to the 1987 Eban Report by the Knesset committee that investigated the Pollard affair, Shultz requested and secured from then prime minister Shimon Peres a commitment to return the documents that Pollard had provided to Israel.
These documents were then used by the Americans to indict Pollard, and served as the only evidence against him.
Israel’s cooperation in this matter with the US was virtually unprecedented. It was reportedly the only time in the history of modern espionage that any country had ever cooperated in the incrimination and prosecution of its own agent.
Like a rapist. He took something that cannot be returned. No amount of analysis can twist the simple fact that Pollard committed Treason. What is the punishment? He got it and as an example to all that think his way he must complete his sentence lest we have 1000’s more like him.
Naw...Trails is correct.
They are slugs.
One day Mr. Pollard will leave prison and he will do so in a pine box.
Incidentally, the wiki leaks cables showed the massive spying that went on against Israel by Condelezza Rice.
No one should put airs on me.
Next time try a search!Anyone anyone anyone?
And the Constitution disagrees also: Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
Article III: Sec. 3
Free hell, let’s hang him and return the body.
Espionage needs to be punished by execution.
Who was the recipient of the information should not matter.
A firing squad is needed.
dust hm off and send him to Israel!
dust hm off and send him to Israel!
Pollard was caught by prison officials trying to pass classified information even after he was convicted.
He should spend the rest of his life in jail as he is unrepentant.
Any way, former Secretary of State George Schulz is not the face I would chose for pronouncements on the innocence of Pollard.
George Schultz has large personal history of involvement with AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, and Israeli leaders. He is not impartial, but a hired gun.
“They are also wrong because Israel and its supporters have the right to try to influence U.S. policy.” - George P.Shultz
“Just how total Shultz had become in his passionate embrace of Israel was demonstrated a few months later. While in Israel in mid-October 1987, Shultz inaugurated the George Shultz Doctoral Fellowships at Tel Aviv University. He personally contributed $10,000 to the program, an extraordinary gesture by a secretary of state claiming to be a mediator in the Arab-Israel conflict (Glenn Frankel, Washington Post, October 19, 1987).”
“I have to wonder what the payoff was for the elderly Schultz to betray every principle he ever (allegedley) stood for. “
The Truth?
I free Jonathan Pollard every morning.
This is from a pro Pollard site. Nevertheless much of the info is not in dispute but is historical — such as the US withholding intel from the Israelis in violation of a mu, conviction of espionage not treason, plea bargain was to avoid life sentence.
http://www.jonathanpollard.org/facts.htm
“No one else in the history of the United States has ever received a life sentence for passing classified information to an ally - only Jonathan Pollard. The median sentence for this offense is two to four years. Even agents who have committed far more serious offenses on behalf of hostile nations have not received such a harsh sentence.”
why do you think that is?
good point.
“The data involved Iranian, Syrian, Iraqi, and Lebanese ballistic missile development and nuclear and biological warfare capabilities. He also transmitted information on planned terrorist attacks against Israel, probably saving Israeli lives. The U.S. withheld this data from Israel despite a 1983 memorandum of understanding entitling Israel to such disclosure.”
citation please?
SELLING secrets to China is not treason?
Pollard did harm U.S. interests. Pollard is a spy and a traitor.
I would have more sympathy for his claims of dual loyalty if he had not also SOLD our secrets to Israel. No, he didn’t give them away out of ideology, he SOLD them.
After he SOLD our secrets to Israel, he also SOLD our secrets to China.
The guy is lucky he isn’t feeding the worms.
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