Pollard Spy Case

Re “Panel Blasts CIA Over Ames Case,” Nov. 2:

Now that this Aldrich Ames fiasco has received a scathing report from the Senate Intelligence Committee as well as the “seriously inadequate” response by CIA Director R. James Woolsey, isn’t it time that the scandal of the other victim of Ames’ treachery be addressed? I refer to Jonathan Pollard, who was charged with passing one classified document to ally Israel--which accorded with stated U.S. government policy but was not in accordance with the secret agenda of Caspar Weinberger and others--but who was held responsible by innuendo and punished for Ames’ treason. It is believed that Weinberger’s infamous memorandum was based on Ames’ allegations using Pollard as his fall guy. Actually Pollard’s sentence is even more severe than Ames’ because the latter’s sentence does not include a recommendation against parole.

Is it not time for President Clinton to exercise the power and even obligation of his office to see that the proper measure of justice is meted out, not by pardoning as President Bush did for Weinberger on four counts of perjury and obstruction of justice, but by commuting Pollard’s sentence to time served? And he has already served more than twice as long as others indicted on similar or greater crimes.

LIONEL OKUN

Seal Beach