Info fr. Israel POLLARD: WHAT HE KNOWS, AND LEADERS OF JEWRY As Jonathan Pollard continues to languish in tortuous conditions in a U.S. prison - he began his 18th year in prison last month - the questions continue to rankle: Why was he sentenced to life in prison in direct contrast to the terms of his plea bargain? Why are certain U.S. officials - past and present - so dead-set against any leniency to Pollard? Did a secret memo by then-Defense Secretary Weinberger accuse Pollard of treason, even though neither the charges against him nor any evidence indicate anything close to that? Some answers may be found in a letter by Pollard that was first published in The Wall Street Journal on February 15, 1991 - but which takes on a more foreboding tone in the light of current events. The letter states that the photos he turned over to the Israelis "were of a number of Iraqi chemical weapons manufacturing plants which the government did not want to admit existed. Why? . what the administration was really concerned about was [having] to admit that it had tacitly condoned the creation of an Iraqi chemical weapons manufacturing capability." In short, the Americans themselves may have brought about the very reason for the war for which the world is now bracing - and Pollard may be the one to confirm this. The Justice for Jonathan Pollard website also features a recent New Yorker Magazine article that it says "provides a clear picture of the direct involvement of the United States in arming Iraq, and in providing Saddam Hussein with technology, weapons, intelligence and funding - even in contravention of American law - enabling Iraq to amass the nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons that threaten the world." The organization concludes: "As long as the US acknowledges no responsibility for its role in arming Iraq, Jonathan Pollard will continue to be buried alive in prison by successive American administrations fearing exposure and embarrassment." An important article by Sara Levinsky-Rigler, published yesterday on Aish.com, states the following: "Contrary to widespread misconceptions, Pollard was never indicted for harming the United States. Pollard was never indicted for compromising codes, agents, or war plans, nor was he accused of nor convicted of treason. Jonathan Pollard was indicted on only one charge: one count of passing classified information to an ally, with no intent to harm the United States. The median sentence for this offence is two to four years. Jonathan Pollard is the only person in the history of the United States to receive a life sentence for spying for an American ally. Appellate Court Justice Steven Williams has called the Pollard case 'a fundamental miscarriage of justice.'" The entire article, which contains important information on the background of the case, as well as the very difficult conditions under which Pollard is being incarcerated, can be seen at . The Justice for Jonathan Pollard organization emphasizes that an important aspect of his continued imprisonment is the lack of a concerted effort - and sometimes even the opposite - on the part of the leadership of American and Israeli Jewry for his release. The organization recently obtained a letter dated March 10, 1987 - eight months before Pollard was sentenced to life - that bears out this contention. Signed by Morris Abram, chairman of the Conference of Presidents, and written to Secretary of State George Shultz, it pledges the support of the Jewish community while writing off the Pollard issue. The letter states: "During the period of your stewardship of the Department of State, our country's stance has dramatically improved to the extent that I now believe that it will bear diplomatic fruit. Also, under this Administration, the American presence in the Middle East is more forcibly apparent because of the doctrine of strategic cooperation with Israel. In my judgment, and I believe in yours as well, it would be contrary to the interest of the United States were the Pollard affair allowed to unravel, in any respect, what you have so painstakingly developed... I shall convey [the above sentiments] to the Prime Minister and others in the Israeli government."