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From: dsg@hlexa.UUCP (David S. Green)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Request to Chedley / a question of allegiance
Message-ID: <4726@hlexa.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 18-Dec-85 13:14:50 EST
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Posted: Wed Dec 18 13:14:50 1985
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> > 
> How do you think we should react if we catch an american spy passing 
> classified information to Moscow, and doing it NOT for money
> (in this country, dollar motivation is respected) or because he fell in
> love with a lovely KGB operative, but because he believes in
> the Communist ideology.?.
> CHEDLEY AOURIRI.

As best as I understand, citizens of the USA accused of any crimes
are innocent until proven guilty by the United States Judicial System.
The prosecuter of a criminal case ( "spying" is a criminal case )
would try to "prove" that the accused party is guilty of criminal
charges.  In any event, the sentence, if proven guilty, is based upon
the facts of the case.  For example, a person convicted of robbery would
receive the same 5 years in the slammer whether the motive was for the love
of money or if the motive was to get 5 years of free eats.
Establishing a "motive" is important in any criminal case
but it really doesn't matter after guilt or innocence is proven.
The degree of the charge ( felony vs. misdemeanor, manslaughter
vs. murder ) depends on the nature of the crime, or amount of
money involved but spying is spying.
Of course there is always the "sanity clause" . . .
So, my answer is simply, let the courts decide the guilt and sentance;
I could not care less what the motive is.