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New details emerge in Pollard case
Itamar Eichner
Published: 16.12.12, 12:19
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29 Talkbacks for this article
1. Arrogant ... "Moles", "Dirt", "War"
Jersey Jew ,   New Jersey, USA   (12.16.12)
suitcases of documents for decades?!?? Rabid Pollard supporters continue hurting both Jews worldwide and Israel, as well as America's best interests ...
2. alas Israel threw him under the bus.
Yisraeli   (12.16.12)
3. Saudi's control U.S. I guess
mo ,   blumestan   (12.16.12)
4. Seriously.....
Bob ,   USA   (12.16.12)
Pick another "hero". This guy is trash. I almost wish they'd let him go and move to Israel to prove this point. He'd be selling terrorists target coordinates to Tel Aviv in a week. He's not a patriot, he's a bottom feeder. Period.
5. #1 what?
israel israeli ,   tel aviv   (12.16.12)
The 8th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States prohibits cruel and unusual punishment, of the type meted out to Mr. Pollard. Further, Pollard has been punished entirely out of proportion to his deeds, a clear miscarriage of justice. The most extreme "Pollard Supporter" is a person who loves and supports the US, justice and the Constitution. Anyone against Pollard is attacking the United States and attacking the Constitution. Which side are you on, Mr. New Jersey?
6. New details emerge in Pollard case
JGYMA ,   Nairobi, Kenya.   (12.16.12)
USA, IF THE DOCUMENT INDICATES THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE, PLEASE RELEASE THE INNOCENT POLLARD TO JOIN AND ENJOY THE REMAINING LIFE-SPAN WITH HIS FAMILY AT HOME.
7. A Disgrace
Jeanne ,   new york,new york   (12.16.12)
It is an absolute disgrace that this man has spent a disproportionately longer time in a US prison than convicted spies who have worked for known enemies of the US.
8. The Israeli mole for the US who put him in jail still lives
Truth always wins ,   even in Israel   (12.16.12)
Covering for this "person" is the reason Pollard has sat in jail for 26 years and nothing will change until the real criminal ceases to hold the keys to his release.
9. #5 Really?
Chad Williamson III ,   Brooklyn Heights   (12.16.12)
Fortunately your opinion on the matter means diddly squat as you are not a US citizen but a citizen of a country caught paying government employees for information deemed classified by the Government of the United States. Pollard is a traitor, he needs to die in prison as an example to those tempted to do the same.
10. #5: The fact is that Pollard is a US Citizen!
David ,   Karmiel, Israel   (12.16.12)
He is their problem and it is their Constitution which is their law. The US Constitution' s 2nd Amendment protects the right of people to bear arms and just look at tragedy in Newtown Connecticut! Yes, you are right about the 8th Amendment but remember it goes back to 1791 and in those days there was no Al Qaeda, no terrorism and kids weren't gunned down by other children and young adults. Most the the US Constitution was aimed to protect the folks from the tyrannical rule of the British. Maybe they need a rethink?
11. Let That Traitor Die In Gaol
World Citizen ,   the world   (12.16.12)
What was released by the CIA was the tip of a gigantic iceberg. I have, on numerous occasions, attempted to post on this site, general but very accurate information on what Pollard stole and what the Israeli government then traded to the government of the USSR. This site refused to publish my posts because it tells the truth about Pollard and the treachery of Israel to its only powerful ally. Israel gave the Soviet government important US secrets of the highest order involving national defense. Pollard is a traitor. That he happens to be an ethnic Jew only matters if you look at the people wanting him free. They remind me of the people crying about how innocent Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were. After the release of some of the details of the Venona project those people looked stupid. Julius and Ethel were guilty as hell and so is Pollard.
12. He "engaged in espionage" but wasn't a spy?
Profco ,   Miami, FL   (12.16.12)
"According to the report, Pollard revealed that Rafi Eitan, head of the Defense Ministry's Bureau for Scientific Relations at the time, had asked him for intelligence containing "dirt" on Israeli officials as well as on "moles" relaying information to the US." " He delivered thousands of documents to Israel in suitcases. ..Pollard delivered the documents to the apartment of a secretary working for the Israeli embassy." Obtaining and delivering such documents wasn't spying?
13. new details...
Toledano Jean-Pierre ,   Israel   (12.16.12)
I remember me, some months, a year ago... an USA-official - I think he was already retired - made a quote to a journalist that the Americans got from within the Israeli government information about a very imminent (military) action or war. Of course it could come from an official or semi-official contact, but something tells me the USA-official wanted to say something else. I taught immediately about a mole, even you should think that such a thing is not possible on such a high - the highest - level: the Israeli government. Now I read above that Pollard declared that ""Rafi Eitan asked him for intelligence containing "dirt" on Israeli officials as well as on "moles" relaying information to the US"". Maybe Eitan was right or suspected something! I really hope that he was wrong.
14. Moles in Israel
Joe Stein ,   USA   (12.16.12)
Spying is a game that both Israel and the US plays. The US has spied on Israel even before Pollard. If your caught as part of this game usually a trade ensues why not now no trade? If the report is not misinformation in my opinion The main reason Pollard knows there are US spies moles in Israel and someone in Israel and the US does not want that info released. The question is who in the Israeli Goverment is fighting the hardest for him not to be released to prevent that info from being spilled. If you know that answer it's possible you found the mole. It's simple really. That's my opinion.
15. Pollard saved AMERICAN lives
Jake in Jerusalem ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (12.16.12)
The info that Pollard gave Israel allowed Israel to take out Saddam's nuclear reactor at Osiraq. The Americans were very angry about that at the time - but a decade later half a million American soldiers who were sent to save Saudi Arabia and Kuwait from Saddam were pleased as heck that they weren't facing a nuclear-armed Saddam. There is no question at all that Pollard's action saved the lives of thousands of American soldiers. Absolutely no question. By contrast, Americans caught spying for SAUDIA ARABIA get off COMPLETELY scot-free. Don't give me bull about Jewish influence when the Petro-Arabs get their military protection from the US Armed Forces, spy on the USA, charge you an arm-and-a-leg for gas and the POTUS STILL bows down to them! Pollard was guilty but was sentenced totally out of proportion to what he did. That is not truth, not justice, but perhaps it is the Arab-American way...
16. #9 Brooklyn Boy
israel israeli ,   tel aviv   (12.16.12)
You might be right about one thing: jail for life people who damage American security as a warning for others. What you fail to grasp is that the Pollard case does not do that. A person with information to sell looks at facts: Pollard vs. Schwartz, Lee, Montaperto, Meng, Kader-Helmy, Alavi, Wood, Abu-Jihaad, Sombolay, Montes and many others. As long as you aren't Jewish and you didn't work for Israel, sell those secrets. You know, to places like China, Russia, Al Qaeda, Saudi Arabia, Cuba, Iraq. Not only do they pay better and if you are caught you aren't punished, but some guy from Brooklyn will support you. Bottom line: if you love America and the Constitution, you want Pollard released because he's done his time. If you want Pollard punished above-and-beyond, you prove that you hate America. Simple as that.
17. #13
Joe Stein ,   USA   (12.16.12)
Rafi Eitan is not the problem I think he was acting in good faith to protect Pollard the order to abandon Pollard probably came from above him to protect his political behind because that info in my opinion might incriminate him as the mole I think Eitan had suspicions of a mole based on this report and he was trying to get the info. That's my theory no evidence.
18. To: No. 9
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (12.16.12)
Well, I am a citizen of the United States and my opinion on the matter does matter. Not a single, solitary American has died because of Pollard's actions. He did, after all, act in the cause of an American ally. On the other hand, I can name dozens and dozens of spies -- REAL spies -- who worked for enemies of the United States, and who are now walking free. What's your take on that, Chad Williamson the Third?: What's your take on that?
19. #17
(12.16.12)
don't say it's Ehud Barak!!!!
20. The question remains . . .
Sherlock Holmes ,   London England   (12.16.12)
I thought everyone knew he was not spying on the USA and that Caspar Weinbeger admitted his secret document was not correct. This release just confirms what we knew. The question remains, why is he still in prison when similar cases resulted in sentences of six or seven years?
21. TO ALL WHO CAST ROCKS AT POLLARD
BEN JABO (MACHAL) ,   ISRAEL   (12.16.12)
Pick them up, chew on them & choke Pollard received an unearned sentence becasue of Caspar Weinberger, who inisisted on it
22. #19
Joe Stein ,   USA   (12.16.12)
This is a opinion and theory only well Ehud Barak was not around in 86 in the Goverment that being said at least one of his bosses is still in power and again just because there might be a mole somewhere that does not mean that mole is alone.
23. even so this is intrue
Melissa ,   US of Ar   (12.16.12)
even if the evidence points to him not spying, he was spying. the mossad trains them to pass polygraphs. Americans should not support Israel anymore. what country spies on its allies? America will find that they would have a very very loyal ally in the Palestinians. US should demilitarize Israel, slap sanctions on them, and give all their weapons to freedom loving Palestinians. then we will have peace in the middle east. the Palestinians would pressure the Israelis into living in peace in a Muslim ruled Palestine. but my question to everyone is, what country spies on their allies? this is totally uncalled for, reprehensible, demoralizing, and a war crime. Palestine wants peace, and Israel wants a 100% Jewish homeland with no Muslims.
24. American POV: Pollard is guilty of betraying his country fo
USS Liberty   (12.16.12)
for money. No matter how jewish he is, being a jew isn't a "get out jail for free' card. The only reason he get so much attention is because he is a jew.
25. #1 Did you even read the article?
Jake   (12.16.12)
Pollard did not spy on the US, period. He was asked to retrieve files on the Arabs, Pakis, and Soviets. And Pollard's direct handler, Yagur,told him to ignore Eitan's request about "dirt" on Israeli politicians and "moles". You are twisting the words of the article.
26. #9 Chad, your diatribe is proof positive
Jake   (12.16.12)
that the campaign to keep Pollard locked up in prison is based on nothing but antisemitism.
27. #11 World Flop, you make no sense
Jake   (12.16.12)
It is now clear Pollard did not spy on the US, but on the Arabs, Pakis, and Soviets. For Israel to deliver such documents to the USSR, an allegation which was never on Pollard's charge sheet, would be rather like shipping coals to Newcastle. But truth, logic, and sensible analysis have never been considered worth bothering with by the usual rabid anti-Semites.
28. #23 The US has spied on Israel
Jake   (12.16.12)
and probably still does.
29. Pollard should die in jail
John ,   NY USA   (12.17.12)
There is not a person posting on this site that can say with certainty that Pollard did not cause any harm to anyone. The release of confidential information may have put other intelligence sources in danger. Selling the information, takes away any argument of his noble cause. He knew he was breaking the law. That he made the decision to betray his country, is why he is now in jail.
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