Friday, 22 June 2012


"First They Came for the Jews" 
By Pastor Niemoller

"The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities." - Ayn Rand
First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.

IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN -
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CNN: The Truth about Jonathan Pollard


by Eliot Lauer and Jacques Semmelman
CNN - International Edition - June 22, 2012
http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/22/opinion/lauer-pollard-truth/index.html


(CNN) -- As pro bono lawyers for Jonathan Pollard for 12 years, we continue 
to be amazed at how people opposed to executive clemency for our client 
invariably withhold, distort, and even fabricate facts to justify their 
position. The most recent manifestation of this phenomenon is the June 16 
opinion piece by Roland Martin, "Israel wrong to demand release of American 
traitor."

Mr. Pollard is serving his 27th year of an unprecedented sentence of life in 
prison for delivering classified information to the state of Israel, a close 
ally of the United States.

Martin does a disservice to his readers by fabricating facts. For example, 
Martin refers confidently to Pollard's "trial," and says that during his 
"trial," Pollard was accused of attempting to pass classified information to 
Pakistan and other countries.

Perhaps Martin doesn't know that Pollard never had a trial. This fact could 
have easily been found through a Google search. And Pollard was never 
charged by the United States with passing (or attempting to pass) classified 
information to any country other than Israel, for the very simple reason 
that he never attempted to do so. Martin invents putative facts to support 
his opinion.

Likewise, Martin writes of Pollard's purported "treason." But he was never 
charged with (much less convicted of) treason. Nor could he have been, as 
treason requires aid to an enemy of the United States.

Martin notes gravely that "treason" is addressed in the U.S. Constitution. 
If Martin had bothered to read that document, he would have seen that the 
Constitution says that "Treason against the United States, shall consist 
only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving 
them Aid and Comfort." Israel is not an enemy of the United States. Once 
again, a basic check of the facts would have revealed that Pollard did not 
commit treason.

What should be equally disturbing to Martin's readers are the critical facts 
he withholds. Martin makes it seem as if it is mostly the people and leaders 
of Israel who want Pollard to receive clemency. Martin fails to mention that 
George Shultz, the U.S. secretary of state at the time of Pollard's 
activities, has come out publicly in favor of clemency. Similarly, Robert 
"Bud" McFarlane, who was U.S. national security adviser at that time, has 
also come out publicly in favor of clemency.

It is safe to say that these gentlemen know more than anyone about Pollard's 
conduct. The fact that they have come out in favor of clemency speaks 
volumes. But Martin chooses not to mention this. Nor does he mention that 
numerous distinguished Americans have come out publicly in favor of 
clemency, including former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, former 
Attorney General Michael Mukasey, former Vice President Dan Quayle, former 
CIA Director James Woolsey, former Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman 
Dennis DeConcini, dozens of members of Congress and many others.

Perhaps Martin claims to know more than they do about the Pollard case. Then 
again, Martin claims Mr. Pollard had a trial and committed treason.

Martin is entitled to hold any opinion he wishes. But his readers are 
entitled to an honest presentation of the facts, not a series of falsehoods 
buttressed by material omissions.
Editor's note: Eliot Lauer and Jacques Semmelman, partners at the law firm 
of Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP, represent Jonathan Pollard.-- 

JUSTICE FOR JONATHAN POLLARD
Website: 
http://www.JonathanPollard.org
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