Which heads of state has US Intelligence been recording

[Týr]

So - which heads of friendly governments has US Intelligence been recording. A few we know by admission, but the interesting ones are those not mentioned.

The German and French, Merkel and Hollande, are bugged by admission and they're peeved. The UK Prime Minister, Cameron, hasn't been, which is interesting because the ability is there and it shows the US is capable of recognizing that bugging friendly nations is reprehensible else why would they not.

Of the rest, who's blatantly obviously been bugged, is still bugged and will stay bugged?

The rest of Europe, that goes without saying.

That Japanese chap, Abe. Way out top of the list alongside Hamid Karsai of Afghanistan and whoever's jackboot is over the throat of Pakistan this year - Nawaz Sharif. As in "Sharif rose to prominence as part of General Zia-ul-Haq's military regime in the 1980s". And, to fill in the region's blank spot, Manmohan Singh in India. As in nuclear-armed and orbit-capable India.

The entire Egyptian leadership, one hopes.

Whatever Saudi prince is top of the greasy pole in Riyadh.

Every single head of government in North and South America who's not called Obama, and that certainly includes Stephen Harper.

Raul Castro, one assumes, but he (unlike all the others on this list) isn't an allied nation. I've think I run out of obvious allied candidates at this point.

So, finally, who can we be pretty sure isn't being recorded by the American security apparatchiks.

Vladimir Putin, on the grounds of Russian competence, and Benjamin Netanyahu on the grounds of fear.

The Chinese are immune too. Again through fear of the consequences.

[AnneBoleyn]

"Benjamin Netanyahu on the grounds of fear."

Fear of what? & I disagree about Putin & China.

[Snooz]

I hope they bug Putin's shower (with video) and post it online.

[Týr]

AnneBoleyn;1438763 wrote: "Benjamin Netanyahu on the grounds of fear."

Fear of what?


The Israeli lobby would end the career of any US politician or security agency manager found to have participated in tapping Benjamin Netanyahu's phone. The vast majority of politicians in DC go along with whatever AIPAC presses for. The only notable exception I can think of is releasing Jonathan Pollard from jail, and I bet if that was put to Congress for a majority vote he'd be freed. The utter spinelessness of DC politicians in failing to cope with AIPAC is disgusting.

Would you not rather discuss the bugging than Israel, given that it's the thread topic?

[Týr]

People need a bit of background before joining in?The documents seen by Der Spiegel give further details of the NSA's targeting of European governments.

A unit called Special Collection Services, based in the US embassy in Pariser Platz in Berlin, was responsible for monitoring communications in the German capital's government quarter.

If the existence of listening stations in US embassies were known, there would be "severe damage for the US's relations with a foreign government," the documents said.

Similar units were based in around 80 locations worldwide, according to the documents seen by Der Spiegel, 19 of them in European cities.

BBC News - US bugged Merkel's phone from 2002 until 2013, report claims

So. Monitoring the cellphones and communications of the heads of government of allied nations. Acceptable behavior, or unacceptable? Or do FG members think the allegations are untrue?

Were my opinion sought, I'd suggest the allied governments close the US and UK embassies indefinitely and clear the countries in question of every American and Briton claiming diplomatic immunity. That ought to send an adequate message.

[LarsMac]

Everybody is listening to everybody else.

Or, trying to.

This has not been news for thirty years, or so.

[Týr]

LarsMac;1438804 wrote: Everybody is listening to everybody else.

Or, trying to.

This has not been news for thirty years, or so.


I don't believe either of your points to be factual. I don't, to begin with, think anyone non-American is clandestinely monitoring President Obama's phone calls. Do you?

Secondly, if it "has not been news for thirty years, or so" then there wouldn't be this current international furore, would there. It may well be that many people suspected it of being the case but there's never been US documentation leaked which proves it beyond even the slightest doubt to be true. It's the proof that's the news.

You didn't answer the question - acceptable behavior, or unacceptable? If it's acceptable, why are there circles of protected nations like the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada guaranteeing not to monitor each other's governments?

In a rational world this proof would be legitimate grounds for war - unlike the pretense grounds the US has been relying on in its adventurism these last decades.

[LarsMac]

You said it, yourself

"It's the proof that's the news."

Publicly, it is obviously, unacceptable.

But since at least the second World War, every government has operated with the assumption that other governments have been listening on them.

And many other entities are listening, as well.

The idea that we have privacy is a wonderful fantasy, but if you really want to communicate something that you want no one else to hear, you don't do it over the telephone.

Ever since my days of being a minor political activist in the civil rights and Vietnam anti-war days, I have lived by that rule.

And the bigger you are, the more people there are who would like to know what you are saying.

All the political and moral outrage when someone gets caught will not stop it. The snoops will just get more careful.

[Snooz]

[LarsMac]

A friend of mine pointed this out to me, today.

The Americans should be congratulated for bugging the phones of 35 world leaders, not pilloried – Telegraph Blogs

When the dust has settled on the media frenzy over allegations that America's National Security Agency NSA) succeeded in bugging the mobile phones of 35 world leaders, surely the agency should given an award for undertaking one of the most remarkable feats of intelligence-gathering of modern times, rather than subjected to universal condemnation.


I particularly like his closing:

Intelligence-gathering is a dirty business, with all those involved indulging in underhand tricks to gain an advantage. And so far as I can see, the only mistake the Americans have made is to get caught.
It seems to speak to what I was trying, so clumsily, to say.

[Týr]

LarsMac;1438816 wrote: But since at least the second World War, every government has operated with the assumption that other governments have been listening on them.


Let me put it another way. Assuming a similar leak elsewhere demonstrated that President Obama's private communications had been monitored by a non-American government agency, would you be surprised that the monitoring had happened or do you actually go along with this notion that non-American government agencies do in fact monitor the private communications of President of the USA. I'm interested to see how you'd answer this since your post suggests that it's likely and equally unobjectionable.

[Ahso!]

If I were head of state of another country I'd kick their ass to the curb unless I'd have reasons not to.

[LarsMac]

Oh, I would not be at all surprised, and I am sure that we Americans would put up the requisite howl of protest. As a citizen of the offended country, then, I would of course be expected to work up the required righteous indignation over such an offense, along with all my compatriots.

The nerve of those people actually getting caught.

Off with their heads!

[Ahso!]

To the point of: is bugging the proper thing to do to "friends" no matter how commonplace it is? No - unless I believe the act makes the world, or, at least my world, a safer place to live.

[LarsMac]

Ahso!;1438831 wrote: To the point of: is bugging the proper thing to do to "friends" no matter how commonplace it is? No - unless I believe the act makes the world, or, at least my world, a safer place to live.


Well, then, the good Mr Coughlin offers yet, another opinion on the subject.

America has every right to bug Angela Merkel's mobile phone. We need to keep an eye on the Germans – Telegraph Blogs

Mrs Merkel and her outraged ministers might protest that this is no way for Washington to treat a trusted ally, but then there will be many in Washington, as well as Britain who might question just how reliable an ally Germany is these days.

[Ahso!]

It's the 21st century, not 193? when the Nazis were forming. Eavesdropping seems to me to be just another form of the preemptive philosophy America has adopted. Coughlin (and you) can rationalize all he wants.

[LarsMac]

Well, if the governments of the world truly offered transparency, spying would be a waste of time.

But we are dealing with an entire breed of humans who have gotten where they are by scheming, conniving, and basically being duplicitous.

A little spying can't hurt.

I would like to see someone tap the personal phones of every single politician in the world, and publish the results weekly.

[Ahso!]

Well, that's similar to saying that every home should be monitored as well. Would you go for that too?

[LarsMac]

Ahso!;1438837 wrote: It's the 21st century, not 193? when the Nazis were forming. Eavesdropping seems to me to be just another form of the preemptive philosophy America has adopted. Coughlin (and you) can rationalize all he wants.


Can't speak for Mr Coughlin, but I am neither rationalizing, nor justifying any of it.

It is, and it will probably remain a fact of world politics in the foreseeable future. I don't see the point in making so much fuss. When someone gets caught, the press and the offended leaders will make hay while they can, until the next thing comes along.

Ahso!;1438840 wrote: [QUOTE=LarsMac;1438839]Well, if the governments of the world truly offered transparency, spying would be a waste of time.

But we are dealing with an entire breed of humans who have gotten where they are by scheming, conniving, and basically being duplicitous.

A little spying can't hurt.

I would like to see someone tap the personal phones of every single politician in the world, and publish the results weekly.


Well, that's similar to saying that every home should be monitored as well. Would you go for that too?


Make that association if you like, but "every home" is not harboring a politician.

[Clodhopper]

The USA, UK, Canada Australia and New Zealand all co-operate very closely for intelligence gathering purposes and there is some form of agreement I believe not to spy on eachother. It springs from the fact that the UK was heavily involved in the setting up and training of the US intelligence services in WW2 - by the end of the war it was considerably more difficult to split the two Intelligence services apart than to continue co-operation and the agendas were anyway very similar (USSR...). The situation was formalized in some way in the 1950s and Can Aus NZ officially brought in.

I don't think there's any surprise for me in the news that the US has been spying in Germany - or Britain in Italy - or that GCHQ is in cahoots with the NSA. But actually bugging the phone of the German Chancellor? That's a much higher level of detailed information than I would have thought necessary since the fall of Communism. It seems like overkill. And I think I'm right in saying they bugged the phone she specifically used for internal Party matters...why are they interested in that?

[Týr]

Týr wrote: [QUOTE=AnneBoleyn;1438763]"Benjamin Netanyahu on the grounds of fear."

Fear of what?
The Israeli lobby would end the career of any US politician or security agency manager found to have participated in tapping Benjamin Netanyahu's phone. The vast majority of politicians in DC go along with whatever AIPAC presses for. The only notable exception I can think of is releasing Jonathan Pollard from jail, and I bet if that was put to Congress for a majority vote he'd be freed. The utter spinelessness of DC politicians in failing to cope with AIPAC is disgusting.

Would you not rather discuss the bugging than Israel, given that it's the thread topic?




Here's something relevant, Anne, as to why the Obama White House wouldn't dare be caught bugging the President of Israel. Perhaps you have a view, since you asked.

Obama’s Fight With Israel: This Time It's Serious - POLITICO Magazine

[fuzzywuzzy]

Týr;1438762 wrote: So - which heads of friendly governments has US Intelligence been recording. A few we know by admission, but the interesting ones are those not mentioned.

The German and French, Merkel and Hollande, are bugged by admission and they're peeved. The UK Prime Minister, Cameron, hasn't been, which is interesting because the ability is there and it shows the US is capable of recognizing that bugging friendly nations is reprehensible else why would they not.

Of the rest, who's blatantly obviously been bugged, is still bugged and will stay bugged?

The rest of Europe, that goes without saying.

That Japanese chap, Abe. Way out top of the list alongside Hamid Karsai of Afghanistan and whoever's jackboot is over the throat of Pakistan this year - Nawaz Sharif. As in "Sharif rose to prominence as part of General Zia-ul-Haq's military regime in the 1980s". And, to fill in the region's blank spot, Manmohan Singh in India. As in nuclear-armed and orbit-capable India.

The entire Egyptian leadership, one hopes.

Whatever Saudi prince is top of the greasy pole in Riyadh.

Every single head of government in North and South America who's not called Obama, and that certainly includes Stephen Harper.

Raul Castro, one assumes, but he (unlike all the others on this list) isn't an allied nation. I've think I run out of obvious allied candidates at this point.

So, finally, who can we be pretty sure isn't being recorded by the American security apparatchiks.

Vladimir Putin, on the grounds of Russian competence, and Benjamin Netanyahu on the grounds of fear.

The Chinese are immune too. Again through fear of the consequences.


We bugged China and China bugged us ............look in the news at the moment and see the hoohaa about us bugging indonasia. Huge diplomatic storm in a tea cup.

[fuzzywuzzy]

I don't have a problem with countries spying on or using intelligence gathering as an exercise in war . But something tells me it has more to do with economics and politics rather than protection from a hostile country.

[AnneBoleyn]

Týr;1441339 wrote: Here's something relevant, Anne, as to why the Obama White House wouldn't dare be caught bugging the President of Israel. Perhaps you have a view, since you asked.

Obama’s Fight With Israel: This Time It's Serious - POLITICO Magazine


Didn't get a chance to read the article yet, and things are happening with Iran minute by minute that has similarities to what you are bringing up, namely, what power does the American Jewish Lobby have swaying opinion on our Israeli policies.

The Christians have the power in this country moreso than Jews. The conservative Christians, the evangelicals, the right-wing Republicans appear to me to push Israel's interest more than the average Jew, who just wants Israel to exist.

2 points: 1. U.S.: Mideast Policy -- Does The Road To Jerusalem Run Through Baghdad?

"U.S. President George W. Bush this week appeared to end confusion over his Middle East policy, largely siding with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and calling for Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's removal. Analysts say the decision signals a victory for the "hawks" in the Bush administration, who believe using U.S. military might could solve problems that have defied Mideast diplomats for decades. Some in the U.S. capital, however, believe such thinking is dangerously simplistic. ............................

A few U.S. analysts believe the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush is determined to strike Iraq militarily and may try to use a victory over Saddam as a springboard to forge a final settlement on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and spark the fall of so-called "rogue regimes" from Tripoli and Tehran to Damascus."

http://www.rferl.org/content/article/1100098.html

2. George W. Bush Still Plans to Appear at Jews-for-Jesus-like Event Tonight



"Despite an uproar in the Jewish community, former president George W. Bush is still slated to deliver the keynote address to a fundraiser for the Messianic Jewish Bible Institute in Irving, Texas, tonight. The MJBI trains people to persuade Jews to recognize Jesus as their messiah. Followers of the group believe that if enough Jews are converted, Christ will return to Earth."



George W. Bush Still Plans to Appear at Jews-for-Jesus-like Event Tonight | The Daily Drudge Report

Those are the nit-wits with the most power who affect U.S./Israeli relations. Point 2 is their "reasoning".

I will get back to you as soon as I can concerning the article & direct question you linked to. However, I feel it is imperative that you take my points into consideration.

[AnneBoleyn]

Týr;1441339 wrote: Here's something relevant, Anne, as to why the Obama White House wouldn't dare be caught bugging the President of Israel. Perhaps you have a view, since you asked.

Obama’s Fight With Israel: This Time It's Serious - POLITICO Magazine


Are you referring to mainly this paragraph?

"Not since Menachem Begin trashed Ronald Reagan’s 1982 peace plan has Israel so publicly criticized a major U.S. diplomatic initiative. In a rousing speech in Jerusalem on Nov. 10, Netanyahu even called on leaders of American Jewry to use their influence to stop what he called a “bad Iran deal."

I guess you must be more specific with me, please.

[AnneBoleyn]

fuzzywuzzy;1441346 wrote: I don't have a problem with countries spying on or using intelligence gathering as an exercise in war . But something tells me it has more to do with economics and politics rather than protection from a hostile country.


I think you are right, fuzz.

[Týr]

AnneBoleyn;1441483 wrote: I guess you must be more specific with me, please.
You appear never to have heard of AIPAC or that it lobbies in Washington on behalf of the Israeli Government, Anne.

[AnneBoleyn]

Týr;1441763 wrote: You appear never to have heard of AIPAC or that it lobbies in Washington on behalf of the Israeli Government, Anne.


I have. Christians hold the ultimate power here, not the Big Bad Jews.

[Týr]

There are no big bad Jews[1]. There are, however, quite a few totalitarian Zionists.





[1] - Ariel Sharon excepted, on reflection.

[tude dog]

LarsMac;1438839 wrote: Well, if the governments of the world truly offered transparency, spying would be a waste of time.

But we are dealing with an entire breed of humans who have gotten where they are by scheming, conniving, and basically being duplicitous.

A little spying can't hurt.

I would like to see someone tap the personal phones of every single politician in the world, and publish the results weekly.


Really?

:sneaky:

[AnneBoleyn]

Týr;1441783 wrote: There are no big bad Jews[1]. There are, however, quite a few totalitarian Zionists.

[1] - Ariel Sharon excepted, on reflection.


[1] - Why, because he is comatose?

Yes, there a few totalitarian Zionists; given the small population of Jewry I don't know if "quite" quite fits. They would have no influence whatsoever without Christian consent, & there are many who do consent, for their own reasons of course; they number more than the "quite" a few Jews,. You haven't understood Jewish history very well, I dare say; you don't understand the Jewish psyche, I dare say, if there is one, of course, I have seen it all my life, so I believe there is one. We continue to exist with Christian permission, thank you very much. It's not generally talked about; you'd be surprised to learn how well Jews can pretend to ignore Christians.

This vast love of Christians for Jews is very new in history, you know. Or maybe you don't. I meet Eastern European Jews, emigres, every day who would set you straight, that it doesn't really exist outside the USA.

[tude dog]

Týr;1441783 wrote: There are no big bad Jews


Oh gee.

Týr;1441783 wrote: There are, however, quite a few Totalitarian Zionists


Ok, whatever that means.

Ariel Sharon. An example of bravery and dedication.

Only for his past heroism can one forgive him cause of senility, handing over the the Gaza,

[fuzzywuzzy]

AnneBoleyn;1441484 wrote: I think you are right, fuzz.


I'll start at the beginning of Australias' present little debarcle

Our prime minister goes to Sri Lanka for a summit...congratulates this country on how far it's come in the world (never mind their human rights issues which is causing people to leave in droves as refugees) So what does our government do? Makes a deal with this country to stop the boats/refugees coming to Australia. Gives them two navy vessels to help in their plight of stopping people from leaving their country.

Next minute Indonesia gets all hot under the collar because apparently we bugged the president and his wifes' phone just after they had an election ........Our prime ministers responce to this was rather coy . So what does Indonesia do? ..."Well then we're going to stop all joint operations concerning the boat people coming to Australia....Nope nope you've pissed us off we're not going to stop them anymore."

Next minute Indonesia is recieving a letter of apology and a big arsed military plane.........WTF?

What the hell ever happened to recieving some flowers and a box of choclates to apologise to someone?

[Týr]

AnneBoleyn;1441799 wrote: [1] - Why, because he is comatose?
Good lord no - because of his intransigence, and the utter lack of humanitarian concern he consistently displayed for decades.

[tude dog]

Týr;1441763 wrote: You appear never to have heard of AIPAC or that it lobbies in Washington on behalf of the Israeli Government, Anne.


Tyr, are you sure it is AIPAC, or some vast Joo plot to control the wealth of nations?

Is AIPAC effective in representing its constituents? I certainly hope so.

[fuzzywuzzy]

AnneBoleyn;1441799 wrote: [1] - Why, because he is comatose?

Yes, there a few totalitarian Zionists; given the small population of Jewry I don't know if "quite" quite fits. They would have no influence whatsoever without Christian consent, & there are many who do consent, for their own reasons of course; they number more than the "quite" a few Jews,. You haven't understood Jewish history very well, I dare say; you don't understand the Jewish psyche, I dare say, if there is one, of course, I have seen it all my life, so I believe there is one. We continue to exist with Christian permission, thank you very much. It's not generally talked about; you'd be surprised to learn how well Jews can pretend to ignore Christians.

This vast love of Christians for Jews is very new in history, you know. Or maybe you don't. I meet Eastern European Jews, emigres, every day who would set you straight, that it doesn't really exist outside the USA.


Ummm Anne. I speak to a lot of Jews some very zionistic others who were born in concentration camps and want nothing to do with their own religion and history. It's a mixed bag in Australia. But it would be I guess, some of the convicts were jews and established synogogues as early as the 1840's which is pretty impressive considering most had only just arrived in convict ships iron chained to christians right beside them. Everyone went through the same **** ..everyone was equal. It's only since the 80's we have seen any extremism going on . ( a push to make every Jew orthodox and 'for the cause' Until and up to that time those who came from Europe after the war had an established community to come to .......which is pretty good I reckon. It's only changed recently.

When I did my my family history I found Kezia and Esther (grandmothers) and then on other serches found Jewish surnames all over the place. When I told my friends of this they said I had jewish blood and therefore one of them.......to me that's a nonsense. Is there is a Jewish psych? I bloody hope not. I carry around enough bloody catholic guilt. If I had to had jewish guilt as well I'd be so depressed I'd have to kill myself lol. <-----------it's enough I have Irish and Jewish combined humour lol lol lol lol

[Týr]

tude dog;1441817 wrote: Is AIPAC effective in representing its constituents? I certainly hope so.
Representing its constituents? It's an agency lobbying in Washington DC on behalf of the government of Israel. It certainly has no interest whatever in the wellbeing of the USA.

[tude dog]

Týr;1441822 wrote: Representing its constituents? It's an agency lobbying in Washington DC on behalf of the government of Israel. It certainly has no interest whatever in the wellbeing of the USA.


Oh no, no.

The USA and Israel have mutual interests, beneficial to both nations.

[fuzzywuzzy]

It's in Americas' interest to bulldoze palistinian houses? How many americans voted for that particular point on the bill?

[tude dog]

I am going to pop in here.

fuzzywuzzy;1441818 wrote: Ummm Anne. I speak to a lot of Jews some very zionistic others who were born in concentration camps and want nothing to do with their own religion and history. It's a mixed bag in Australia. But it would be I guess, some of the convicts were jews and established synogogues as early as the 1840's which is pretty impressive considering most had only just arrived in convict ships iron chained to christians right beside them. Everyone went through the same **** ..everyone was equal. It's only since the 80's we have seen any extremism going on . ( a push to make every Jew orthodox and 'for the cause'


Sure you spoke with many Jews, and learned a lot. Thinking about it, I bet you didn't spend much time unless there was something of interest.

As far as the Orthodox, they like the rest of us are not a unified group. No one speaks for all.

fuzzywuzzy;1441818 wrote: Until and up to that time those who came from Europe after the war had an established community to come to .......which is pretty good I reckon. It's only changed recently.

When I did my my family history I found Kezia and Esther (grandmothers) and then on other serches found Jewish surnames all over the place. When I told my friends of this they said I had jewish blood and therefore one of them.......to me that's a nonsense.

I bloody hope not.


I carry around enough bloody catholic guilt. If I had to had jewish guilt as well I'd be so depressed I'd have to kill myself lol.


Guilt?

Need a little Negro and aborigine to your act.

[fuzzywuzzy]

tude dog ....why do I have to know the history of every population to know them, for them to be my friends?

And YES I find "them" the wording a complete nonsense.

As far as the Orthodox, they like the rest of us are not a unified group. No one speaks for all.


Exactly and that's why it's so dumb. But boys will be boys.

[spot]

Týr;1438767 wrote: The only notable exception I can think of is releasing Jonathan Pollard from jail
This will be something of a test of who rules in Washington DC.The Justice Department said Friday that although Pollard was ordered to serve life in prison after being convicted of selling U.S. secrets to the Israeli government, the terms of his sentence require that he be released after 30 years — a date that will arrive this fall — unless the government can prove that he violated rules in prison or is likely to commit additional crimes.

In a statement, the Justice Department signaled that the government was not planning to oppose the release, noting that Pollard is “presumptively eligible for mandatory parole.

“The Department of Justice has always and continues to maintain that Jonathan Pollard should serve his full sentence for the serious crimes he committed, which in this case is a 30-year sentence as mandated by statute, said Marc Raimondi, a Justice Department spokesman.

The prospect of Pollard’s release is likely to be seen as a major concession by the Obama administration to Israel at a time when the White House is lobbying intensely to prevent pro-Israel groups from derailing a recently negotiated agreement with Iran over its nuclear program. The White House rejected the suggestion that it would use Pollard’s release for political gain. National Security Council spokeswoman Alistair Baskey said Pollard’s status would be determined “according to standard procedures of the U.S. Parole Commission and that “there is absolutely zero linkage between Mr. Pollard’s status and foreign policy considerations.

Even so, a decision to free Pollard would resolve one of the most politically charged espionage cases of recent decades. Doing so could bolster the administration’s standing with Israel and its backers in the United States, but it also risks angering officials at the CIA, FBI and other agencies that have fought repeatedly to keep Pollard in prison.

A Jewish American who was given Israeli citizenship while in custody, Pollard was arrested in 1985 while working as a civilian analyst for the U.S. Navy and convicted of passing secret documents to the Israeli intelligence service.

Although allies, the United States and Israel have long engaged in aggressive espionage operations against one another as each tries to anticipate the other’s moves on an array of sensitive issues in the Middle East.

Pollard has said he was motivated by loyalty to the Israeli state, although he was also paid about $50,000 for the documents he provided and was in line to potentially earn far more. He was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted on a single count of espionage in 1987. But U.S. officials said Friday that the terms of that sentence include a “mandatory parole provision that essentially requires the United States to release him after 30 years unless the government can make the case that Pollard should remain in prison because of misconduct or a “reasonable probability that he would offend again.

That 30-year period would be calculated from his Nov. 21, 1985, arrest date, an official said. Inmates typically request a hearing within 120 days of their potential release date, and Pollard has done so, a U.S. official said. In fact, Pollard would have been eligible for parole after 10 years under the federal system that was in effect at the time but was abolished for later offenders. However, Pollard apparently never applied, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the case.

Despite the seemingly rigid terms of his incarceration, Pollard’s potential release has been the subject of frequent speculation because of the political dimensions of his case. Israeli groups have argued that he should be freed because the information he leaked pertained to Arab states, Pakistan and the Soviet Union, rather than to the United States. Some supporters have also claimed that he was puncturing harmful barriers on intelligence-sharing between the two allies.

But U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies have been vehemently opposed to freeing a convicted spy. The prospect of his release was first reported Friday by the Wall Street Journal.

Spokesmen for the CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment on Pollard’s possible release. Yet current and former U.S. officials said Friday that a renewed effort to release Pollard would meet resistance from spy agencies. “Every time this has come up, people have taken strong views that if he were released it would be a hugely bad signal and undercut our counterintelligence and counterespionage efforts, a U.S. official said. “I don’t know why that would have changed. This guy was not the good citizen that Israel makes him out to be.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/na ... nes&wpmm=1