Jonathan Pollard Devastated By No Update From Bibi

Yet another point evaded. :rolleyes:

I thought we explained all that. The only reason we were there outside Scarlett Johansson’s bedroom is because we heard a suspicious noise.

Last year. Cite.

Sure, our spy get caught and we try to spring him. No problem, that is what is expected. Bibi actually visited this guy in jail. (Imagine an similar situation with the vice president swinging by an overseas jail to say, ‘Hi.’)

The Israelis actually seem to think making this issue public would help them as after all, nothing they do is wrong. This actually seems to be how they think, or at least that is the conclusion I draw from their actions. They could have gotten JP out years ago if they handled it in a discreet way. But they went public knowing that the Americans would fold.

It shows a massive miscalculation on the part of the Israelis.

Someday, Israel may have something or someone that the US wants badly enough to trade Pollard for. I don’t think that is even particularly far-fetched. So far, they haven’t offered a sufficient ransom, and I suspect the US doesn’t even know at this point what a sufficient ransom would be.

I understand Pollard is actually scheduled for release at some point in the future. I have not had it explained to me if that means he can fly to Israel to spend his pension or if he would be limited by probation to the US.

In general, people who get early release get parole in order to remain under supervision. Someone who serves out their full term doesn’t get put on parole.

He spied from 83-84. The First Lebanon War was in 82. Shaky relations, considering Reagan was supporting Israel (well, supporting democracy and anything that wasn’t allied with communism) while making demands and threatening sanctions.

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Oh, the audacity of hope!

It has been my understanding that this was also mentioned with Clinton. But it’s not surprising that Israel would ask for the release of their spy - considering we spy back and forth and such. I’m sure the U.S. has gotten away with much worse since we carry the big stick. According to Pollard’s supporters, the U.S. was violating a treaty by withholding that information.

I don’t think Obama would have to visit a U.S. spy in a foreign jail. He’d just demand that he be released.

:wink:
But hey, you know, Israelis just expect everything. The U.S. certainly does not.

Your ridiculous characterization of Israelis nonwithstanding, you are false as Israel did not ‘claim’ Pollard as their spy and denied it until 1998.

(:

How old are most of those girls? If it is possible to guess.

If Pollard ever gets out, there will be an uproar in the intelligence community. They have very long memories at the CIA, NSA, DIA, FBI, etc, etc…

I think his chances of getting out and going to Israel a hero were diminished greatly by Israel going public with their plea. Now, many average Americans know his name, his story and what he looks like. I doubt they could name many other spies.

Pollard was interviewed on 60 Minutes when this first happened, back in the late 80’s. 20+ years later and his name is still floating around? Israel is still trying to get him out? Probably not a bad try hitting up Obama, as I’m guessing he had no idea who Pollard was, but he does now. And if Obama (and before him Clinton - you can forget both Bushs) wouldn’t budge, I predict his life sentence will be exactly that.

Netanyahu is an idiot for making this thing public again, but in a way, I’m glad… it does nothing but hurt Pollard’s chances, and when it comes up it reminds all the right people in the intel. community that Pollard is still alive and is still in jail. That’s where they want him to stay.

That’s where he should stay. I believe that’s where he will stay. He will die in prison as he should.

How can you be so harsh. He has a ballad!

How in the world did you ever find this?

Let me guess. Your name is MORDECHAI FISHER?

I am very harsh on this subject, yes. In fact, if he received the death penalty, I would volunteer to administer whatever method was deemed appropriate. Firing squad? Give me a rifle and the live round. Hanging? Let me pull the lever to open the trap door. Gas? No problem there. Electrocution? Show me the switch. Stoning? Where are the stones?

I would sleep very well. Anyone who puts my country at risk by giving classified information to ANYONE not approved for access should be punished harshly. That’s the game. If you can’t afford the penalty, don’t play the game.

Only if he dies in the next five years.

So does 2015 mean out out or out under probation?

(My what a … remarkable … ballad.)

Wiki link so take it for what it’s worth.

Oh yeah, very shaky relations. We almost considered not giving them a billion dollars a year in weapons for free. Oh wait, no we didn’t.

Pollard’s supporters remind me of Mumia Abu Jamal’s supporters. They both believe a lot of shit that isn’t true by remaining willingly ignorant of the facts surrounding the case.

I’m curious if the people here denouncing Pollard feel the same way about Bradley Manning and Wikileaks?

Bradley Manning was/is a mentally unstable hot mess who should not have been put in charge of a hot dog stand much less the nation’s secrets. Both are traitors enabled by the bumbling stupidity of their superiors who promoted them against all common sense.

I think the animus against Pollard is more deep seated because

(1) The level of damage he caused was pretty horrific. Most of the wikileaks leaked data (so far) seems to be military and diplomatic discussions about facts and opinions that are already largely in evidence. Most of the wikileaks revelations to date have been greeted with “Yeah, so what else is new” shoulder shrugs.

(2) The seeming utter lack of remorse by either Pollard or the Israelis. The practical elevation of him to hero status by the Israeli government. The continuous tone deaf calls for his release.

Both are traitors, but Pollard is still pissing in the face of the United States, and the Israelis are holding his cock.

I feel less strongly about Manning. He has not been convicted yet. He has not yet tried manipulating my co-religionists for personal gain. Has he tried manipulating his co-religionists? Is there evidence that Manning did what he’s accused of for personal gain or feeding the monkey on his back, versus for a warped ideaologiy? Did Manning lie like a rug to get his clearance? (Someone with the “information wants to be free” attitude should not even apply for a clearance, but that’s another rant.)

I agree that if Manning was the source of information to Wikileaks, he deserves serious jail time. When I’ve gotten a clearance, and every year afterward while said clearance was active, I’ve had training which makes it very clear what the penalties are for violations. Manning, if guilty, knew exactly what he was doing and what the penalties were. Jail time - yes. Loss of clearance forever - yes. Never employed by Uncle Sam again - yes. Never employed in any position of public trust - yes. Execution? Depends of what was in the info he leaked, but very likely no. (I have not been following the case as closely as a netizen or any citizen should.) Kept naked in a jail cell? That’s over the top. The stripped naked part. Yes hold him while he’s awaiting trial, but there should be some form of civilized behavior on the government’s part.

And what astro just said.