[Shalom Israel]

Were there any mitigating factors like that for Pollard? Isn't it the case that, rather than cooperating, he tried to flee arrest? What is the comparative damage done by Pollard's spying vs. Scranage and the others?

It's not clear that Pollard did much of any damage. Most of what was attributed to him at the time was actually the work of Aldritch Ames. 90% of what he was accused ot taking, he had no access to. What he did take, generally, were shipping records (which were his department) that appeared to be terrorist arms traffic.

John Loftus claims that this was part of Pollard's undoing: on information from Pollard, the Israelis tipped the Greeks to intercept what they believed to be an arms shipment to the PLO. Loftus claims that this was in fact a shipment of arms to Iran--the first shipment in the "Iran-Contra" affair. This of course suggests a reason that Bush Sr., at least, would want Pollard put away. Ironically, though, if this is true then it's Bush who should have been put away.

[edsheppa]

Well maybe and maybe not - I doubt we'll ever know until we get a peek at that classified info. In any case I'm satisfied that Pollard stay in jail for life unless we can trade him for something worthwhile.

Why is it that you and others make such a big deal out of it? Spies against the US deserve every bad thing they get.