American abandoned in Russia

Bill Clinton is feeling free, these days, to shoot off his mouth
about smoking pot and running for a third term.

Al Gore, on the other hand, has one thing on his mind -- stealing an
election or, at least, spoiling the victory of his opponent and
undermining his ability to perform his job as president.

Meanwhile, nobody in the executive branch of government is saying
anything or doing anything about a retired U.S. Navy officer sentenced
by the Russians to 20 years in prison on a trumped-up espionage charge.

Edmond Pope, 54, is suffering from cancer and Graves' disease. That
would be bad enough, but Pope is forced to live with these debilitating
and painful illnesses in a Russian prison renowned for neglect and
abuse. Pope has reportedly contracted other maladies as a result of
horrendous conditions during his months behind bars.

TRENDING: Nancy Pelosi's election-rigging H.R. 1

Pope was convicted this week in a Russian kangaroo court of trying to
acquire secret information about a Russian torpedo. Pope adamantly
denies any attempt to spy. One key prosecution witness against Pope
recounted his earlier testimony, saying it was provided under duress.
The court held the trial behind closed doors.

If America had an actual president -- someone with a conscience,
someone with a sense of American sovereignty, someone with a sense of
national purpose, someone with a shred of dignity, someone who was
concerned about issues larger than himself and his own narrow political
aims -- Edmond Pope would be home right now. He'd be preparing to
celebrate perhaps one of his last Christmases with his family. Because
all Bill Clinton would have to do, if he cared, would be to pick up the
phone, call Vladimir Putin, tell him the transfers of U.S. taxpayer
wealth to Moscow will come to an end if Pope is not released
immediately, and the Navy vet would be on the next plane.

It's that simple. Heck, I'd make that call whether they were holding
an innocent American or not. It's just the right thing to do. But that's
another story.

And Clinton isn't the only man wielding plenty of leverage with the
Russians.

Vice President Gore has built a political career around relations
with Moscow. He and his father before him were chosen by Armand Hammer
of Occidental Petroleum to provide cover for his business dealings with
Russia. Gore has boasted throughout his Senate career and years as vice
president about his knowledge of international affairs and his
relationships with the Russians in particular.

How many times did you hear Gore raise the name of Edmond Pope during
his campaign for the presidency?

Not at all, I suspect.

Edmond Pope is little more to Clinton and Gore than an inconvenience
-- a nuisance. They don't care about the life of one American caught up
in international political intrigue any more than they care about the
lives of unborn children -- which is, to say, not at all.

Maybe a more important question is whether average Americans care any
more about a fellow citizen snared in a foreign prison due more to
Russian political considerations than any action of his own.

Do you care?

As we move through the holiday season, I can't help think about
Edmond Pope -- and other people trapped in seemingly impossible
circumstances we don't even know. We do know about Pope. That we cannot
deny. What can we do for him?

I say let's bring him home for Christmas. I think we can do it. I
think we have the power. I think we can push Clinton -- shame him into
action in the next few days. Do you want to try?

The House of Representatives has already passed a resolution calling
on Russia to release Pope. The lower house of Congress has already asked
Clinton to consider cutting aid to Russia if it does not. Even though
there are many other political preoccupations in Washington these days,
I believe we can spur Congress to take this issue to the next level.
Congress needs to demand that Clinton act. Congressional leaders need to
get on TV and point out the president's negligence on this issue -- even
while he is spouting off about smoking dope and running for a third
term.

This is a simple issue -- one that the American people can easily
grasp. Heck, even Congress is smart enough to understand this issue.
Bring Edmond Pope home.

Do you know what is the best Christmas present Edmond Pope and his
family could receive from any of us? An e-mail to your elected
representatives and senators demanding action from Washington to free an
American from the new Russian gulag.

It's as easy as one, two, three at our Legislative Action
Center.