What?s between the Matrix and Jonathan Pollard

by Ben Yam

Like in the immensely popular sci-fi movie, we live in a world of virtual reality. It is like a well-written piece of software, that encompasses most of life as we know it; its programmers and tech-support folks are well-paid for investing years into perfecting and debugging their product.

In this virtual world, the United States of America and Israel are inseparable friends, bonded together by the love for individual freedom, democracy and the virtues of peaceful monotheistic traditions. More than ever, the current U.S. president’s virtual image is programmed as the paragon of Christian morality, honest and down-to-earth, a true Patriot who leads the free world in its battle against the evils of Terrorism.

Except even the best software has glitches. They may seem small and inconspicuous; many compensatory mechanisms have been erected to prevent these small “bugs” from interfering with the smooth functioning of the System. But they are there, and if one pays attention, it suddenly becomes clear that this semblance of a world is but a human creation, a product designed to serve.

Take Jonathan Pollard. His ongoing victimization by the American establishment is about to enter its 19th year, with no end in sight. The ridiculously severe, disproportionate punishment he received, and the undeniable cruelty with which the U.S. judiciary and executive branches have dealt with him ever since, have been described over and over, in books, articles, on TV, radio, the web... Yet, some people still don’t get it.

Jonathan Pollard’s case is not an aberration; it is not an isolated unfortunate instance of governmental misconduct. It exemplifies the norm.

Forget about decentralization of power – the delicate balance between the legislative, judiciary and executive branches, which is so crucial to a true democracy. In Pollard’s case, they all worked hand in hand – while treading on the fundamental principles of the U.S. Constitution, to say nothing of common sense.

Forget about the friendship between the U.S. and Israel: no other individual convicted of spying for an ally got such treatment. And yes, the U.S. withheld information from Israel it was legally and morally obliged to forward. And yes, everyone even vaguely familiar with the intelligence community knows that everyone spies on everyone, friend or foe; yet does Israel have CIA agents locked up for 18 years in miserable conditions?

Mind you, that was a trick question; because it brings us to the next smart invention, called the war on terrorism. Unlike all wars before it, this war is waged against a method instead of a defined enemy. There are deep reasons for that. Who funded Osama bin Laden in the beginning of his terrorist career? Who covers for the Saudi sponsors of militant Islam and gives them a political voice regarding the Arab-Israeli “conflict”? These people, who utilized terrorism to achieve their means, and who shall remain unnamed here – are they fighting themselves now?

Of course not; instead, the image of “public enemy” is clumsily affixed to a little Jew, who has put his life on the line to REALLY avert the menace of terrorism that was looming above the Jewish state. He was among the pioneers of the war against terrorism, in the REAL world.

In the REAL world, the U.S. government, for many successive administrations, has seen Saudi Arabia, soaked with oil, bigotry and hatred, as its most important ally in the Middle East.

In the REAL world, Israel is as expendable to the U.S. power structures as last year’s snow. For years, the U.S. policy in the Middle East has progressively rendered Israel more and more dependent on aid, which has been and will be withdrawn in the most critical moment.

In the REAL world, Israel – like 60 years ago - cannot count on anyone for protection in the (quickly approaching) hour of need, except its own army, and the strength of its own people. People like Jonathan Pollard.

The REAL world, the one that reveals itself when you finally wrestle your attention away from the projected and distorted images, is more convincing and more shocking, when you reach it on your own. Yet, since time is really running out, consider this a wakeup call.

Disconnect yourself from the Matrix.