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Last update - 00:49 20/06/2009
U.S. intelligence 'unequivocally opposed' to parole for Pollard
By Amir Oren
Tags: spying, jonathan pollard 

At an intelligence training facility in central Israel, a memorial ceremony was held Wednesday for its community's fallen members. At nearly the same moment in Washington, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence chose to announce that one year ago the American intelligence chiefs had issued a clear objection to the early release of Jonathan Pollard, an American convicted of spying for Israel.

Up until he was caught and jailed, nearly 24 years ago, Pollard spied on behalf of Lekem (Bureau of Scientific Relations), within the Ministry of Defense. During intelligence communities' memorial ceremonies, only the dead of Military Intelligence, Shin Bet, Mossad, Nativ and Field Intelligence are mentioned. Lekem and the bureau handling Security of the Defense Establishment, are not mentioned.

The kind of rivalry that characterizes Israeli intelligence organizations can be similarly found among the U.S. government's 16 intelligence agencies. One thing the heads of the CIA, the FBI and all the rest do agree on is this: opposition to an early parole for Pollard, who is scheduled for release on November 21, 2015. Vice Admiral Mike McConnell, who until last January was director of National Intelligence, coordinated among his colleagues their firm and uncompromising stance.
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This also served as an answer for former president George W. Bush, when he visited Jerusalem for Israel's 60th Independence anniversary. McConnell, and his successor, Admiral Dennis Blair, are both US Navy men; it is their arm of the defense forces that the civilian employee, Pollard, robbed. They do not forget, and will not forgive.

The way in which the question was raised at the Senate Committee, suggests there was an intentional effort to foil an initiative for the release of Pollard: "During President Bush's recent visit to Israel, the case of Jonathan Pollard was reportedly on the unofficial agenda. During the 1998 Wye River Summit, then director of Central Intelligence George Tenet threatened to resign if Mr. Pollard's life sentence was commuted. Are you opposed to the release of Mr. Pollard? How would the release of Mr. Pollard affect the Intelligence Community and our national security interests?"

McConnell's response on behalf of the community: "We are unequivocally opposed to leniency for Mr. Pollard. This is the unanimous view of the counterintelligence community. Our reasons are still best stated in the January 30, 1996 letter from then-FBI director Louis Freeh to then-attorney general Reno and the strong stance taken in 1998 by then-director of Central Intelligence Tenet. Additional classified information, previously submitted to the SSCI [Senate Select Committee on Intelligence] during the years of this matter, remains valid as to the grave national damage caused by this individual. Clemency for Pollard will undermine U.S. security practices and complicate U.S. counterintelligence programs."

The U.S. intelligence community has not altered its position. This is a hint to the Israeli government, and its organs preparing to seek an earlier parole for Pollard.

The exchange between the intelligence community and the Senate committee regarding Pollard was first reported by Steven Aftergood of the Federation of American Scientists.

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      1.   I vote to keep him beyond 2015 06:41  |  Natallie Durson 19/06/09
      2.   That`s just silly 07:21  |  Joen 19/06/09
      3.   A clear-cut case of a well-known bias 07:34  |  Isaac 19/06/09
      4.   Pollard and Buddies 08:08  |  Mark Penn 19/06/09
      5.   Pollard`s freedom 08:12  |  howiej 19/06/09
      6.   Pollard is Jewish and Israeli 08:16  |  A Jew and an Israeli 19/06/09
      7.   Don`t do the crime if you can`t do the time 10:40  |  Natallie Durson 19/06/09
      8.   Blame the Israeli government, not the US! 11:04  |  Manny Goldstein 19/06/09
      9.   Let him stew 11:04  |  Lynn 19/06/09
      10.   He is where he belongs 11:15  |  Phillip 19/06/09
      11.   Pollard 11:19  |  Jon 19/06/09
      12.   "Parole" vs. other forms 11:24  |  Noam D. Blume 19/06/09
      13.   Pollard committed his crimes as an American and as a US soldier 11:28  |  Joseph Blough 19/06/09
      14.   Code words 11:30  |  Joseph 19/06/09
      15.   Joseph You are badly misinformed 11:59  |  Natallie Durson 19/06/09
      16.   Reb Pollard 12:23  |  Daniel 19/06/09
      17.   Just answer why Pollard is not paroled while other spies were 12:31  |  Zev 19/06/09
      18.   Pollard to Iaac #1 13:13  |  Hilda 19/06/09
      19.   Danie 13 seems consumed with hatred for the US .. 13:23  |  Rick D. 19/06/09
      20.   Pollard`s Sacrificing Himself to the Greatest Cause... 13:53  |  Dave 19/06/09
      21.   Pollard is a hero in struggle against crooked regime!!! 14:15  |  Martha Dunn 19/06/09
      22.   He was one of the most dangerous traitors 14:18  |  Mark Lincoln 19/06/09
      23.   "US Intelligence" Oxymoron 14:23  |  Moron 19/06/09
      24.   How? 14:24  |  Michael 19/06/09
      25.   Israel should break all intelligence ties with the US 14:32  |  Steve from Raleigh 19/06/09
      26.   #1 Issac 14:51  |  Scott G 19/06/09
      27.   #3 howiej 14:56  |  Scott G 19/06/09
      28.   The malicious USA 14:58  |  Paul 19/06/09
      29.   Free Pollard 14:59  |  Natallie Durson 19/06/09
      30.   M Goldstein 15:00  |  Scott G 19/06/09
      31.   CIA Hetzbullah and the Mossad 16:15  |  Arie 19/06/09
      32.   Pollard probably knows about internal corruption because... 16:42  |  bernard ross 19/06/09
      33.   Steve From Raliegh - you crack me up... 16:50  |  Ibrahim 19/06/09
      34.   Pollard is and will be where he belongs. 18:24  |  American 19/06/09
      35.   How do you all know? 18:34  |  Avner Miransky 19/06/09
      36.   Methings bernard #34 is making-up-stories... 18:36  |  Esther 19/06/09
      37.   to #2 18:43  |  White Russian 19/06/09
      38.   And these are our friends... just imagine how our enemies think.. 18:45  |  Tom Lobo Meyer 19/06/09
      39.   not a spy... 18:50  |  Space 19/06/09
      40.   Isaac: Provincial and Backward Catholic Navy Boys 18:50  |  Dianne Foster 19/06/09
      41.   If Pollard was a non Jew he would be freed long time ago. 18:51  |  Tom 19/06/09
      42.   N Durson 18:52  |  Ehud 19/06/09
      43.   #6 19:11  |  BDS 19/06/09
      44.   Pollard 19:29  |  Ralph 19/06/09
      45.   A Silent Prayer Brings An Open Answer 19:30  |  Yanatan 19/06/09
      46.   Expose the opposers 19:30  |  Brod 19/06/09
      47.   Wrong and immoral 19:58  |  Baruch Gold 19/06/09
      48.   Ehud 20:37  |  Llyn 19/06/09
      49.   #22 Martha Dunn - wannabe revolutionary 20:41  |  BDS 19/06/09
      50.   Tell that to the Walker Brothers Tom 20:46  |  Mark Lincoln 19/06/09
      51.   Pollard alone is the key to Pollard`s release 20:48  |  binny 19/06/09
      52.   To No.38, Offended Catholic 21:12  |  Isaac 19/06/09
      53.   #16 Daniel 21:15  |  Chris Linthwaite 19/06/09
      54.   Remember Vanunu 22:31  |  BDS 19/06/09
      55.   Let Him Rot 22:36  |  Matthew 19/06/09
      56.   Martha Dunn -what regime? huh??!!! 22:46  |  Don Boston 19/06/09
      57.   #35 23:01  |  Jane 19/06/09
      58.   brod 43 23:10  |  potobac 19/06/09
      59.   isaac 49 23:18  |  potobac 19/06/09
      60.   Pollard 23:19  |  I Schaffer 19/06/09
      61.   Potobac #55 23:29  |  Brod 19/06/09
      62.   The government of Israel needs to be pragmatic. 23:46  |  Jozef 19/06/09
      63.   A Jew and an Israeli-- So a Jew can be a Jew or an American? 23:59  |  American in NY 19/06/09
      64.   Joseph # 14 Info Israell was entitled to? BS try the facts 00:13  |  American in NY 20/06/09
      65.   If America believes this will prevent a repeat they are crazy 00:38  |  Tony 20/06/09
      66.   #53 BDS on Vanunu 00:39  |  Mark B. 20/06/09
      67.   revenge 01:05  |  ariah 20/06/09
      68.   43 Brod - Exposed Administrations 01:07  |  Mark of Lewiston 20/06/09
      69.   Brod, you are so freakin` clueless... 01:25  |  BBSNews 20/06/09
      70.   zev #17 you are so right 01:35  |  hmpierson 20/06/09
      71.   potobac - Nancy Pelosi 01:58  |  Malach HaMavet 20/06/09
      72.   American in NY 02:00  |  Malalch HaMavet 20/06/09
      73.   Huh? 02:17  |  Ariel 20/06/09
      74.   brod 58 02:26  |  potobac 20/06/09
      75.   Potobac #68 03:06  |  Brod 20/06/09
      76.   Mark of Lewiston #65 03:48  |  Brod 20/06/09
      77.   Malalch HaMavet 04:14  |  American in NY 20/06/09
      78.   Pollard..... 04:24  |  david Oberlander 20/06/09
      79.   Brod # 72 re Potobac and friends, allies and parasites 04:39  |  American in NY 20/06/09
      80.   #42 Yanatan 05:17  |  Abigail 20/06/09
      81.   malach hamavet 71 05:25  |  potobac 20/06/09
      82.   pollard parole 05:29  |  frank p. 20/06/09
      83.   brod 75 05:38  |  potobac 20/06/09
      84.   #77 American in NY 05:56  |  Malach HaMavet 20/06/09
      85.   #62 frank p Levittown PA 07:21  |  * BEN JABO 20/06/09
      86.   No it is not Isaac 07:26  |  Mark Lincoln 20/06/09
      87.   Really Isaac? 07:33  |  Mark Lincoln 20/06/09
      88.   It`s either two things 07:58  |  Palestinian Prince 20/06/09
      89.   To Pollard, Israel comes a distant second 10:41  |  Natallie Durson 20/06/09
      90.   Pollard is a special case 10:53  |  Chris Linthwaite 20/06/09
      91.   Paul #28 12:02  |  David Zukerman 20/06/09
      92.   Mark Lincoln #50 12:13  |  David Zukerman 20/06/09
      93.   That "thief in prison" analogy 12:19  |  David Zukerman 20/06/09
      94.   Dreyfus and Pollard 12:34  |  Jirka 20/06/09
      95.   throw away the key 13:31  |  maoriboy 20/06/09
      96.   regarding The Liberty... 13:32  |  David James Vickery 20/06/09
      97.   So maybe Jews shoud take a loyalty oath. 13:41  |  Lee 20/06/09
      98.   US intel, face of anti-Israel/antisemitic agencies in US gov, 1 15:26  |  David Turner 20/06/09
      99.   Cruelty, politics and humanity 15:44  |  Frank 20/06/09
      100.   94--Rosenheim 17:40  |  steve 20/06/09
      101.   Sheer Idiocy for those wanting release 18:44  |  Scott G 20/06/09
      102.   #94 Frank 18:48  |  Chris Linthwaite 20/06/09
      103.   # 92 Lee 19:07  |  Amused 20/06/09
      104.   Tom if Pollard was an Arab 19:24  |  Maria 20/06/09
      105.   I didn`t know that spying is worse than a murderer! 19:27  |  Maria 20/06/09
      106.   #91 Vickery 19:47  |  *BEN JABO 20/06/09
      107.   Hey Brod 20:12  |  John 20/06/09
      108.   to Maria 20:39  |  Ned 20/06/09
      109.   US intel, face of anti-Israel/antisemitic agencies in US gov, 2 20:43  |  David Turner 20/06/09
      110.   John, Potobac 21:04  |  Brod 20/06/09
      111.   American in NY 21:15  |  Brod 20/06/09
      112.   Spying on friends worse than spying on enemies 00:04  |  Stephen L 21/06/09
      113.   Americans killed Iranians by mistake also! 00:35  |  MMM 21/06/09
      114.   at NO TIME did Pollard "endanger" American lives 00:56  |  Yonatan 21/06/09
      115.   If he wanted release, he should have become an Iranian 02:13  |  UsedToPostHere 21/06/09
      116.   #112 Stephen - London 09:03  |  *BEN JABO 22/06/09
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