Devlin Barrett reports for the WSJ:
The Obama administration is preparing to release convicted Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard from prison, according to U.S. officials, some of whom hope the move will smooth relations with Israel in the wake of the Iran nuclear deal.Such a deal for Israel. First we sign the most toothless agreement since Neville Chamberlain came back from Munich in 1938 waving a document and claiming "peace in our time," an agreement that practically guarantees that a country determined to wipe Israel off the map will acquire nuclear weapons. But not to worry, we will make it up by releasing one spy.
Such a decision would end a decadeslong fight over Mr. Pollard, who was arrested on charges of spying for Israel in 1985 and later sentenced to life in prison. The case has long been a source of tension between the U.S. and Israel, which has argued that a life sentence for spying on behalf of a close U.S. partner is too harsh. Israel has for years sought Mr. Pollard's early release, only to be rejected by the U.S.
Now, some U.S. officials are pushing for Mr. Pollard's release in a matter of weeks. Others expect it could take months, possibly until his parole consideration date in November.
For an administration looking for ways to release criminals, this is particularly ingenious. But thinking that the Israelis will be bought off by a stunt this transparent and this shallow is a bridge too far.
The other-worldly thing is that the administration is claiming the two things are unrelated. I guess the thinking is that, if the country is stupid enough to buy the Iran deal, it will also be stupid enough to buy the "unrelated" line.
Coulter is a bomb-thrower, but does anyone think that people like Luis Gutierrez care a whit about people like Kate Steinle?