If you spy for Russia, its considered much ado about nothing. If you spy for Israel, its a capital offense. Of course, there’s a double standard and when it comes to the Jews and Israel, there will always be one.

NormanF on January 30, 2009 at 12:50 pm

Well, this just follows our foreign policy. Most Government officials concerned with foreign policy do have a much warmer view of Russia than they do of Israel. Bush II looked into Putin’s eyes & saw a friend and kindred spirit (probably not far off the mark at that considering Bush’s overall foreign policy). The US worked with Russia to help accomplish foreign policy objectives just like the US works with our friend, Syria in the Mideast. Israel is a thorn to all of these presidents, and of course, we know what Clueless Condi and the rest of them think of Israel. She is an ‘expert’ on Russia, knows Russian fluently, so guess which country she likes better.
Most of them would consider good relations with Russia much more important than good relations with that ‘albatross’ Israel, so it is not surprising that Nicholson gets better treatment than Pollard. Of course, inherent anti-semitism has nothing to do with it.

c f on January 30, 2009 at 1:20 pm

You have to understand something:
America is a nation of cowards.
We are afraid of Russia because it’s the historic enemy that possesses nuclear weapons, therefore we forgive it for whatever it does to its neighbors or even if it’s spying on us.
We condemn Russia publicly in words and sleep with it in private.
This is how it will always going to be with Russia.
Our consecutive governments don’t want to restart the Cold War again, so they say.
(While, in the mean time, Russia is rebuilding its Military, guess why? For the sole purpose of fighting America in the future.)
Do you see what fear can do to a so-called “powerful” nation (who used to be one) like America?
Apply this to our consecutive governments and how they are dealing with the Muslims.
After September 11, 2001, America became officially a nation of cowards.
Don’t be fooled by Bush’s wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and how “tough” he was.
It goes deeper than what the media and his administration told you.
Presidents are courting the Muslim world for the sole purpose of begging the Muslims not to attack America gain, hoping that Al Qaeda will listen.
Presidents freed terrorists from Guantanamo and others want to close it, hoping that Al Qaeda will listen.
Don’t be fooled by what the media is telling you.
It’s not only about the “image” that they want to close Guantanamo, it is about FEAR.
Ask Spain, Britain and France what fear can do to you.
America is no more a powerful nation that can change the world’s attitude through toughness or can at least stand her ground.
America is no more an independent nation.
The interests of the world and the terrorists must come first.
Fear and political correctness -which in my opinion is another word for FEAR- is the policy of the U.S. governments.
America became a nation of beggars, of slaves, of sissies who will do anything to please the world and her enemies before her friends, not realizing that she never had any real friends except Israel.
This is the status of America nowadays. And I’m afraid it will remain unchanged for a long time.
Bush started it, Hussein will continue the job with more expediency and more kowtowing.
We have been blessed with scumbags, coward leaders.
Until things change and America becomes a powerful independent nation again, not a nation of slaves, I have to say:
I am not proud to be an American.
I am ashamed to be an American.

Independent Conservative on January 30, 2009 at 2:27 pm

America treats those who spy for her enemies with kid gloves. She punishes harshly those who spy for her friends. And the world thinks this country is serious in dealing with real threats abroad?
You only have to look at how the Famous But Incompetent failed to catch the Nicholsons’ spying from prison. We’re in trouble.

NormanF on January 30, 2009 at 4:01 pm

Debbie, Stop making excuses for convicted spies against your country. Or make aliyah and go to Israel and renounce your citizenship. Pick one.

RKV on January 31, 2009 at 9:39 pm

RKV, where did Debbie make excuses? All she pointed out is the double standard America has about convicted spies. By all means, throw the book at those who betray this country but don’t treat Jews differently from others who have committed the same crime.

NormanF on January 31, 2009 at 11:04 pm

Norman,
Neither one of them deserves mercy. Both deserve the death penalty. Just because one hasn’t suffered what they deserve is no reason to give the other a break. It’s a reason to punish one more, that is all.

RKV on January 31, 2009 at 11:26 pm

Debbie writes that Nicholson was sentenced to 23 years. The Walker family spies and Christopher Boyce [or Boyd?] were sentenced to much shorter terms, but Jonathan Pollard was sentenced to what is practically a life sentence. Yet Pollard spied for a friendly country, Israel, with which the US had made an agreement to share info, whereas the Walkers and Boyce spied for the Communist USSR. So we see an unjust, hard to explain inequality right there. But it’s worse because the Eighth Amendment of the US Constitution forbids “cruel and unusual punishments.” Pollard’s punishment is clearly unconstitutional. What rubs salt into the wound is that the usual “human rights” and “civil rights” phoneys –the ACLU– refuse to do or say anything to help Pollard. So the ACLU is a fake “civil liberties” outfit. They just add to the oppression and persecution of Pollard. On Pollard, the ACLU position is the same as that of the Govt, of the Justice Dept, of the CIA, etc.

Eliyahu on February 1, 2009 at 9:48 am