White House throws cold water on Pollard release
I hope none of you really thought that Jonathan Pollard would be released and sent home with Shimon Peres. Unfortunately, by now it should be clear to all of you that's not going to happen. And if it's not, the White House announced it today: Obama is not going to order Pollard's release tonight. Hours ahead of a meeting with US President Barack Obama in which President Shimon Peres is expected to make a plea for clemency for jailed Israeli agent Jonathan Pollard, White House Spokesman Jay Carney on Wednesday threw cold water on the prospects of the request being granted.The time came a long time ago if one compares Pollard's sentence to the sentences of others convicted of spying for friendly countries in the United States. For that matter, Pollard has already served longer than any spy convicted of spying on the US for American enemies.
"Our position has not changed and will not change today," Carney told journalists at a daily briefing. "I would simply remind you that Mr. Pollard was convicted of very serious crimes."
Speaking to Channel 2 from Washington, Peres said he feels he represents all of Israel by advocating for Pollard's release but cautioned that he does not want to raise expectations.
"I feel like not only a humanitarian emissary on the Pollard issue, but also as an emissary of the will of the nation," Peres said.
"I will do my best," adding, "I am afraid of raising expectations and disappointment."
"I am not acting according to expectations, I am acting out of a feeling that the time has come," he continued.
Unfortunately, Pollard has long since become a hostage to be released when the price is right. There's a chance he will be an October surprise if Obama believes it will make a difference in his election prospects. Otherwise, the sad reality is that Pollard is likely to continue serving his prison term.
Labels: Barack Hussein Obama, Jonathan Pollard, Shimon Peres
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:50 PM
2 Comments:
Israel Prize recipient Rabbi Chaim Druckman calls Jews to be more forceful with Obama to free Pollard during this election cycle.
Rabbis appeal higher, as Shimon Peres confers "friend-to-Israel" credence to Barack Obama, without clemency for Jonathan Pollard
I'm surprised this hasn't been talked about in the Israeli media but Pollard is scheduled to be released in 2015. By regulations in effect when he was convicted and imprisoned, that is his automatic release date, barring any serious misbehavior on his part. As he's been a trouble-free inmate, he's only got 3 more years imprisonment before release.
Thirty years for Pollard, life without parole for John Walker, Robert Hanssen, Aldrich Ames, some others. That's all the clemency that Pollard can expect as far as I'm concerned. As an American, a US military veteran, I have no pity for spies and traitors.
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