Convicted spy Jonathan Pollard released from U.S. prison after 30 years

[CaptainRamius]

Originally Posted by Commander Wallace

Johnathan Pollard, who had been a civilian Naval Intelligence analyst was released from prison on Friday. He served 30 years of a life sentence. Pollard had been convicted of spying for Israel. His spying created a rift between the U.S and Israel after it was revealed that Pollard reported directly to an aide of then Prime Minister Shimon Peres .

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-...120-story.html

Pollard testified at his trial that his spying was out of love for Israel. Prosecutors however revealed at his trial he was paid for spying and also offered or passed information to Pakistan, South Africa and Australia.

Quote :
It is my belief, and the intelligence community was of the nearly certain belief, that assets [agents working for the U.S. overseas] were compromised,” said Joseph diGenova, who prosecuted Pollard.DiGenova said Pollard passed the Israelis thousands of documents that had nothing to do with Israel’s enemies, including technical information about U.S. information systems and satellites, photographs, maps and classified manuals.
“It was a gigantic amount of information and stuff of the highest top-secret code word classification,” DiGenova said. He said that Israel bartered the information to the Soviet Union in return for the release of Soviet Jews to Israel, compromising agents who quickly disappeared.

I have a feeling that the US will regret releasing him. I mean, I know why they released him, but he can still do some major harm, right?

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by CaptainRamius

I have a feeling that the US will regret releasing him. I mean, I know why they released him, but he can still do some major harm, right?

Well, he could stab someone with his walking stick perhaps, the guy is 61. And Israel let Yosef Amit go back in 1993, so I guess it's only fair.

[CaptainRamius]

Originally Posted by Oberon

Well, he could stab someone with his walking stick perhaps, the guy is 61. And Israel let Yosef Amit go back in 1993, so I guess it's only fair.

No! Not a walking stick! What a feared weapon.
I guess your right

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by CaptainRamius

No! Not a walking stick! What a feared weapon.
I guess your right

Could be worse...could be an umbrella...

[vienna]

If this guy had just spied for Israel, for "the love of Israel" alone and had not been getting paid for doing so, I might be able to muster up a scant bit of empathy for his situation. But he was evidently conducting his activities for self-enrichment and given that he was not terribly discriminate about to whom he was serving up information (e.g., Pakistan, South Africa and Australia, et al) as long as they paid him and given his activities endangered US assets and operations, I really can't be in the mood for empathy or mercy. The man should have been left to rot in prison; he is little more than a profiteer, a mercenary, someone whose scruples and morality are fungible for a the right amount of compensation. When he finally goes to Israel, there is very little doubt he will be hailed as a hero and patriot by the government and people of Israel; I can't help but be reminded of the Flight 103 bombing and the release of the individual found to be culpable of the crime who, after serving part of his life sentence, was released and sent back to Libya where he was given a hero's welcome and feted as a patriot; such is what will happen when Pollard is sent to Israel and it is fully as reprehensible and fully a slap to the face of the US, its government and people. Whatever backroom deals have been made by the political, business, or religious interests to effect Pollard's release are a disgrace and those involved are a shame to the nation and the world...


<O>

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

Originally Posted by vienna

If this guy had just spied for Israel, for "the love of Israel" alone and had not been getting paid for doing so, I might be able to muster up a scant bit of empathy for his situation. But he was evidently conducting his activities for self-enrichment and given that he was not terribly discriminate about to whom he was serving up information (e.g., Pakistan, South Africa and Australia, et al) as long as they paid him and given his activities endangered US assets and operations, I really can't be in the mood for empathy or mercy. The man should have been left to rot in prison; he is little more than a profiteer, a mercenary, someone whose scruples and morality are fungible for a the right amount of compensation. When he finally goes to Israel, there is very little doubt he will be hailed as a hero and patriot by the government and people of Israel; I can't help but be reminded of the Flight 103 bombing and the release of the individual found to be culpable of the crime who, after serving part of his life sentence, was released and sent back to Libya where he was given a hero's welcome and feted as a patriot; such is what will happen when Pollard is sent to Israel and it is fully as reprehensible and fully a slap to the face of the US, its government and people. Whatever backroom deals have been made by the political, business, or religious interests to effect Pollard's release are a disgrace and those involved are a shame to the nation and the world...


<O>

[Commander Wallace]

Originally Posted by vienna

If this guy had just spied for Israel, for "the love of Israel" alone and had not been getting paid for doing so, I might be able to muster up a scant bit of empathy for his situation. But he was evidently conducting his activities for self-enrichment and given that he was not terribly discriminate about to whom he was serving up information (e.g., Pakistan, South Africa and Australia, et al) as long as they paid him and given his activities endangered US assets and operations, I really can't be in the mood for empathy or mercy. The man should have been left to rot in prison; he is little more than a profiteer, a mercenary, someone whose scruples and morality are fungible for a the right amount of compensation. When he finally goes to Israel, there is very little doubt he will be hailed as a hero and patriot by the government and people of Israel; I can't help but be reminded of the Flight 103 bombing and the release of the individual found to be culpable of the crime who, after serving part of his life sentence, was released and sent back to Libya where he was given a hero's welcome and feted as a patriot; such is what will happen when Pollard is sent to Israel and it is fully as reprehensible and fully a slap to the face of the US, its government and people. Whatever backroom deals have been made by the political, business, or religious interests to effect Pollard's release are a disgrace and those involved are a shame to the nation and the world...


<O>

I completely agree and believe a life sentence should have been just that, especially in Pollard's case . The spy case has been damaging to relations between Israel and the U.S and remained a thorn in the sides of both. The current Prime minister of Israel , Benjamin Netanyahu, had been personally lobbying for Pollards release from prison and emigration to Israel. Terms of Pollards release are that he must remain inside the U.S for 5 years even though his wife resides in Israel.

Pollard is free today and those he betrayed are most likely deceased. Seems fair, doesn't it ?

[Platapus]

Free being a relative term. He still has 5 years in parole. Any violation and he is right back in the grey place.

He served his time and I am glad he had to serve the full time.

[Commander Wallace]

Originally Posted by CaptainRamius

I have a feeling that the US will regret releasing him. I mean, I know why they released him, but he can still do some major harm, right?

I think, having been incarcerated for 30 years, he knows little that would be of any value to any intelligence service or country other than every 2nd Tuesday of the month is pizza night at the prison.