I am convinced that a full, fair and open review of the facts will lead to the conclusion that the information given to Israel was largely tactical and regional, rather than strategic and global. It related primarily to Iraq’s plans for chemical and gas warfare and to Syrian inspired terrorism directed against civilians. It has no current intelligence value, and there is no reason to keep it classified.
What we are seeing here is yet another abuse of the classification system by the Pentagon to serve political, rather than national security, interests. The entire classification system reeks of arbitrariness. Insiders leak classified information with impunity. I was recently told by a former intelligence official that he had been shown classified information in order to give him ammunition to oppose Pollard’s release.
The government continues to play fast and loose with the facts. In another recent leak, intelligence officials assert that information given to Israel may have inadvertently found its way to the Soviet Union. Yet prosecutor DiGenova asserted during a public debate that he had no information to confirm that rank speculation.
In a democracy, it is unfair for the government to argue against the rights of a citizen by relying on classified information without giving that citizen the right to defend himself against its charges. Accordingly, the only appropriate course for the government to follow now is that suggested by DiGenova: all the material upon which the government is relying in its effort to keep Pollard in jail should now be declassified so the public can determine for itself the actual extent of any damage done by Pollard.
Seems reasonable to me.
To counter them, Illbay quotes Andrew I. Killgore just about the only person I can think of whom the State Department has accused of being antisemitic.