"First They Came for the Jews"
By Pastor Niemoller
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
Follow J4JP on Twitter:http://twitter.com/J4JPollard
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