DATE=01/14/99
      TYPE=U-S OPINION ROUNDUP
    NUMBER=6-11099
     TITLE=THE DEBATE OVER RELEASING JONATHAN POLLARD         
    BYLINE=ANDREW N. GUTHRIE
 TELEPHONE=619-3335
  DATELINE=WASHINGTON
    EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS

CONTENT=

INTRO:  THERE IS A HEATED DEBATE IN THE UNITED STATES CONCERNING 
POSSIBLE CLEMENCY FOR CONVICTED SPY JONATHAN POLLARD.

POLLARD HAS BEEN SERVING A LIFE SENTENCE SINCE 1986 FOR SPYING ON
BEHALF OF ISRAEL WHEN HE WAS A U-S NAVY INTELLIGENCE ANALYST.

DURING ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN PEACE TALKS IN OCTOBER, ISRAELI 
PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU DEMANDED POLLARD'S RELEASE.  
PRESIDENT CLINTON PROMISED TO  REVIEW THE CASE.

WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS SAY IT IS NOT CLEAR WHEN THE PRESIDENT WILL
ANNOUNCE HIS DECISION.  IF HE LISTENS TO THE U-S PRESS, MR. 
POLLARD WILL REMAIN IN JAIL, AS WE HEAR NOW IN TODAY'S U-S 
OPINION ROUNDUP PRESENTED BY ___________________.

TEXT:  SOME OF THE RESISTANCE IN THE PRESS IS BASED ON AN ARTICLE
IN THE LATEST NEW YORKER MAGAZINE.  IT EXPLAINS THAT SECRET 
MILITARY INFORMATION SOLD BY MR. POLLARD TO THE ISRAELIS, AND 
POSSIBLY TO OTHER GOVERNMENTS, WAS FAR MORE VITAL THAN WAS 
PUBLICLY DISCLOSED AT HIS TRIAL.

TEXT:  "THE BOSTON GLOBE" HAS THIS COMMENT ABOUT THE POLLARD 
CASE.

VOICE:   /// OPT ///  FEARING THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON MAY BE SO 
         EAGER TO ADVANCE THE PEACE PROCESS THAT HE WILL TRADE 
         [MR/.] POLLARD'S RELEASE FOR ISRAELI COOPERATION, ACTIVE
         AND RETIRED INTELLIGENCE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS 
         HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PERSUADE THE PRESIDENT AND THE 
         PUBLIC THAT [MR.] POLLARD DID TREMENDOUS DAMAGE TO U-S 
         SECURITY AND SHOULD  NOT  HAVE HIS LIFE SENTENCE 
         COMMUTED.   THE PARTICULARS OF THEIR CASE AGAINST 
         LENIENCY ARE PRESENTED IN  /// END OPT ///  A 
         PROVOCATIVE ARTICLE IN THE CURRENT NEW YORKER BY VETERAN
         REPORTER SEYMOUR HERSH. .... DESCRIBE(S) A BETRAYAL OF 
         THIS COUNTRY'S MOST ZEALOUSLY PROTECTED INTELLIGENCE 
         MATERIAL AS WELL AS THE METHODS AND SOURCES USED TO 
         ACQUIRE THAT MATERIAL.  THEY MAKE A COMPELLING CASE THAT
         [MR.] POLLARD'S SPYING, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS DONE FOR AN 
         ALLY, CAUSED GREAT HARM TO THE OPERATIONS OF U-S 
         INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES.  ... [MR.] CLINTON SHOULD HEED 
         THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF HIS SENIOR SECURITY AND FOREIGN 
         POLICY ADVISERS AND REFUSE TO RELEASE [MR.] POLLARD.  
         THE SPY SHOULD BE JUDGED BY THE GRAVITY OF HIS CRIME.

TEXT:  THERE IS A PLEA FROM "THE OMAHA [NEBRASKA] WORLD-HERALD" 
FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON   N O T   TO RELEASE MR. POLLARD.

VOICE:   SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS ADVISED 
         PRESIDENT CLINTON AGAINST GRANTING CLEMENCY TO JONATHAN 
         POLLARD, /// OPT /// WHO IS SERVING A LIFE TERM FOR 
         STEALING VOLUMES OF CLASSIFIED U-S DOCUMENTS AND GIVING 
         THEM TO ... ISRAEL. /// END OPT /// ... CRITICS OF 
         CLEMENCY INCLUDE THE TOP REPUBLICAN AND THE TOP DEMOCRAT
         ON THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE, RICHARD SHELBY OF 
         ALABAMA AND BOB KERREY OF NEBRASKA. .... TO RELEASE 
         [MR.] POLLARD, [SENATOR] SHELBY SAID, WOULD BE TO 'SET A
         DANGEROUS AND UNWISE PRECEDENT THAT CRIMES AGAINST THE 
         UNITED STATES ARE NOT SERIOUS." ... THOSE ARE WORDS FOR 
         AMERICANS TO REMEMBER AS THE SENATE WRESTLES WITH HOW TO
         PROCEED WITH [PRESIDENT] CLINTON'S TRIAL.  

TEXT:  "NEWSDAY" ON NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND PUTS ITS FEELINGS ON 
THE MATTER THIS WAY:

VOICE:   /// OPT /// THE RESULTS ARE IN FROM PRESIDENT BILL 
         CLINTON'S EXPEDITED REVIEW OF [THE] CASE /// END OPT ///
         ... ON THE BASIS OF ASSESSMENTS BY NATIONAL SECURITY 
         ADVISERS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SHOWING THAT [MR.] 
         POLLARD SPIED NOT ONLY FOR ISRAEL BUT ALSO FOR PAKISTAN,
         SOUTH AFRICA AND AT LEAST TWO MORE UNNAMED NATIONS, 
         [PRESIDENT] CLINTON'S CHOICE IS CLEAR.  HE MUST DENY 
         [MR.] POLLARD CLEMENCY.  

TEXT:  IN FLORIDA, "THE MIAMI HERALD" SPELLS OUT ITS VIEWS IN THE
EDITORIAL HEADLINE: "NO NEW DEAL FOR POLLARD," ADDING:

VOICE:   "DESPITE A CONCERTED PUBLIC-RELATIONS CAMPAIGN AND AN 
         ASSERTED PASSION FOR ISRAEL, THERE IS NOTHING IN THE 
         RECORD OF CONVICTED AMERICAN SPY JONATHAN POLLARD THAT 
         WARRANTS PRESIDENTIAL CLEMENCY.  TO THE CONTRARY, THE 
         RECORD AND A STARTLING REPORT IN THE CURRENT NEW YORKER 
         MAGAZINE BY SEYMOUR HERSH SUGGESTS THAT PRISON IS 
         EXACTLY WHERE [MR.] POLLARD - -  WHO HAS SERVED NEARLY 
         12 YEARS OF A LIFE SENTENCE - -  SHOULD STAY.  

TEXT: IN MAINE, "THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" HAS THIS COMMENT.

VOICE:   [MR.] POLLARD SHOULD STAY RIGHT WERE HE IS, SERVING A 
         LIFE SENTENCE FOR DELIVERING U-S SECRETS TO ISRAEL IN 
         THE 1980S.   ... [MR.] POLLARD WILLINGLY BETRAYED HIS 
         COUNTRY, AND THE FACT THAT HE GAVE SECRETS TO AN 
         'ALLIED' NATION IS IMMATERIAL.  HE SHOULD STAY RIGHT 
         WHERE HE IS FOR THE REST OF HIS NATURAL LIFE. 

TEXT:  ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL 
COMMENT ON HOW THE U-S PRESS FEELS ABOUT THE FATE OF CONVICTED 
SPY JONATHAN POLLARD.

NEB/ANG/GE

14-Jan-99 1:12 PM EST (1812 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.