Debbie Schlussel: Will Jonathon Pollard Have to Die First, Too?: Bush Pardons Charles Winters
A new batch of Bush pardons was just announced. Among them, Charles Winters, who died in the 1980s. I'm glad Bush pardoned him, for committing the "crime" of helping Israel in the War of Independence.
But it's sad that Charles Winters had to wait so long.
The list also included Charles Winters, who during the 1940s helped ship arms and aircraft to Jews trying to found their own state in the Middle East, the Associated Press reported. Winters died in the 1980s, the news agency said.Offense: Conspiracy to export, and exportation, of a military aircraft to a foreign country in violation of the Neutrality Act of 1939; 22 U.S.C. Section 448(a).
Sentence: Feb. 4, 1949; Southern District of Florida; 18 months in prison, $5,000 fine.
Not in the pardons, so far, Lewis I. "Scooter" Libby, whose crime was saying "I don't remember" about something he didn't remember, and of which he wasn't the source of the leak.
Also not in the pardons, Jonathon Pollard who spied for Israel. Yes, he spied, and he should be punished. But he's been in prison for more than two decades, when other spies who did far more harm and spied for enemies--like China--got far less time and are already out. Most of what Pollard turned over to Israel was information the U.S. had agreed in writing to share with Israel, but chose not to. And he's been kept in solitary confinement and deprived of medicine for his illnesses. Much of the spying that he was credited for helping the Soviets get, actually turned out to have been committed by Aldrich Ames.
Sadly, it looks like Pollard will get the Charles Winters treatment, if even that. If only he'd spied for the Chi-Coms, the Soviets, or the Muslims, he'd be free by now.
Remember Nada Nadim Prouty, the FBI and CIA agent who spied for Hezbollah? Remember her $750 fine? Hello . . . .
Posted by Debbie on December 23, 2008 03:47 PM to Debbie Schlussel