DATE=01/14/99
TYPE=U-S OPINION ROUNDUP
NUMBER=6-11099
TITLE=THE DEBATE OVER RELEASING JONATHAN POLLARD
BYLINE=ANDREW N. GUTHRIE
TELEPHONE=619-3335
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS
CONTENT=
INTRO: THERE IS A HEATED DEBATE IN THE UNITED STATES CONCERNING
POSSIBLE CLEMENCY FOR CONVICTED SPY JONATHAN POLLARD.
POLLARD HAS BEEN SERVING A LIFE SENTENCE SINCE 1986 FOR SPYING ON
BEHALF OF ISRAEL WHEN HE WAS A U-S NAVY INTELLIGENCE ANALYST.
DURING ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN PEACE TALKS IN OCTOBER, ISRAELI
PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU DEMANDED POLLARD'S RELEASE.
PRESIDENT CLINTON PROMISED TO REVIEW THE CASE.
WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS SAY IT IS NOT CLEAR WHEN THE PRESIDENT WILL
ANNOUNCE HIS DECISION. IF HE LISTENS TO THE U-S PRESS, MR.
POLLARD WILL REMAIN IN JAIL, AS WE HEAR NOW IN TODAY'S U-S
OPINION ROUNDUP PRESENTED BY ___________________.
TEXT: SOME OF THE RESISTANCE IN THE PRESS IS BASED ON AN ARTICLE
IN THE LATEST NEW YORKER MAGAZINE. IT EXPLAINS THAT SECRET
MILITARY INFORMATION SOLD BY MR. POLLARD TO THE ISRAELIS, AND
POSSIBLY TO OTHER GOVERNMENTS, WAS FAR MORE VITAL THAN WAS
PUBLICLY DISCLOSED AT HIS TRIAL.
TEXT: "THE BOSTON GLOBE" HAS THIS COMMENT ABOUT THE POLLARD
CASE.
VOICE: /// OPT /// FEARING THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON MAY BE SO
EAGER TO ADVANCE THE PEACE PROCESS THAT HE WILL TRADE
[MR/.] POLLARD'S RELEASE FOR ISRAELI COOPERATION, ACTIVE
AND RETIRED INTELLIGENCE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PERSUADE THE PRESIDENT AND THE
PUBLIC THAT [MR.] POLLARD DID TREMENDOUS DAMAGE TO U-S
SECURITY AND SHOULD NOT HAVE HIS LIFE SENTENCE
COMMUTED. THE PARTICULARS OF THEIR CASE AGAINST
LENIENCY ARE PRESENTED IN /// END OPT /// A
PROVOCATIVE ARTICLE IN THE CURRENT NEW YORKER BY VETERAN
REPORTER SEYMOUR HERSH. .... DESCRIBE(S) A BETRAYAL OF
THIS COUNTRY'S MOST ZEALOUSLY PROTECTED INTELLIGENCE
MATERIAL AS WELL AS THE METHODS AND SOURCES USED TO
ACQUIRE THAT MATERIAL. THEY MAKE A COMPELLING CASE THAT
[MR.] POLLARD'S SPYING, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS DONE FOR AN
ALLY, CAUSED GREAT HARM TO THE OPERATIONS OF U-S
INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES. ... [MR.] CLINTON SHOULD HEED
THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF HIS SENIOR SECURITY AND FOREIGN
POLICY ADVISERS AND REFUSE TO RELEASE [MR.] POLLARD.
THE SPY SHOULD BE JUDGED BY THE GRAVITY OF HIS CRIME.
TEXT: THERE IS A PLEA FROM "THE OMAHA [NEBRASKA] WORLD-HERALD"
FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON N O T TO RELEASE MR. POLLARD.
VOICE: SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS ADVISED
PRESIDENT CLINTON AGAINST GRANTING CLEMENCY TO JONATHAN
POLLARD, /// OPT /// WHO IS SERVING A LIFE TERM FOR
STEALING VOLUMES OF CLASSIFIED U-S DOCUMENTS AND GIVING
THEM TO ... ISRAEL. /// END OPT /// ... CRITICS OF
CLEMENCY INCLUDE THE TOP REPUBLICAN AND THE TOP DEMOCRAT
ON THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE, RICHARD SHELBY OF
ALABAMA AND BOB KERREY OF NEBRASKA. .... TO RELEASE
[MR.] POLLARD, [SENATOR] SHELBY SAID, WOULD BE TO 'SET A
DANGEROUS AND UNWISE PRECEDENT THAT CRIMES AGAINST THE
UNITED STATES ARE NOT SERIOUS." ... THOSE ARE WORDS FOR
AMERICANS TO REMEMBER AS THE SENATE WRESTLES WITH HOW TO
PROCEED WITH [PRESIDENT] CLINTON'S TRIAL.
TEXT: "NEWSDAY" ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND PUTS ITS FEELINGS ON
THE MATTER THIS WAY:
VOICE: /// OPT /// THE RESULTS ARE IN FROM PRESIDENT BILL
CLINTON'S EXPEDITED REVIEW OF [THE] CASE /// END OPT ///
... ON THE BASIS OF ASSESSMENTS BY NATIONAL SECURITY
ADVISERS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SHOWING THAT [MR.]
POLLARD SPIED NOT ONLY FOR ISRAEL BUT ALSO FOR PAKISTAN,
SOUTH AFRICA AND AT LEAST TWO MORE UNNAMED NATIONS,
[PRESIDENT] CLINTON'S CHOICE IS CLEAR. HE MUST DENY
[MR.] POLLARD CLEMENCY.
TEXT: IN FLORIDA, "THE MIAMI HERALD" SPELLS OUT ITS VIEWS IN THE
EDITORIAL HEADLINE: "NO NEW DEAL FOR POLLARD," ADDING:
VOICE: "DESPITE A CONCERTED PUBLIC-RELATIONS CAMPAIGN AND AN
ASSERTED PASSION FOR ISRAEL, THERE IS NOTHING IN THE
RECORD OF CONVICTED AMERICAN SPY JONATHAN POLLARD THAT
WARRANTS PRESIDENTIAL CLEMENCY. TO THE CONTRARY, THE
RECORD AND A STARTLING REPORT IN THE CURRENT NEW YORKER
MAGAZINE BY SEYMOUR HERSH SUGGESTS THAT PRISON IS
EXACTLY WHERE [MR.] POLLARD - - WHO HAS SERVED NEARLY
12 YEARS OF A LIFE SENTENCE - - SHOULD STAY.
TEXT: IN MAINE, "THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" HAS THIS COMMENT.
VOICE: [MR.] POLLARD SHOULD STAY RIGHT WERE HE IS, SERVING A
LIFE SENTENCE FOR DELIVERING U-S SECRETS TO ISRAEL IN
THE 1980S. ... [MR.] POLLARD WILLINGLY BETRAYED HIS
COUNTRY, AND THE FACT THAT HE GAVE SECRETS TO AN
'ALLIED' NATION IS IMMATERIAL. HE SHOULD STAY RIGHT
WHERE HE IS FOR THE REST OF HIS NATURAL LIFE.
TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL
COMMENT ON HOW THE U-S PRESS FEELS ABOUT THE FATE OF CONVICTED
SPY JONATHAN POLLARD.
NEB/ANG/GE
14-Jan-99 1:12 PM EST (1812 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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