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| "Kerrey's versus Pollard's heroism" PUBLISHED 5/1/2001 |
There has been only one Holocaust, but what the Nazi Holocaust demonstrated so well is that human deprivation occurs incrementally. It starts with simple massacres; you shoot the first innocent person and then you shoot the next set of people and after you realize that you cannot shoot enough people you look to more efficient methods such as gas chambers. This is why weapons of mass destruction are developed and why chemical warfare is so frightening. Saddam Hussein understands this. Bob Kerrey, former U.S. Senator and presidential hopeful, took the first step down this frightening path while a U.S. Naval Seal and stopped. On the other hand, Jonathan Pollard, the convicted spy, did not need to kill anyone to understand the consequences of weapons of mass destruction before he blew the whistle on what he saw cross over his desk at Naval Intelligence.
The rewards in America for covering up your sins or revealing the truth are indeed ironic. In this instance Kerrey received the nation’s highest award of valor while Pollard’s reward is going on sixteen years of hard time.
In war both sides commit atrocities, which is the whole point of peacemakers in attempting to prevent future atrocities. It is in the gray area of corrupt secret policies such as the ill-conceived CIA support of Iraq in supporting Saddam’s chemical warfare production that was ultimately aimed against Israel – a policy that is so incomprehensible to anyone who has relatives that lived through the Holocaust.
Were there only one witness to Kerrey’s atrocity, this cover-up would have remained with those who elected to follow their leader [which led directly to Kerrey’s Bronze Star that stated that twenty-one Vietcong were killed in this incident, a clear lie which could have been refuted at any time including the moment at which President Nixon personally awarded him the Congressional Medal of Honor]. What was going through his mind at that moment when the President of the United States was reading the commendation for heroism to him personally?
Is this public persecution of the whistle blower by the political elite and the press in America any different than that they imposed on Jonathan Pollard? The only difference is there was no corroborating witness and Pollard stands alone in revealing the conspiracy of the misguided CIA policy aimed at the Jewish State which ironically was probably used against U.S. soldiers during the Gulf War. Whose sin is greater; Pollard’s for violating an American secrecy law that could have lead to the death of hundreds of thousands of Israeli citizens to prevent another Holocaust or Kerrey’s sin, which clearly led to the murder of at least thirteen innocent people? Pollard has already spent 15 years, one-third of his life, in an American prison while Kerrey spent the same time in two of America’s most exalted political offices; knowing full well that he had lied while serving his country. Where is the justice in the American judicial system? Where is the forgiveness in Bob Kerrey’s heart?
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| "Barak’s call to Clinton induces the wrong call-to-arms." PUBLISHED 3/13/2001 |
Throughout the ages, Jewish people are taught more about the weaknesses of their leaders than about their strengths -- beginning with Moses. Even King David, the greatest of Jewish warriors, too had feet of clay, sending his captain to the front line so that he could continue a liaison with his warrior’s wife. Calling the leader of the free world on behalf of Marc Rich, a fugitive from justice, is all too telling to people of all ages.
Barak’s actions are strikingly at odds with the message of Israel’s first prime minister who in the twilight of his life challenged Israel’s future leaders to become “A light unto the nations”, a people abiding by the highest moral standards. The day after the 1973 Yom Kippur War ended and just weeks before Ben Gurion’s death on December 1st 1973, Marc Rich began to profit from the Arab oil producers’ shakedown. A decade later he arrived in Zug, Switzerland with his suitcases full and plenty of cash in the bank to begin buying his own protection.
Clinton has a history of lapses but why would Barak allow himself to be used to set such a bad example, lacking the foresight to realize that he would ultimately be blamed for Clinton’s decision? Despite his highly touted ability to read maps, Barak lost his way in this maze filled with the glitter of Richy Rich, golden calves no doubt playing their part two (sic). Mr. Arafat must also take his share of the blame. He wasn’t exactly a potted plant at Camp David, or was he?
Israelis and Palestinians should recognize the events of the recent past as a call-to-arms to eliminate protection rackets throughout the region. Following the example of their forefathers they should raise a shield and band together, encouraging the business community who understand that a win-win results in long term mutual prosperity to mention little of the protection it affords. Trading with each other is the only possible way out of this crisis. Fostering interdependency is the only way to win the peace and end the rhetoric of hatred that allows despots to obfuscate their own poor performance.
Both peoples have in their arsenal a potent weapon, much holier than anything contained in a Swiss lock box, their commonality. Their forefather wrote the book on how to win holy wars that really count. Not King David, the warrior, but rather, Abraham, the first of the free traders, with whom Jews and Arabs share everything in common.
One day Clinton and Barak may want to take a trip to Sde Boker in the Negev Desert and visit a no-frills library. Once briefed on the legacy of Ben Gurion who envisioned an undivided Jerusalem they can then set forth and promote the whole world as one holy place, not just Jerusalem. Both former leaders may also be encouraged by the time they have inhaled the crisp unpolluted air that blows off the desert to speak to the youth about the lessons they’ve learned since leaving office; that the right call-to-arms is to reward those who stimulate competitive business practices.
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| "It is more than Pollard who got stuffed." - PUBLISHED 3/3/2001 |
Jewish leaders coveted Marc Rich at the expense of one who may have delivered the Right Stuff.
Perhaps, it is simply a coincidence that Jonathan Pollard was locked away at the same time FBI agent Hanssen was mastering U.S. counterintelligence on behalf of the Soviets. If you were Mr. Hanssen or Mr. Ames of the CIA what would you do to deflect attention? Wouldn’t it make sense to position Jonathan Pollard as the evil incarnate, an eternal threat to U.S. strategic interests? Not surprisingly, those charged with counterintelligence have somehow missed every opportunity to neutralize the impact of Pollard’s 15-year-old intelligence secrets. With all the finger pointing that went on in the mid 1980s, even a former CIA head like former President Bush, may not have been given all the intelligence he deserved.
Coincidence or not, by our Jewish leaders supporting the pardon of Marc Rich negating a once in a lifetime opportunity for the public to view the role that middlemen play in corrupting the leaders of most oil- producing nations to mention little of the terrorism these oil dollars father, the person made of the Right Stuff remains stuffed.
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| "Heads up, you lose. Tails we all lose" - PUBLISHED 2/1/2001 |
Dear Jonathan Pollard;
The pardon of Marc Rich eliminated not only an opportunity of justice being served but it would have allowed the public to view the role that oil brokers play in furthering terrorism.
This debacle also makes a mockery of your fight for true justice. Although you have now shown remorse, into your 16th year for providing Israel with a "heads up", your biggest mistake was that you should have charged more, stashed it away in Switzerland, and you would have got your comeuppance a little sooner. Where was your Yiddisha kop?
Your pal, Israel’s premier Barak, became so mesmerized by the glitter of "Richy Rich" that he failed to grasp that Rich's under-the-table deals paved the way for Israel enemies to hit soft targets. It is ironic that while your actions strengthened Israel's security, Rich's brokerage operation softened the will of Israelis resulting in the embrace of spiked peace initiatives. Surely you are also wondering if Mr. Barak's source of newfound wisdom comes from reading the funnies having forgotten the History of the Jews.
Barak brings shame to Jewish people who grew up believing that when push comes to shove our leaders would know better than to sell their souls in return for a good shmooze albeit with a womanizer supposedly with a good head, wouldn’t you agree? None of us should be all that surprised by Clinton’s call. His actions were simply in character but don't try arguing that point to our senators Feinstein and Boxer.
The tail this pardon leaves may yet come back to bite us all. In prison you are safe from terrorist actions. Here in Del Mar surfing conditions have been pretty good lately, but who knows what sharks may appear as the oceans warm up.
Hang tight. Odds are help may yet come knocking on your door but don’t count on the Democrats.
Gary S. Gevisser
Del Mar, California
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