The New York Times has a good op-ed by retired FBI man M.E. Bowman on another individual whose tireless "apologists portray him as a sort of dual patriot: loyal to the United States, but also motivated to help Israel."
>>Mr. Pollard’s apologists portray him as a sort of dual patriot: loyal to the United States, but also motivated to help Israel. In fact, he was primarily a venal and selfish person who sought to get rich. When dealing with his handlers at a meeting in Paris, he commented on the risks he faced and told them to up his “salary” by $1,000 a month.<<
Yes, Pollard's apologists make the case that he spied for Israel, which isn't that bad, right? But Pollard's denunciators always bring up the point about the money Pollard received, that greed was what motivated him (Pollard only received a few thousand per month. I am sure the Russians or Chinese would have paid much more than that for his info.)and that he gave, for some reason, info to South Africa too, implying - to my mind - that spying for Israel, in itself, isn't that bad. If Pollard had only spied for Israel with the pure motive of helping Israel things wouldn't/shouldn't have gone so bad for him, so his denunciators imply.
Yes, Pollard's apologists make the case that he spied for Israel, which isn't that bad, right? But Pollard's denunciators always bring up the point about the money Pollard received, that greed was what motivated him (Pollard only received a few thousand per month. I am sure the Russians or Chinese would have paid much more than that for his info.)and that he gave, for some reason, info to South Africa too, implying - to my mind - that spying for Israel, in itself, isn't that bad. If Pollard had only spied for Israel with the pure motive of helping Israel things wouldn't/shouldn't have gone so bad for him, so his denunciators imply.
So, you're saying his primary motive was racism, not greed? Good one, go with that.
Why would America want to trade a convicted spy for a deranged leftist whistleblower?
There have been actual (mostly Soviet) spies imprisoned in Israel in the past, but they were all released. Here's one who spied (or at least tried to) for the US.
>>So, you're saying his primary motive was racism, not greed? Good one, go with that.
No. I'm saying that Pollard's denunciators are so intimidated of the wrath of the several Jewish lobbies and Jewish community generally that they feel compelled to adorn the simple but serious crime of spying for Israel with other relatively trivial offenses lest they themselves be perceived as anti-Jewish. They imply that the charge of spying for Israel, was in itself was not really that bad. It was all the other nasty stuff that he did that merits a 30 years sentence.
Daniel said... Pollard only received a few thousand per month. I am sure the Russians or Chinese would have paid much more than that for his info.
That's outrageous! That thar is an inefficient market. Surely there's some web app that can connect potential traitors with interested intelligence agencies.
Pollard was convicted almost 30 years ago. Since then, every president and candidate for president has promised various Jewish lobbies that he would review the case. Every single one - Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, Bush II and Obama - has decided, after learning the facts, that Pollard should rot in prison. Every senior intelligence official who has ever publicly expressed an opinion about the case has said the same thing.
To people whose primary loyalty was to the United States, and not to Israel, that sort of unanimity might mean something.
Good one Steve. And people are STILL talking about pardoning Pollard!
ReplyDeleteOy Vey.
Lets cut a deal with Israel, we'll cut your aid next year by $1-Billion and you get your precious Pollard back.
Deal?
Trade Pollard for M Vanunu.
ReplyDeleteVanunu said that the Mossad was responsible for the JFK murder.
ReplyDelete" In fact, there are no other Americans who have given over to an ally information of the quantity and quality that Mr. Pollard has."
ReplyDeleteHow did Mr. Stalin get the atomic bomb?
Twice as patriotic!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that Fischer isn't Turkish. If he was Steve wouldn't have any fingers left.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, maybe we should find out who is the head of Turkey's central bank?
'Vananu said that the Mossad was responsible for the JFK murder'.
ReplyDeleteHope so. That means that his imprisonment did drive him crazy.
From Bowman's letter:
ReplyDelete>>Mr. Pollard’s apologists portray him as a sort of dual patriot: loyal to the United States, but also motivated to help Israel. In fact, he was primarily a venal and selfish person who sought to get rich. When dealing with his handlers at a meeting in Paris, he commented on the risks he faced and told them to up his “salary” by $1,000 a month.<<
Yes, Pollard's apologists make the case that he spied for Israel, which isn't that bad, right? But Pollard's denunciators always bring up the point about the money Pollard received, that greed was what motivated him (Pollard only received a few thousand per month. I am sure the Russians or Chinese would have paid much more than that for his info.)and that he gave, for some reason, info to South Africa too, implying - to my mind - that spying for Israel, in itself, isn't that bad. If Pollard had only spied for Israel with the pure motive of helping Israel things wouldn't/shouldn't have gone so bad for him, so his denunciators imply.
I had never heard anyone try to portray Pollard as loyal to the US. I believe that's called "chutzpah".
ReplyDeleteI think the apologists have the order reversed: motivated to help America, but loyal to Israel.
ReplyDeleteYes, Pollard's apologists make the case that he spied for Israel, which isn't that bad, right? But Pollard's denunciators always bring up the point about the money Pollard received, that greed was what motivated him (Pollard only received a few thousand per month. I am sure the Russians or Chinese would have paid much more than that for his info.)and that he gave, for some reason, info to South Africa too, implying - to my mind - that spying for Israel, in itself, isn't that bad. If Pollard had only spied for Israel with the pure motive of helping Israel things wouldn't/shouldn't have gone so bad for him, so his denunciators imply.
ReplyDeleteSo, you're saying his primary motive was racism, not greed? Good one, go with that.
Why would America want to trade a convicted spy for a deranged leftist whistleblower?
ReplyDeleteThere have been actual (mostly Soviet) spies imprisoned in Israel in the past, but they were all released. Here's one who spied (or at least tried to) for the US.
>>So, you're saying his primary motive was racism, not greed? Good one, go with that.
ReplyDeleteNo. I'm saying that Pollard's denunciators are so intimidated of the wrath of the several Jewish lobbies and Jewish community generally that they feel compelled to adorn the simple but serious crime of spying for Israel with other relatively trivial offenses lest they themselves be perceived as anti-Jewish. They imply that the charge of spying for Israel, was in itself was not really that bad. It was all the other nasty stuff that he did that merits a 30 years sentence.
Daniel said...
ReplyDeletePollard only received a few thousand per month. I am sure the Russians or Chinese would have paid much more than that for his info.
That's outrageous! That thar is an inefficient market. Surely there's some web app that can connect potential traitors with interested intelligence agencies.
I smell an IPO!
Dennis Prager, the self styled American patriot. went on Hugh Hewitt's show to support the demand for Pollard's release.
ReplyDeleteDennis Prager? Man, that's a name I haven't heard in forever. I didn't even think he was still active.
ReplyDeletePollard was convicted almost 30 years ago. Since then, every president and candidate for president has promised various Jewish lobbies that he would review the case. Every single one - Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, Bush II and Obama - has decided, after learning the facts, that Pollard should rot in prison. Every senior intelligence official who has ever publicly expressed an opinion about the case has said the same thing.
ReplyDeleteTo people whose primary loyalty was to the United States, and not to Israel, that sort of unanimity might mean something.