Allen West Calls For Israeli Spy’s Release
BY BUDDY NEVINS
U. S. Rep. Allen West is asking that Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard be released.
My interpretation: West is trolling for campaign dollars from right-wing Jews.
That’s too bad. West once billed himself as a new kind of congressman, not just another Washington pol who angles for re-election bucks.
Allen West
Here is the story:
The Plantation Republican wrote President Barack Obama over the weekend, according to the Jerusalem Post.
West’s argument is that since Obama since his administration agreed with the release of Libyan Lockerbie bomber Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, it should let Pollard go after 26 years in prison.
Pollard was convicted of spying for Israel.
“After serving 26 years behind bars, Pollard’s health is deteriorating as is his wife’s,” West is quoted. “If [the US] can consent to the release by the British of the Lockerbie Bomber back to Libya due to health concerns, how can we justify keeping Mr. Pollard behind bars when his crimes were clearly not as serious as a terrorist who murdered hundreds of Americans?”
Representing a district that contains many elderly Jewish voters, West has been a fervent supporter of the ultra-conservative wing of the Israeli political spectrum and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
But supporting Israel and supporting Pollard are two different things among many Jewish voters, especially the independents and Democrats that make up much of West’s constituency.
West talks to a lot of ultra right-wing Jews, who don’t represent the mainstream Jewish community. Among right-wing Jews that West surrounds himself with, Pollard may be a cause célèbre. But Pollard is way down the list of concerns to most Jewish voters.
This West move is nothing more than firming up his support among the tiny sliver of U. S. conservative Jews who care about Pollard. This is about campaign contributions from places like New York City and Los Angeles.
Pollard may or may not have been in prison too long. You can’t get around the fact that Pollard was a spy.
West should stick with insuring Israel’s security. Because he is starting to act like just another politician, pandering to those who can help his re-election with dollars.
June 5th, 2011 at 3:02 pm
Think what you will, but your interpretation is misguided, and one wonders what it could be based on other than knee-jerk opposition to anything that doesn’t originate on the Left. Allen West has always been consistent, straightforward and upright in his position on Israel. This is not the slightest deviation from his established record. P.S. If you want to see someone troll for Jewish dollars, see His Presidency’s speech at AIPAC.
June 5th, 2011 at 4:06 pm
Pollard betrayed his country for profit.
He endangered American lives. Why would West, who wraps himself in the American flag, take up for this traitor?
June 5th, 2011 at 8:10 pm
I can’t improve on what No Nonsense wrote.
June 6th, 2011 at 8:04 am
The motive is obvious: to further expose Obama’s hypocrisy and pro Muslim agenda.
June 6th, 2011 at 9:48 am
Allen West should move to Israel. Good Riddance.
June 6th, 2011 at 10:27 am
West’s foolish blind supporters commenting here excuse his going to bat for a SPY! Spying for Israel doesn’t make him less of a spy. West should be ashamed that a military man supports a pardon for someone who stole American military secrets.
June 6th, 2011 at 5:20 pm
Pollard was also spying for South Africa (the bad one) and had made entreaties to Pakistan. It was all about the $$$$ until he and his wife got on “60 Minutes†and then they played the Jew Card: “I feel my husband and I did what we were expected to do, and what our moral obligation was as Jews, what our moral obligation was as human beings, and I have no regrets about that”.
For ten years Israel denied he was an agent. They have now claimed him and named a square in Jerusalem after him where, if West gets his way, they will dance in the streets when he arrives.
The only way this traitor should get out of prison is in a body bag after somebody shoves a shiv in his gut.
June 7th, 2011 at 10:16 am
Just another American politician more loyal to Israel than to our own country.
June 7th, 2011 at 2:06 pm
Pollard should rot in jail. Does not matter for whom he spied….. he spied.
June 8th, 2011 at 1:38 pm
Any politician that takes the side of a criminal and traitor over the US, especially for political advantage and campaign dollars, is not worth his weight in sh*&.