"an emerging group of Americans"!
Posted on 07/21/2007 2:16:55 PM PDT by RedRover
Conservative Christians and military veterans are part of an emerging group of Americans who say they are upset by the recent prosecutions of soldiers and Marines based in Iraq on war crimes charges, and are coming to their defense with words, Web sites and money.
In the past year, more than a dozen Web sites have been developed to solicit donations to hire private lawyers for service members...charged with violent crimes for actions taken in the confusion of combat or counterinsurgency operations.
Virtually all donations come with handwritten or e-mail messages full of encouragement for the troops in Iraq and laced with frustration at the government and the news media.
snip
Outside Boston, a group of Vietnam War veterans — retired police officials, postal workers, lawyers and others — established the Military Combat Defense Fund and recently surpassed $152,000 in donations....
snip
Much of the strongest criticism from many defense funds is directed toward mainstream news organizations, which they say portray the concerns of Iraqis more sympathetically than the plight of American troops.
"From the magazines and newspapers that I read, it seems that many of them are too condemning of our own guys," said Jacqueline Batcha, 44, of Atlantis, Fla., who sent $100 to the Web site for Staff Sgt. Frank D. Wuterich....
Other parents of active-duty Marines and soldiers are doing whatever they can to publicly support troops facing charges.
In Seattle, Don Dinsmore, the father of a Marine infantry officer currently on duty in Falluja, led a group of motorcycle riders on a West Coast road trip to the gates of Camp Pendleton, Calif., on June 28, where hearings and trials in the Haditha and Hamdaniya cases are being held. Along the way the group collected enough cash donations to fill 10 bank-deposit bags, Mr. Dinsmore said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Like this?!
Haditha Exposed
May 11, 2007
Marines involved in the alleged massacre at Haditha, Iraq, went on trial this week. The New York Times’ Paul von Zielbauer talks about a knowingly false press-release put forth by the military, and says that without media attention, there may not have been any military investigation at all.
Over Memorial Day weekend, New York Times metro reporter Paul von Zielbauer called his mother to tell her about his new assignment: Next month, he’ll be going to the Baghdad bureau.
“She freaked out and she hung up,” Mr. von Zielbauer said, “and turned on the TV and saw what happened to the CBS News crew.”
******
Private Health Care in Jails Can Be a Death Sentence
Paul von Zielbauer writes that “a yearlong examination of a health care in jails revealed frequent flaws that were sometimes lethal.”
Now that's a shocker!
>> Much of the strongest criticism from many defense funds is directed toward mainstream news organizations, which they say portray the concerns of Iraqis more sympathetically than the plight of American troops
The NYT isn’t ducking quite far enough in this statement. They twist, distort, and lie, and expect the World to consume every fiber of its fabrications. Well,those days are long gone, and the NYT knows it. So like maniacs among the innocent, they will slash, gash, and harm anything to get noticed.
NYT of course avoids mentioning john murtha in along with a number of snide comments within this article.
(Paul von Zielbauer, “Files on U.S. Reparations Give Hint of War’s Toll
Propaganda Fear Cited in Account of Iraqi Killings
By PAUL von ZIELBAUER
“Patrols fail to stem Iraq violence”
Paul von Zielbauer New York Times
A dump Murtha campaign can be launched over the Internet. The American people can no longer look to the MSM for the truth and/or the news. Too bad a minute by minute news website that only reports the news can’t be launched.
...the Thomas More Law Center, a Christian firm representing his battalion commander, Lt. Col. Jeffrey R. Chessani, who is charged with dereliction of duty, has collected about $300,000, said one of Colonel Chessani’s lawyers, Brian J. Rooney.
One difference, it seems, is Michael Savage, a popular conservative talk-radio host who has discussed Colonel Chessani’s case on his syndicated program.
Mr. Rooney’s law center received $50,000 in contributions in just three days this month, after Mr. Rooney’s latest interview with Mr. Savage.
"He's all over this case," Mr. Rooney said of Mr. Savage. "He really is a big supporter of us and the Marines."
Me, too!
The article left out the moderate Muslims (muzzies as Freepers say) who are upset about the charges.
Yes, Savage has over the years helped get the message out. A few times I’ve listened to him, he gets some of the facts messed up, but he does bring attention to accused military causes (starting with Pantano).
The one blaring thing left out of this article is how much the government has spent to bring charges and prosecute these Marines and Soldiers. It’s not even a fair fight, financially. Red, you put out a figure of $43 million that the prosecution and NCIS has spent to try to convict the Haditha Marines. Don’t know how accurate that is, but it wouldn’t surprise me. I’m glad the NY Times is getting the word out about some of these funds, but a complete article would have mentioned the comparison between Govt. funds and private funds. That fight is not a fair one.
Thanks for this important Thread!!!!!.....I smell Hillary again!!!!!!.... I think my daughters are designing Monica dresses + beret’s to wear when Hillary campagins in Phoenix.Complete with a white stripe near the knee!!!!!.....
I congratulate Paul von Zielbauer for this favorable article, the publicity may help in fund raising for these Marines.
Thanks, jaz! I swear some people are so busy looking for the negative they can’t see something positive staring them in the face.
You’re right, Red. I guess anything that has NY Times on it makes a lot of people instantly blind and they probably don’t even read the piece but this piece is definitely positive.
I registered at the NYT quite a few years ago, and I still get in there. Guess they haven’t caught me yet. LOL !
Is it me, or is there a high-falutin’ “Look at them there rubes!” tone in the presentation?
Well, “conservative Christians and military veterans” are definitely NOT regular readers of the New York Times. So I understand what the writer is doing.
I work in New York City and can tell you that not one person in ten thousand understands why anyone would support these Marines. So it is a bit of an anthropological exercise.
Yeah; you have to write for your audience. Sad thing is, the reason most don’t know is because it isn’t reported adequately. Guess that’s why they’re the Lame Stream Media!
From left, Mark O’Reilly, Patrick Barnes and Thomas Bolinder of the Military Combat Defense Fund support servicemen accused of crimes.
Here are the board members of the Military Combat Defense Fund
President: Mark O'Reilly, former Chief Staff to the Mayor City of Brockton; former executive director South Shore Habitat for Humanity. K 3/1 USMC Vietnam
Vice President/Treasurer: Patrick Barnes Aid to Massachusetts Sen. Robert Creedon, Thirty years as a broadcast journalist on Radio and sporadically on TV. Radio Talk Show Host for several stations. Very controversial. Very conservative. Very fair to all. Left the air waves in 98 with impeccable record. Area: Metro South Boston, 7th Engineers USMC Vietnam Purple Heart
Clerk: Clement O'Brien Jr. Retired after 32 Years of service with the Veterans Administration. Clem has dedicated his life to serving veterans of all wars, we are all in his debt.
Board:
Tom Bolinder Retired lieutenant Quincy Ma. Police Dept. Sgt. USMC Ret. E 2/7 USMC Vietnam Bronze Star V 2 Purple Hearts.
James Holland: US Postal Service retired. Crew Chief USMC, VMO 3 gunships, Vietnam Silver Star, 2 Purple Hearts.
Dominic Spada: retired National Service Officer DAV. He continues his service to veterans, despite severe wounds, to this day on his own time and at his own expense. 1st Recon USMC Vietnam Purple Heart.
Robert Gale: Veterans Service officer City of Brockton, Ma. Hmm-163 USMC Vietnam
John J.D. Barber: Retired Lt. Quincy FD, HMM-263 Crew Chief USMC Vietnam. President USMC Combat Helicopter Assoc.
George K. Wanat: Capt. US Army Ret., Advisory team 47 Loc Ninh Vietnam. P.O.W. 1972 to 1973. Held in Cambodia. D.S.C., C.I.B., 2 Bronze Stars, 2 Purple Hearts.
All Board members serve for no compensation including Col. Kirby
Yes, it is great news, and glad to see it reported in the Times. Thanks for filling me in!
PravdABDNC’s Me Lie 2 is blowing up in their faces.
Pray for W and Our Marines
USMC ping.
I was pleased as well. Good picture too of these fine vets still serving their country.
I’m only disappointed the writer didn’t talk to lily and jaz. They were both standing by. (Lily even got her moustache waxed in case a photog showed up!)
LOL! Now, Red, you shouldn't be giving away Lily's secrets like that. Is it a handle bar moustache?
That was a good article, Smooth.
First you make me cry on one thread and now you are making me laugh. I can’t change gears that fast.
Fu manchu to be exact.
(Is it disrespectful to joke on the $ thread?)
Sounds like a typical evening with your geezer pal, Dave.
My best friend who was a former Marine always said it takes more muscles to frown than to smile, I believed him. :-)
You do know I am wearing the homemade brown afghan.
There’s one in every crowd! Night, smooth! See you tomorrow!
AWESOME good news ping. And good for a smile or two. (Particularly gitmosailor’s post #16)
Watch your back, lily, some of those brown afghans can be dangerous!
FINALLY somebody took the bait. I should have known you would get it!!!
That’s why we love ya!!!!
LOL!
One Halloween a few years ago, our neighbor had bin Laden hanging in effigy. I made the remark, in front of the chillllren, that it might offend the afghans.
Little daughter said it painted quite the picture in her mind at the time : )
Thanks for calling all infidels!
I say the active soldiers find oficers with balls, if there are any left, and demand the rules of engagement be nullified. And they must get rid of DACOWITZ, as well. Or they bring their concerns public, or threaten to stand down.
B U M P
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