Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: A traitor, not a hero

Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003 | 8:19 a.m.

AN ISRAELI POLITICIAN who was upset with some of the demands of the "Roadmap for Peace" had his own solution. He suggested that the demand for all of the Palestinian prisoners held by Israel be released might be possible in exchange for the U.S. freeing convicted spy Jonathan Pollard. This suggestion hasn't reached the press in our country because few Americans would give it serious thought.

I have an even better suggestion for that politician. Don't be foolish and release convicted bomb makers and assorted killers who in short order will be back at their old trade. Yes, and quit seeking new pressure points to have the former U.S. Navy intelligence analyst freed. Pollard and several other Americans who sold out to foreign countries should have been hanged. The hangman should be kept busy following the conviction of any American military personnel convicted of spying for nations or organizations promoting terrorism. Terrorists remain a threat to our country.

Pollard sold out his country for $50,000 or more and got caught and convicted in 1985. He is still in the slammer where our government believes he belongs. Furthermore, he isn't an Israeli hero but an American traitor. President George Bush and President Bill Clinton were subjected to heavy diplomatic pressure requesting his release from prison. In 1995 Pollard was granted Israeli citizenship and new pressure was put on Clinton to release "Citizen Pollard." That was a neat trick making him a citizen of a country he had avoided. Despite all of the wars and other problems Israel experienced, Pollard didn't move there or go to its aid. It's amazing what a bag of cash can do to get the loyalty of some people. There is good reason to believe Pollard would have sold the same information to other countries.

In the 1988 July-August issue of The Jewish War Veteran magazine, retired Navy Rear Admiral Sumner Shapiro wrote that our government allowed a plea bargain for Pollard that it has honored. He pointed out that "in retrospect, this plea bargain may have ultimately worked to the government's disadvantage, since it prevented the U.S. public from learning the full extent of Pollard's espionage activities, and the potential damage to ongoing and future U.S. intelligence operations worldwide.

"In open testimony, it would have been revealed that Pollard sought to sell classified information to three other countries before he approached the Israelis, and that he turned over classified information to his wife for her to use in obtaining employment. Further, that the massive amounts of classified and highly sensitive information which he absconded with and passed to his Israeli handlers went far beyond anything bearing directly on the security of Israel, could well have fallen into unfriendly hands, and jeopardized U.S. intelligence sources and methods. Or that he not only sought and received considerable money and other items of great value for his services, but that he was even negotiating for a raise when he was caught.

"Had this information been made public, perhaps there would be fewer questions about the seriousness and consequences of Pollard's traitorous activities."

Three weeks ago Pollard appeared in federal court with his lawyers who argued that he hadn't received adequate legal representation after he was sentenced. They also want to see the full dossier and classified material the federal government has on Pollard.

I don't know how U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan will rule. The judge has more information than me or other outside observers. Whatever decision he makes will certainly be more fair than one made for political or diplomatic purposes.

In the meantime, don't try to convince me that Pollard is an Israeli hero because I know several real heroes of that country. I was in Israel when Pollard was caught and the most embarrassed people in our army camp were my Israeli soldier friends.