DRY BONES: Puzzle Solution

January 21, 2011

Commentary from the Dry Bones Blog

January 21, 2011

The latest news

From YNet Israel:

Tens of thousands pray for Pollard's release


Ynet Jan 20 2010
"Encouraged by Netanyahu's official request to free convicted spy, Bnei Akiva organizes special prayer session at more than 80 branches in Israel. 'It's our national duty,' rabbi says" -more

and this from the

Washington Post

:

George Shultz calls for Jonathan Pollard's release


By Jennifer Rubin
"In a remarkable development in the Jonathan Pollard case, the former secretary of state and highly respected national security figure George P. Shultz has written to the president asking for Pollard to be released:

January 11, 2011
The President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President,
I am writing to join with many others in urging you to consider that Jonathan Pollard has now paid a huge price for his espionage on behalf of Israel and should be released from prison.
I am impressed that the people who are best informed about the classified material he passed to Israel, former CIA Director James Woolsey and former Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee Dennis DeConcini, favor his release.
I find the letter you received from former Attorney General Michael Mukasey of the Bush administration particularly compelling.

With my respect,
Sincerely yours,
George P. Shultz

"This is an extraordinary letter, because Shultz is not only a respected Republican and a strong defender of America's national security, but he served in the Reagan administration with Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, who wrote the letter that the court used to issue Pollard's sentence. Conservatives, in effect, have offered Obama all the support he might need should he be inclined to pardon Pollard."

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J4JP adds:

Readers should note that "Pardon Jonathan Pollard" is used in the above cartoon as a kind of shorthand for "Commute Jonathan Pollard's sentence to time served". Pollard is not asking for a legal pardon, only for commutation of his sentence to time served.