"Letter from Soldier" being sent around by Freepers & Repukes

[Pachamama]

I got the following letter "spammed" to me today by a family member retired from the military and then a non-military connected freeper who was so proud to send it out...

Anybody else seen this? Want to help "identify" it's real author (hint:Karl?) and find out if "Kevin Brown" even exists?

This kinda BS is so pathetic - the fact they have to resolve to such tactics and fake letters....things must really as in the words of Colin Powell and Gen Abizaid be "worse in Iraq" than Bush is lying to the American public about....

___________________________________________________________________

FYI -- please read; and appreciate; sent to me by one of my retired military friends,

Dad

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------

Dad, you asked me what I would say to America from Iraq on 9/11 if I
had a podium and a microphone. I have thought about it, and here is my
response.
Your Son,
Kevin
(Kevin Brown, USNA 2001)

September 11, 2004
Dear America,

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough
men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -George Orwell

The Marine Corps is tired. I guess I should not say that, as I have
no authority or responsibility to speak for the Marine Corps as a
whole, and my opinions are mine alone. I will rephrase: this Marine is tired. I write this piece from the sands of Iraq, west of Baghdad, at three a.m.,but I am not tired of the sand. I am neither tired of long days, nor of flying and fighting. I am not tired of the food, though it does not taste quite right.
I am not tired of the heat; I am not tried of the mortars that
occasionally fall on my base. I am not tired of Marines dying, though all Marines, past and present, mourn the loss of every brother and
sister that is killed; death is a part of combat and every warrior knows that going into battle. One dead Marine is too many, but we give more than we take, and unlike our enemies, we fight with honor. I am not tired of the missions or the people; I have only been here a month, after all.

I am, however, tired of the hypocrisy and shortsightedness that seems to have gripped so many of my countrymen and the media. I am tired of political rhetoric that misses the point, and mostly I am tired of people "not getting it." Three years ago I was sitting in a classroom at Quantico, Virginia, while attending the Marine Corps Basic Officer Course, learning about the finer points of land navigation. Our Commanding Officer interrupted the class to inform us that some planes had crashed in New York and Washington DC, and that he would return when he knew more. Tears welled in the eyes of
the Lieutenant on my right while class continued, albeit with an
audience that was not very focused; his sister lived in New York and worked at the World Trade Center. We broke for lunch, though instead of going to the chow hall proceeded to a small pizza and sub joint which had a television. Slices of pizza sat cold in front of us as we watched the same vivid images that you watched on September 11, 2001.

I look back on that moment now and realize even then I grasped, at some level, that the events of that day would alter both my military career and my country forever. Though I did not know that three years later, to the day, I would be flying combat missions in Iraq as an AH-1W Super Cobra pilot, I did understand that a war had just begun, on television for the world to see, and that my classmates and I would
fight that war.

After lunch we were told to go to our rooms, clean our weapons
and pack our gear for possible deployment to the Pentagon to augment
perimeter security. The parting words of the order were to make sure
we packed gloves, in case we had to handle bodies. The first Marine killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom was in my company at The Basic School, and was sitting in that land navigation class on September 11. He fought bravely, led from the front, and was killed seizing an oil refinery on the opening day of the war. His heroism made my
emergency procedure memorization for the T-34 primary flight school trainer seem quite insignificant. This feeling of frustration was shared by all of the student pilots, but we continued to press on. As one instructor pointed out to us, "You will fight this war, not me. Make sure that you are prepared when you get there." He was right; my classmates from Pensacola are here beside me, flying every day in support of the Marines on the ground. That instructor has since retired, but I believe he has retired knowing that he made a contribution to the greatest country in the history of the world,
the United States of America.

Many of you will read that statement and balk at its apparently
presumptuous and arrogant nature, and perhaps be tempted to stop reading right here. I would ask that you keep going, for I did not say that Americans are better than anyone else, for I do not believe that to be the case. I did not say that our country, its leaders, military or intelligence services are perfect or have never made mistakes, because throughout history they have, and will continue to do so, despite their best efforts. The Nation is more than the sum of its citizens and leaders, more than its history, present, or future; a nation has contemporary values which change as its leaders change,
but it also has timeless character, ideals forged with the blood and
courage of patriots.

To quote the Pledge of Allegiance, our nation was founded "under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." As Americans, we have more freedom than we can handle sometimes.

If you are an atheist you might have a problem with that whole
"under God" part; if you are against liberating the people of Iraq, Afghanistan, Asia, all of Europe (twice), and the former Soviet bloc, then perhaps the "liberty and justice for all" section might leave you fuming. Our Nation, throughout its history, has watered the seeds of democracy on many continents, with blood, even when the country was in disagreement about those decisions.

Disagreement is a wonderful thing. To disagree with your neighbors
and your government is at the very heart of freedom. Citizens have
disagreed about every important and controversial decision made by their leaders throughout history. Truman had the courage to drop two nuclear weapons in order to end the largest war in history, and then, by his actions, prevented the Soviets from extinguishing the light of democracy in Eastern Europe, Berlin. Lincoln preserved our country through civil war; Reagan knew in his heart that freedom is a more powerful weapon than oppression.

Leaders are paid to make difficult, sometimes controversial decisions. History will judge the success of their actions and the purity of their intent in a way that is impossible at the present moment. In your disagreement and debate about the current conflict, however, be very careful that you do not jeopardize your nation or those who serve.

The best time to use your freedom of speech to debate difficult decisions is before they are made, not when the lives of your countrymen are on the line. Cherish your civil rights; I know that after having been in Iraq for only one month I have a new appreciation for mine. You have the right to say that you "support the troops" but oppose the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. You have the right to vote for Senator John Kerry because you believe that he has an exit strategy for Iraq, or because you just cannot stand President Bush. You have the right to vote for President George W. Bush if you
believe that he has done a good job over the last four years. You might even decide that you do not want to vote at all and would rather avoid the issues as much as possible. That is certainly your option, and doing nothing is the only option for many people in this world.

It is not my place, nor am I allowed by the Uniformed Code of
Military Justice, to tell you how to vote. But I can explain to you the truth about what is going on around you.



We know, and have known from the beginning, that the ultimate success or failure of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the future of those countries, rests solely on the shouldersof the Iraqi and Afghani people. If someone complains that we should not have gone to war with Saddam Hussein, that our intelligence was bad, that
President Bush's motives were impure, then take the appropriate action. Exercise your right to vote for Senator Kerry, but please stop complaining about something that happened over a year ago. The decision to deploy our military in Iraq and Afghanistan is in the past, and while I believe that it is important to the democratic process for our nation to analyze the decisions of our leadership in order to avoid repeating mistakes, it is far more important to focus on the future.

The question of which candidate will "get us out of Iraq sooner" should not be a consideration in your mind. YOU SHOULD NOT WANT US OUT OF IRAQ OR AFGHANISTAN SOONER. There is only one coherent exit strategy that will make our time here worthwhile and validate the
sacrifice of so many of our countrymen. There is only one strategy that has a chance of promoting peace and stabilizing the Middle East. It is the exit strategy of both candidates, though voiced with varying volumes and differing degrees of clarity. I will speak of Iraq because that is where I am, though I feel the underlying principle applies to both Iraq and Afghanistan.

The American military must continue to help train and support the
Iraqi Police, National Guard, and Armed Forces. We must continue to give them both responsibility and the authority with which to carry out those responsibilities, so that they eventually can kill or capture the former regime elements and foreign terrorists that are trying to create a radical, oppressive state. We must continue to repair the infrastructure that we damaged during the conflict, and improve the infrastructure that was insufficient when Saddam was in power. We should welcome and encourage partners in the coalition but recognize that many will choose the path of least resistance and opt out; many of our traditional allies have been doing this for years and it should not surprise us. We must respect the citizens of Iraq and help them to understand the meaning of basic human rights, for those are something the average Iraqi has never experienced.

We must be respectful of our cultural and religious differences. We
must help the Iraqis develop national pride, and most importantly, we must leave this country better than we found it, at the right time, with a chance of success so that its people will have an opportunity to forge their own destiny. We must do all of these things as quickly and efficiently as possible so that we are not seen as occupiers, but rather liberators and helpers. We must communicate this to the world as clearly and frequently as possible,
both with words and actions.

If we leave before these things are done, then Iraq will fall into
anarchy and possibly plunge the Middle East into another war. The ability of the United States to conduct foreign policy will be severely, and perhaps permanently, degraded. Terrorism will increase, both in America and around the world, as America will have demonstrated that it is notinterested in building and helping, only destroying. If we run or exit early, we prove to our enemies that terror is more powerful and potent than freedom. Many nations, like Spain, have already affirmed this in the minds of the terrorists.

Our failure, and its consequences, will be squarely on our shoulders as a nation. It will be our fault. If we stay the course and Iraq or Afghanistan falls into civil war on its own, then our hands are clean. As a citizen of the United States and a U.S. Marine, I will
be able to sleep at night with nothing on my conscience, for I know that I,and my country, have done as much as we could for these people. If we leave early, I will not be able to live with myself, and neither should you. The blood will be on our hands, the failure on our watch.

The bottom line is this: Republican or Democrat, approve or disapprove of the decision to go to war, you need to support our efforts here. You cannot both support the troops and protest their mission.

Every time the parent of a fallen Marine gets on CNN with a photo, accusing President Bush of murdering his son, the enemy wins a strategic victory. I cannot begin to comprehend the grief he feels at the death of his son, but he dishonors the memory of my brave brother who paid the ultimate price. That Marine volunteered to serve, just like the rest of us. No one here was drafted.

I am proud of my service and that of my peers.I am ashamed of that
parent's actions, and I pray to God that if I am killed my parents
will stand with pride before the cameras and reaffirm their belief that my life and sacrifice mattered they loved me dearly and they firmly support the military and its mission in Iraq and Afghanistan. With that statement, they communicate very clearly to our enemies around the world that America is united, that we cannot be intimidated by kidnappings, decapitations and torture, and that we care enough about the Afghani and Iraqi people to give them a chance at democracy and basic human rights. Do not support those that seek failure for us, or seek to trivialize the sacrifices made here.

Do not make the deaths of your countrymen be in vain. Communicate to
your media and elected officials that you are behind us and our mission. Send letters and encouragement to those who are deployed. When you meet a person that serves you, whether in the armed forces, police, or fire department, show them respect. Thank the spouses around you every day, raising children alone, whose loved ones are deployed. Remember not only those that have paid the ultimate price, but the veterans that bear the physical and emotional scars of defending your freedom. At the very least, follow your mother's advice. "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."

Do not give the enemy a foothold in our Nation's public opinion. He rejoices at Fahrenheit 9/11 and applauds every time an American slams our efforts. The military can succeed here so long as American citizens support us wholeheartedly.

Sleep well on this third anniversary of 9/11, America. Rough men are
standing ready to do violence on your behalf. Many of your sons and
daughters volunteered to stand watch for you. Not just rough men-
the infantry, the Marine grunts, the Special Operations Forces- but lot of eighteen and nineteen year old kids, teenagers, who are far away from home, serving as drivers, supply clerks, analysts, and mechanics. They all have stories, families, and dreams. They miss you, love you, and are putting their lives on the line for you. Do not make their time here, their sacrifice, a waste. Support them, and their mission.

[Melodybe]

1. The Chiristian Science Monitor had an article and

9 out of ten soldiers in Iraq were not voting Bush, you should find the article and send it to them.

[Pachamama]

2. Thanks! I'll look for that article...

...anybody see this letter before?

Rather verbose young man this "Kevin"...seemed to cover all the "talking points" in addition to trying to make anybody who thinks of "questioning" Iraq policy to be "un-american" and also then not supporting the troops and wronging them.....

Nothing like tugging on the heartstrings of people about our poor soldiers who were sent by a Misleader into harms way and portraying it as "just"....

[ignatius 2]

118. It seems to me this young man needs to re read Orwell for a better

understanding of what he was really saying and of the reality of this administration. This seems like another of those GOP plants that go around way too often.

[KurtNYC]

34. Got it ...

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0921-02.htm

"There's no clear definition of why we came here," says Army Spc. Nathan Swink, of Quincy, Ill. "First they said they have WMD and nuclear weapons, then it was to get Saddam Hussein out of office, and then to rebuild Iraq. I want to fight for my nation and for my family, to protect the United States against enemies foreign and domestic, not to protect Iraqi civilians or deal with Sadr's militia," he said.

Specialist Swink, who comes from a family of both Democrats and Republicans, plans to vote for Kerry. "Kerry protested the war in Vietnam. He is the one to end this stuff, to lead to our exit of Iraq," he said.

Other US troops expressed feelings of guilt over killing Iraqis in a war they believe is unjust. "We shouldn't be here," said one Marine infantryman bluntly. "There was no reason for invading this country in the first place. We just came here and and killed a lot of innocent people," said the marine, who has seen regular combat in Ramadi. "I don't enjoy killing women and children, it's not my thing."

It is dynamite.

[Aviation Pro]

62. After spending a good deal of time....

...in the Army, I can unequivocally state that officers and career NCOs - the management and junior management of the services - will almost always toe the corporate line. Enlisted members, on the other hand, will always tell you what's truthfully on their minds. Makes one kind of wonder what kind of "leadership" the services really have.

[Democracy Died 2004]

107. My letter to soldiers

Shutup.
Sincerely,

Me

[skygazer]

3. If Kevin's so tired

How'd he find the time to write all this?

[Sub Atomic]

4. Not to bag on a marine, but

that letter is too articulate to have been written by a grunt.

Jus' sayin....

[RivetJoint]

10. He's an Annapolis grad

he ought to be somewhat articulate.

[JHB]

28. If he was in the Class of '01, then, aside from being a Marine,...

...he's also a 24-year old "junior exec" finally out of training and just starting the "meat" of his career -- in otherwords, the sort who doesn't just drink the Koolade, but chugs it like beer and orders rounds for everyone.

On top of that, a little quasi-political jingo probably won't exactly hurt his budding career. And let us not forget, he's flying an attack helo, not down and dirty leading a squad on the ground.

I'll give this kid his due for his service, but one of these days he's going to meet reality, probably very hard.

Of course, that's assuming it's all for real. Given the usual lack of honesty of this sort of RW "making the rounds" e-mails, even that can't be taken for granted.

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

47. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tom_paine]

5. Bushevik Pravda--this person likely does not exist

They have done it so many times before...

[Imalittleteapot]

6. This guy has too much time on his hands.

I don't believe that this was written by a Marine.

[bloom]

7. I think soldiers who are actually there know better

I agree it sounds like Karl type tripe.

(But sadly - those are just about exactly the arguments a friend of mine was using to justify the war. Her son recently joined the Marines.)

[JimmyJazz]

8. Wow - Kevin should ditch the military career and concentrate

on becoming a professional writer! I don't think that letter contains one grammatical error. And the sentence structure cleary comes from an individual practiced in the art of writing.

Also, I am really sick of the "No one was drafted" argument. Maybe they did volunteer, but they volunteered to serve their country in legitimate wars - not quagmires created by an illegal invasion of a country.

[RivetJoint]

11. He is a USNA grad

he ought to be able to write well.

[JimmyJazz]

14. I just think tthe letter covers a bit much. It sounds like it comes from

a professional writer/speech writer (which is what came to mind first), not that he's not intelligent enough to write it. I think it has a false ring to it is all.

[RivetJoint]

16. Hard to hide if he's a real person

Since we have his name, and year of graduation from USNA. So if this is a fake letter, I guess the real Kevin Brown will come forward.

[bloom]

17. I suppose the military would train and hire professional propaganda

writers... So it wouldn't necessarily be a lie that he is with USNA or whatever....

[RivetJoint]

20. Except he's a helo pilot

not a professional writer. Looks like he just writes well.

[bloom]

22. you seem to give this a lot more credibility than most of us

I don't think anything about it is true - my comment was simply to say that it's not impossible that the military pays people (who could be USNA) to write fake letters for them.

[RivetJoint]

23. My point is

is that this is too easy to check up on. Is there a 1 Lt Kevin Brown helo pilot in the USMC? Did he write the letter?

Seems to me that it would be easy to ask him, no?

[yardwork]

68. I agree.

This "letter" sounds fake to me. Real people don't write this way. It doesn't sound educated or intelligent. It sounds stilted, overly formal, and like a campaign speech.

Fake fake fake.

The real letters coming out of Iraq and Afghanistan are a lot more intelligent and compelling.

[merh]

51. Bush graduated from Yale and he can't talk...

the letter is a bit much and makes it hard to believe that a non-professional wrote it.

[Skittles]

63. LOL

I work with people with Masters degrees who cannot write a decent sentence.

[bagnana]

9. "You cannot both support the troops and protest their mission."

This really bothers me. Is this true? I am not allowed to be appalled, pissed, angry, and protest this screwed up war and the people who got us here? I can't say "why are we here?" This is maddening. It is insidious.

[bloom]

12. people are not allowed to learn more and change their opinion

as the situation evolves and reveals itself...

everyone must follow the leader into hell...

:nuke:




http://harpers.org/BaghdadYearZero.html

[JHB]

53. It may be maddening, it may be insidious, but...

...just because a gung-ho twentysomething says it, that doesn't make it true. (And how often is that more a sign of it being wrong, eh?)

[Mike Daniels]

13. Isn't USNA the US Naval Academy? Why's he saying he's a Marine?

I thought if you were in one of the academies you served time in that particular branch of the service.

I'm not versed in the military branches that well but aren't the Marines a separate branch from the Navy altogether and could someone who went to the USNA jump over to the Marines and serve their committment that way?

[RivetJoint]

15. The Department of the Navy

is comprised of both the USN and USMC. USNA provides officers to BOTH the USN and the USMC. There is no separate USMC Academy; Annapolis serves that role.

Also, a small number of officers from USAFA and USMA are cross-commissioned into the USMC each year

[JHB]

41. USNA grads have the option of taking their commission in the Marines...

Most don't, but a percentage does, and they're usually heavy on the Ooh-RAH -- don't just drink the Koolade, they take it intravenously.

I'll have to check my USNA alumni directory to see if I can find this kid.

[Pachamama]

66. Please check the directory...I won't be surprised to see that name, the

...real question is whether it was actually written by him and sent out....

If this letter was a "plant", they surely were smart enough to have a name of someone who actually graduated if it claims it. The question is whether one was to contact Kevin Brown and whether he indeed did write this letter.

I would love to be able to "de-bunk" the authenticity of this letter and further more find out more about 1st. Lt. Brown....

Seems that he doesn't understand what true patriotism and support for ones country really means....especially since he's "fighting for and trying to establish democracy", he should understand it a tad better before lecturing on it...

:kick:

[bloom]

67. with a simple google

I came up with a couple stories:


1st Lt. Kevin Brown
40th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123005420

&

by 1st Lt. Kevin Brown
100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123008477

[Pachamama]

81. Well, well, well...seems in addition to all the things he does for USMC..

...he's also a "writer" for Armed Services....


hmmmm...anyone else think this was really a "letter" to dear ole' Dad?

:eyes:

[bloom]

82. He's probably like a Rove in training.

B-)

[progressivebydesign]

115. PUBLIC AFFAIRS????

Why.. those are the people that WRITE PRESS RELEASES and communications! Who'da thunk it?

[JHB]

93. Will do...

...although with the train tie-ups in NYC I forgot to do it last night.

[sleipnir]

18. First point, the Orwell quote is a fake, he never said that.

It's been debunked and no one can actually find any writing where Orwell is supposed to have said that quote, not even in a public speech. It's a total freeper invention. IMO, to try to discredit the multitude of Orwell quotes that can easily be used against Bush and his crusade in Iraq.

Here's some proof, this scholar believes it may have been derived from an essay Orwell wrote about Kipling.

http://www.netcharles.com/orwell/ctc/docs/faq-abgo4.htm

More evidence of the misquote: (and a great read IMO)

http://wikiquote.org/wiki/List_of_misquotations


Now, my second point is that the writer has far too much access to research and revision materials for a simple solider.

The Acadamy thing is bunk and proven so earlier, I'll not get into that can of worms.

If the letter is written by a actual solider in the field, the person would certainly be a high ranking officer, as the writing and knowledge of history is well beyond high school education and implies a college degree, possibly in history. I'd bet a thousand dollars that if you asked all the enlisted soldiers in Iraq who authorized the bombing of Japan, hardly any would answer correctly.

No way in hell some 20 y/o solider wrote this, it's far to well constructed grammatically and argumentatively. The letter implies (and I have a minor in Literature) extensive revision and a specific writing education. Again, I go back to my point that only a college educated individual in Literature or Writing would reasonably be able to construct this letter and thus not even a military officer, which he clearly is not.

It's a fake, but as far as proof, I have only enough to raise suspicion beyond a reasonable doubt. My major beef is the false quote and the fact that the letter is clearly written by an individual with rhetoric, writing, and history education (certainly not below the college level) who had performed extensive revision, most likely on a computer, and not a field solider.

[RivetJoint]

21. He clearly is an officer

He's a 2001 Annapolis grad.

That makes him a 1 Lt; about 24-26 years of age. I would EXPECT an Annapolis graduate to be able to write this.

[sleipnir]

29. AH...Yes, I guess the Academy thing has been proven. But....

I stand by my position that it's too good to be written by a professional solider. The arguments are clearly more in line with someone who has had consistent training and copious practical experience in writing and more so than a few classes at Annapolis.

The misquote is the dead give away, IMO. Any college educated person would research the source of a quote and not spread a misquote. Someone who was writing a letter for devious reasons on behalf of a solider for propaganda would be more likely to throw in Orwell's "line" to rile up the masses.

I'm not that up-to-date on my military assignments, but it seems highly suspect that an Academy grad is flying attack helicopters for the Marines. As I recall, you get to choose your post after graduation and it seems odd to choose that skill over all the other options available. Not that it isn't possible, the assignment just feels suspect.

[Redleg]

32. Why do you think an academy grad wouldn't opt to fly helos?

Many of my fellow army officer cadets fought tooth and nail to be pilots.

[sleipnir]

43. Here's why I feel that way.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but as I recall from a conversation, a few years back, with a friend in the 101st, flying for the Army is quite an honor. However, he mentioned that flying helicopters for the other branches is not that high and often looked down upon. That's why the Army generates the best pilots for their birds.

It would seem to be, if true, that the Marines' flight honor would be with with the Harrier and F/A-18, not helos.

I'm not saying it's not possible, just that I'm raising some suspicion that he would choose such a path.

[RivetJoint]

44. Not everyone can be a fighter pilot

And not everyone gets the chance to be. Some guys actually WANT to fly helos. Happens in the Air Force all of the time. Plus, there is a screening process...

[RivetJoint]

36. You obviously know nothing about the military

Flying attack helos is a PERFECTLY appropriate job for a young marine officer fresh out of USNA.

The misquote MAY be something he thought was accurate...we all do that, make mistakes, you know. You, after all, did no research before declaring this kid "defintely" not an officer...

[immoderate]

50. If this misquote is widely used by freepers,

why couldn't he just be passing on a quote that was used on him?

--IMM

[yardwork]

69. I would expect an Annapolis graduate to write BETTER than this

This is a piece of fake crap. It's an insult to suggest that any soldier serving active duty would write something this fatuous.

[Paranoid_Portlander]

65. Here is one glaring historical error in the letter.

The letter states: "Truman... prevented the Soviets from extinguishing the light of Democracy in Eastern Europe." Actually he did no such thing. Truman protested the Soviet domination of eastern Europe, but he could do very little about it.

[Raiden]

85. The Berlin Airlift... n/t

[progdonkey]

19. Pure Bullshit

"The first Marine killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom was in my company at The Basic School, and was sitting in that land navigation class on September 11. He fought bravely, led from the front, and was killed seizing an oil refinery on the opening day of the war."

Okay, I checked the war dead listing at FoxNews.com (they're of use for once!), and the listing has that, on the first day, March 20th, the following Marines died (the only casualties of the day): Maj. Jay Aubin, Capt. Ryan Beaupre, Cpl. Brian Kennedy, SSG Kendall Waters-Bey. All died in the same helicopter crash; they weren't "seizing an oil refinery." The following day two Marines died, one of whom was an officer (since the author supposedly met the guy in Basic School, he would have to be a commisioned officer): 2LT Therrel Childers, killed in action in southern Iraq out of Camp Pendelton.

Maybe my fellow DU'ers can go into more depth finding out when these Marines attended Basic. I'm pretty ignorant of Marine promotions, but I would think the Captain and Major would have attend Basic School over three years ago, and the 2LT would have done Basic much more recently.

[luaneryder]

25. Sounds like a mix of psyops,

PAO and Repub talking points. If Kevin is real, fine he's allowed his opinion and I thank him for serving. I don't have to buy into his RW patriot spew, though.

[ismnotwasm]

26. Bad writing

Again. (for any freepers or whaterver you call them) My daughter is in Afgahnistan. Regular army. I support her, and her fellow soldiers by sending care packages, such as books, or decent shampoo, good coffee--the most mudane things-- and encouaging co-workers, neighbors, family etc. to do the same. The soldiers appreciate it, and when they get packages from anybody, they all stand around to see what each other "gets" It's a highlight of a miserable deployment. I DO NOT, and would never stand on street corners waving a flag that says "support our troops"--that doesn't mean shit. Not to mention I wouldn't want anybody to even infer that I support this bullshit war. The war in Iraq is an illegal occupation, a quagmire, a disaster, a failure,whatever the word of the week is. I make that very clear to anybody who cares to have a conversation with me about it. I know enough about the military through my daughter and others to know this letter is bullshit. AND bad writing.

[luaneryder]

30. Tell your daughter thanks

and thanks to you as well-it has to be difficult for you. Looks like this is where this letter is coming from:
www.blackfivnet/

[ismnotwasm]

48. Thanks, I will

It is hard, I have my 5 year old grandson. I hate stuff like this, to me, it's written like some kind of bad Hemingway knock off, romanticizing war. War is one ugly state to be in.

[EST]

49. Link suggestion does not work

google also came up empty

[luaneryder]

52. http://www.blackfive.net/

I don't know what happened before. This site comes up from a Dogpile search I did for "1st Lt Kevin Brown USNA". Sorry.

[bloom]

57. Looks like a site for "Military Freeper" types

Not that everyone in the Military is a freeper type, of course.....

But some people don't really question much, do they:

"What an awesome expression of patriotism. Why the hell can't this letter be read aloud on CBS Evening news with Dan Rather? I think we all can vouch for it's authenticity."

"Thank God for that. And at least a few of us _CAN_ handle the truth.."


etc.

[EST]

74. S'all right

thanx!

[TrogL]

27. I'm suspicious of the gloves

The parting words of the order were to make sure we packed gloves, in case we had to handle bodies.

When I was issued gloves for the military, it was for cold weather. They were NOT waterproof. Special gloves are used for handling bodies. They would be issued on-site, not as part of standard kit (AFAIK).

[Redleg]

31. Why would he use "USNA 2001" after his name?

Wouldn't a USMC officer have "USMC" after his name instead of his Naval Academy class?

[RivetJoint]

33. Depends on what he's more proud of

It's obvious that he INTENDED for this letter to become public. He's trying to paint himself as a loyal, patriotic, hung-ho marine.

[Redleg]

37. Then why wouldn't he follow his name with "USMC"?

I agree he is trying to impress people with his Naval Academy stuff but I would think a Marine officer would be more proud of "USMC" than of USNA, 2001.

Of course, I was an ARMY ROTC grad, so I was never tempted to put "_____ State College Army ROTC, 1987" after my name.

[RivetJoint]

38. Becasue SOME Academy grads

think being an Academy grad is a really big deal. I'm sure you know the type.

[Redleg]

42. I do know the type- friggin' "ringknockers."

This letter writer appears to fit into that stereotype I had of the overzealous academy grad- Lieutenant Springbutt.

[RivetJoint]

45. Yep, some are

just as are some ROTC pukes.

[Redleg]

46. Yes indeed. EOM

[sbj405]

73. He may have originally written it for publication

Example. . .

http://usna.com/News_Pubs/Publications/Shipmate/2004/05/Reasons.htm

[ComerPerro]

35. Why not just write your own fake "letter from Iraq"

and send it in an email. Its the same thing that the right does.

[stlchic]

39. Was this guy writing a letter or a campaign speech?

Note all the tell tale freeper points:

1. Appeal to patriotism
2. US as a Christian nation
3. US single handedly defeating fascism and communism
4. All hail Saint Ronnie
5. Freedom of speech is okay, as long as it’s appropriately timed and supportive of the current military and political establishment.
7. Terrorists influenced the Spanish elections.
8. “stay the course...”
9. Equating dissent with enemy victory
10.Parents of dead soldiers should shut up unless they support W.

And I couldn’t help but respond to this:

“At the very least, follow your mother's advice. "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."”

Tell it to Dick Cheney.

[TrogL]

40. He's got a few things right

They are still using T-34's at Pensacola, believe it or not.

He's right about needing an exit strategy for Iraq and Afghanistan. He's wrong that Dubya actually has one and/or the one he has is gonna work. Definetly training the Iraqi's isn't working, judging from news reports I've heard of them helping the insurgents.

[nyhuskyfan]

54. To me, that's the worst thing in the world you can say...

"We must stay until the mission is complete, so that the soldiers would not have died in vain."

That's the sort of attitude that keeps you in conflict forever. What did the 58,000 deaths in Vietnam accomplish? Just because we didn't want to "lose" a war that we couldn't win, so we stayed stuck in the quagmire with coffin after coffin coming home/

The memories of the 1,100 already dead in Iraq shouldn't be used to bring about more deaths. It is already extremely unfortunate that they lost their lives over bad intelligence, but fighting solely on to give their deaths some purpose is just a downward spiral you can't escape. Then more people die, and then THEIR deaths need meaning, etc., etc.

You better damn well come up with a better reason to fight on than that. You better have a realistic plan or goal to win the peace -- to give the soldiers still alive a reason to fight on.

[phylny]

79. I had this same reaction to a "dying in vain" comment someone on usenet

made and for the life of me, I cannot understand the logic.

Are they saying, "My loved one died and dammit, we will continue this war and MORE people need to die so that I can prove that my son/daughter/wife/husband didn't die in vain"?

What the heck?

edited for typo

[July]

90. They are trying with this idea to shut down debate.

You are being given only two choices: (1) Finish the mission; or, (2) Let the soldiers' deaths be "in vain."

As far as I'm concerned, however, a soldier can serve honorably and give meaning to his own death in that way. Whether the war he's serving in is justified or not, he or she did not choose the war. That is the leaders' responsibility.

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

92. Yes, does anybody else remember how the media use to talk endlessly

about the "Powell Doctrine"? Saying the military had learned from the Vietnam war not to go into a quagmire without an exit plan, so soldiers wouldn't be needlessly killed? Then, as soon as the drumming for the Iraq war started, they did a 360, sent that idea down the Orwell memory hole and nobody ever mentioned it again.

[IkeWarnedUs]

55. Send this to your family member

This interview is posted at PeopleForChange.net, but it was published by a news reporter in a newspaper first. An archive search shows it is available at the newspaper for a fee. This statement is at the end of the article at the PFC link:

This interview first appeared in the Sacramento Bee. Paul Rockwell is a writer in the Bay Area. To set up interviews with Sgt. Massey, contact Paul Rockwell at [e-mail]

----------------

Back from Iraq: I KILLED INNOCENT PEOPLE FOR OUR GOVERNMENT
Interview with Marine Sergeant Jimmy Massey. By Paul Rockwell 6/29/04

<snip>

Paul Rockwell: I would like to go back to the first incident, when the survivor asked why did you kill his brother. Was that the incident that pushed you over the edge, as you put it?
Sgt. Massey: Oh, yeah. Later on I found out that was a typical day. I talked with my commanding officer after the incident. He came up to me and says: 'Are you o.k?' I said: 'No, today is not a good day. We killed a bunch of civilians.' He goes: 'No, today was a good day.' And when he said that, I said 'oh, my goodness, what the hell am I into?'
Paul Rockwell: Your feelings changed during the invasion. What was your state of mind before the invasion?
Sgt. Massey: I was like every other troop. My president told me they got weapons of mass destruction, that Saddam threatened the free world, that he had all this might and could reach us anywhere. I just bought into the whole thing.
Paul Rockwell: What changed you?
Sgt. Massey: The civilian casualties taking place. That was what made the difference. That was when I changed.
Paul Rockwell: Did the revelations that the government fabricated the evidence for war affect the troops?
Sgt. Massey: Yes. I killed innocent people for our government. For what? What did I do? Where is the good coming out of it? I feel like I've had a hand in some sort of evil lie at the hands of our government. I just feel embarrassed, ashamed about it.

<snip>

Sgt. Massey: After I talked to the top commander, I was kind of scurried away. I was basically put on house arrest. I didn't talk to other troops, I didn't want to hurt them. I didn't want to jeopardize them.
I want to help people. I felt strongly about it. I had to say something. When I was sent back to stateside, I went in front of the regimental Sergeant Major. He's in charge of 3500-plus Marines. 'Sir,' I told him, 'I don't want your money. I don't want your benefits. What you did was wrong.' It was just a personal conviction with me. I've had an impeccable career. I chose to get out. And you know who I blame? I blame the President of the U.S. It's not the grunt. I blame the president because he said they had weapons of mass destruction. It was a lie.

Link: http://peopleforchange.net/commentaries/backfromiraq

[bobbyboucher]

56. Pure bullshit propaganda.

It drips with Repugnican talking points. What a fucking rube. Now run and play with your overwhelming weapon/technical advantage hero boy. See if you can kill more of the enemy than civilians.

[Lerkfish]

58. honestly, who cares?

if its a real guy, he's entitled to his delusions/opinions. I don't think whether he's grunt, a scholar or an ubersoldier makes his opinions more correct than mine.

If its a fake plant, take a number and stand in line. Rove has created so much dirty tricks we're ass-deep in them by now so I don't trust ANYTHING that supports the shrub as necessarily authentically honest at this point. And EVEN MORE SO I don't think the fake soldiers's opinions are more correct than mine.

[UdoKier]

59. Flawed Logic

He uses this quote of Orwell - "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf" to say:

Because soldiers fight off threats for us, we can live in relative safety. So of course we should support them when they are fighting off threats. Iraq was anything but a threat to the US, or even her allies. Therefore, our soldiers fighting and dying there does NOTHING to enhance our safety. If nothing else, it endangers us, since fewer soldiers are available to fight off any REAL threat that should arise.

And we all know this incursion was about stealing oil and creating a giant make-work project for Halliburton to swindle the government with.

Any soldier that supports this is NOT a patriot. He is a mercenary and a pig, as far as I'm concerned. It's one thing to go there and fight because you are sworn to follow orders. Another entirely to be an apologist for the crooks who gave the orders.

[RaleighNCDUer]

60. bogus letter

Would a USNA grad really mention the UNIFORMED Code of Military Justice, rather than the UNIFORM Code...? What officer would make that obvious mistake? Also, when I was in nobody said 'the basic school'. Just 'basic.' (Could just be pretentious, like the rest of his letter.)

[TahitiNut]

61. I agree. It's bogus.

[yardwork]

70. Welcome to DU, NCevildDUer! - Great name!

Oh, and I agree. This letter is totally bogus.

[Vickers]

78. Exactly the things about the "story" that bugged me

Even the farm boys I served with would never say Uniformed Code of Military Justice.

[RivetJoint]

88. The Basic School

is different from Basic. As an Annapolis grad he never went through "basic training" per se. He DID however go to the Marine Corps "Basic School," which EVERY Marine officer goes through after commissioning. It's not the same thing as basic training.

[RaleighNCDUer]

113. OK

When I was in lo these many years ago I matriculated as a mere E4 - didn't hang with the officers. See, even at my age I can learn something new.

[napi21]

64. Something's wrong with this letter. Kevin signed as USNA and then

speaks as part of the Marines? That would never happen! My son has been in the Navy for almost 20 years, and although they don't really hate each other, there's a lot of intermural "who's really better" battles between the two branches and has been for a very long time! Absolutely NO Marine would ever sign a letter USNA, which BTW is the US Naval Academy, not the USN that would be in Iraq!

[RivetJoint]

86. Sure he would

Especially if he is an ANNAPOLIS grad!

[sbj405]

71. I have access to the USNA alum look up

There is a Kevin Brown that graduated in 2001 and was commissioned in the Marine Corps. So that much is true. Though I have no idea why he would sign his letter that way.

[bloom]

72. There is a 1st Lt. Kevin Brown in Public Affairs

with a couple articles that he has written:

1st Lt. Kevin Brown
40th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123005420

&

by 1st Lt. Kevin Brown
100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123008477


-----------

?

[Sterling]

77. So he is a pilot?

Or a Publicist?

[bloom]

80. I don't know

All I know is what can be gathered from those links - he seems to be in the Air Force (100th Air Refueling Wing ?) and does some writing for the Public Affairs division. I don't know much about the military, myself.

My theory is that if this is the guy - and I think it's a good possibility - that he wrote a propaganda piece that is basically fiction - and who knows what else he does. The written pieces also came up on a Department of Defense site that is shared by all the branches. I think it is possible he is just playing fast and loose with the branches of the military for fictional purposes.

[RivetJoint]

89. Different guy, obviously

This Brown is an Air Force officer at RAF Mildenhall. The other is a Marine. Not like it's a unique kinda name.

[bloom]

98. I don't think it's so obvious

It's the US Air Force in Mildenhall - the guy seems to get around. And Public Affairs seems like the perfect job for someone writing such a thing.

As much fiction is involved in the piece - why are you assuming anything he says is true?

Or maybe you know him???

[RivetJoint]

100. Think about this for a second

Why would a 2001 USNA grad be a public affairs officer at RAF Mildenhall? VERY few midshipmen cross commisssion into the AF each year (usually 4-6) and they can only do so to become a pilot (the Navy and Air Force and will not allow them to become a "support" officer...they get enough from other sources).

I don't know him. I'm 20 years older, but I know many Academy grads LIKE him.

[bloom]

101. You may say that you know a lot of people like him

But it's going to take a lot more than your say so to convince me that that letter is not a piece of fiction - written for propaganda purposes.

[RivetJoint]

102. Why do you believe it is?

Fiction, that is. What leads you to belive that it is nothing but propaganda?

Why can't you believe that there are SOME (actually many) young Academy graduates that actually feel the way Lt Brown does)?

[bloom]

105. I'm not really interested in wasting any more time on it, myself

but I basically think it is a systematic right-wings agenda spewing diatribe that does not sound like any kind of letter any one would write home. It's too perfect of a thing for Freeper-types who want to believe it to send around the country - justifying themselves.

[RivetJoint]

106. Ever consider that

Lt Brown IS a Freeper type and that he wrote the letter home for his OWN freeper-type purposes? Probably not...

[RivetJoint]

87. That's an Air Force

guy. Those are Air Force units.

[July]

91. What is your stake in this, RJ?

You seem to care a lot about defending this guy's credentials. May I ask why?

[JHB]

94. What's with the hairy eyeball, July?

All I've seen RJ do here in "defending this guy's credentials" is point out where some "debunkers" are speaking from obvious ignorance (and sometimes glaring prejudice) about the military and people in it, and are declaring this piece wrong or fraudulent for the wrong reasons.

I know American politics has sunk to the point where we have to be on guard about Rovian plants, but let's not go 'round the bend and assume everything is "on orders from Moscow Karl".

From what we've been able to determine so far, Marine Lt. Kevin Brown exists, and graduated from Annapolis in the Class of 2001. So the odds are he DID write this. But you know what?

That doesn't make him right. It means he's a gung-ho twentysomething who eats/drinks/sleeps the company line and hasn't seen enough to crack through his thick jarhead skull and have some second thoughts.

There's nothing wrong with "defending his credentials". The fact is, they fit him to a "T".

[RivetJoint]

96. Exactly right

Why are we surprised that a 24 year-old, Marine, Annapolis grad thinks this way? He's been conditioned to for the past seven years. Hopefully, his time in combat will help him see that he is just perpetuating the "company line" and not opening his eyes to the realities of war.

[July]

97. Um, I asked a question politely.

I'm not sure where you get the "hairy eyeball" from.

I didn't mention any assumptions about orders from Rove, either, so implying I'm going "'round the bend" is not quite in order, IMO. That comment should have been addressed, if it came up at all, to other posters who talked about Rove. "Moscow"? Huh? I did not question whether Marine Lt. Kevin Brown exists or wrote the piece, either.

I saw nothing in RJ's posts that addressed the content of the email essay. That caused me to ask why RJ took the approach he did. His posts support the view that the guy was for real. I'm not sure if he was also implying that the guy is not a propagandist. I'm also not sure (because I don't know RJ) if I should accept his assertions about the writer or if I should believe the doubters (whom I don't know either).

[RivetJoint]

99. It seems that the majority of posts said the letter writer

was fictional because (I'm condensing here), "no marine grunt could write that well." That's the only part of this "debate" I am debating. Yes, that letter could have been, and probably was, written by a marine officer. Period. That's all I'm saying.

As to the content? What would one expect from a gung-ho Annapolis grad? I don't agree with his sentiments, but he is entitled to them.
I was his age and believed like he did at one time; I grew out of it. I'm sure he will too, especially when he sees more of his friends die in vain.

I have NO reason to doubt that young Lt Brown DOES exsist and that he is what he says he is: a 2001 USNA graduate and a marine helo pilot. Do you believe otherwise? If so, why?

[progressivebydesign]

116. I think that's already been addressed..

HE's probably the Public Affairs guy listed someone posted on here.. that's what they do... write.

[RivetJoint]

117. No, he's probably the marine

the PA guy is an Air Force guy.

[JHB]

103. Adverb trouble, I guess.

Asking about someone's "stake" in something, especially the way this article was contested by various posters (not necessarily you) implies -- to me at least -- a suspicion of ulterior (and vague implication of nefarious) motives. If I misunderstood your motivations on this part, then we have something in common, since you took my comments about "round the bend" and "on orders from..." to be directed at you personally and not towards the line of comments RJ was questioning.

[RivetJoint]

95. I'm not defending his credentials;

just pointing out the fallacies behind the illogical argument that this guy "cannot be real." He could, and probably is, very real. His letter may be full of crap, but pretending he doesn't exist is silly.

[HEyHEY]

75. Provided this person exsists - he's an asshole and a liar

I didn't know they had such ready access to Cable in war zones.

[Joanne98]

76. FIRE back with a list of Democrat , Republican, MW military service....

I got this in an e-mail today... It's called
YOU'VE BEEN SERVED

>Do YOU See A Pattern Here?
>
>Democrats
>* Richard Gephardt: Air National Guard, 1965-71.
>* David Bonior: Staff Sgt., Air Force 1968-72.
>* Tom Daschle: 1st Lt., Air Force SAC 1969-72.
>* Al Gore: enlisted Aug. 1969; sent to Vietnam Jan.
>1971 as an army journalist in 20th Engineer Brigade.
>
>* Bob Kerrey: Lt. j.g. Navy 1966-69; Medal of Honor,
>Vietnam.
>* Daniel Inouye: Army 1943-'47; Medal of Honor, WWII.
>
>* John Kerry: Lt., Navy 1966-70; Silver Star, Bronze
>Star with Combat V, Purple Hearts.
>* Charles Rangel: Staff Sgt., Army 1948-52; Bronze
>Star, Korea.
>* Max Cleland: Captain, Army 1965-68; Silver Star &
>Bronze Star, Vietnam.
>* Ted Kennedy: Army, 1951-1953.
>* Tom Harkin: Lt., Navy, 1962-67; Naval Reserve,
>1968-74.
>* Jack Reed: Army Ranger, 1971-1979; Captain, Army
>Reserve 1979-91.
>* Fritz Hollings: Army officer in WWII, receiving
>the Bronze Star and seven campaign ribbons.
>* Leonard Boswell: Lt. Col., Army 1956-76; Vietnam,
>DFCs, Bronze Stars, and Soldier's Medal.
>* Pete Peterson: Air Force Captain, POW. Purple
>Heart, Silver Star and Legion of Merit.
>* Mike Thompson: Staff sergeant, 173rd Airborne,
>Purple Heart.
>* Bill McBride: Candidate for Fla. Governor. Marine
>in Vietnam; Bronze Star with Combat V.
>* Gray Davis: Army Captain in Vietnam, Bronze Star.
>* Pete Stark: Air Force 1955-57
>* Chuck Robb: Vietnam
>* Howell Heflin: Silver Star
>* George McGovern: Silver Star & DFC during WWII.
>* Bill Clinton: Did not serve. Student deferments.
>Entered draft but received 311.
>* Jimmy Carter: Seven years in the Navy.
>* Walter Mondale: Army 1951-1953
>* John Glenn: WWII and Korea; six DFCs and Air Medal
>with 18 Clusters.
>* Tom Lantos: Served in Hungarian underground in
>WWII. Saved by Raoul Wallenberg.
>
>Republicans
>* Dennis Hastert: did not serve.
>* Tom Delay: did not serve.
>* Roy Blunt: did not serve.
>* Bill Frist: did not serve.
>* Mitch McConnell: did not serve.
>* Rick Santorum: did not serve.
>* Trent Lott: did not serve.
>* Dick Cheney: did not serve. Several deferments,
>the last by marriage.
>* John Ashcroft: did not serve. Seven deferments to
>teach business.
>* Jeb Bush: did not serve.
>* Karl Rove: did not serve.
>* Saxby Chambliss: did not serve. "Bad knee." The man
>who attacked Cleland's patriotism.
>* Paul Wolfowitz: did not serve.
>* Vin Weber: did not serve.
>* Richard Perle: did not serve.
>* Douglas Feith: did not serve.
>* Eliot Abrams: did not serve.
>* Richard Shelby: did not serve.
>* Jon Kyl: did not serve.
>* Tim Hutchison: did not serve.
>* Christopher Cox: did not serve.
>* Newt Gingrich: did not serve.
>* Don Rumsfeld: served in Navy (1954-57) as aviator
>and flight instructor.
>* George W. Bush: failed to complete his six-year
>National Guard; got assigned to Alabama so he could
>campaign for family friend running for U.S. Senate;
>failed to show up for required medical exam,
>disappeared from duty.
>* Ronald Reagan: due to poor eyesight, served in a
>non-combat role making movies.
>* B-1 Bob Dornan: Consciously enlisted after fighting
>was over in Korea.
>* Phil Gramm: did not serve.
>* John McCain: Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of
>Merit, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross.
>* Bob Dole: an honorable veteran.
>* Chuck Hagel: two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star,
>Vietnam.
>* Duke Cunningham: nominated for Medal of Honor,
>Navy Cross, Silver Stars, Air Medals, Purple Hearts.
>* Jeff Sessions: Army Reserves, 1973-1986
>* Colin Powell: Long career in military management.
>* Don Nickles: National Guard, 1970-1976
>* Jim Inhofe, Army, 1954-1956
>* Dana Rohrabacher: did not serve.
>* John M. McHugh: did not serve.
>* JC Watts: did not serve.
>* Jack Kemp: did not serve. "Knee," although continued
>in NFL for 8 years.
>* Dan Quayle: Journalism unit of the Indiana National
>Guard.
>* Rudy Giuliani: did not serve.
>* George Pataki: did not serve.
>* Spencer Abraham: did not serve.
>* John Engler: did not serve.
>* Lindsey Graham: National Guard lawyer.
>* Arnold Schwarzenegger: AWOL from Austrian army
>base.
>* George H.W. Bush: Pilot in WWII. Shot down by the
>Japanese.
>* Tom Ridge: Bronze Star for Valor in Vietnam.
>* Sam Johnson: Combat in Korea and Vietnam, POW in
>Hanoi.
>* Ted Stevens: WWII pilot, DFCs, two Air Medals.
>* John Warner: Served in the Navy during WWII as a
>RM3
>* Heather Wilson: Air Force 1978-1989
>* Gerald Ford: Navy, WWII
>
>Pundits & Preachers
>* Sean Hannity: did not serve.
>* Rush Limbaugh: did not serve (4-F with a
>'pilonidal cyst.')
>* Bill O'Reilly: did not serve.
>* Michael Savage: did not serve.
>* George Will: did not serve.
>* Chris Matthews: did not serve.
>* Paul Gigot: did not serve.
>* Bill Bennett: did not serve.
>* Pat Buchanan: did not serve.
>* John Wayne: did not serve.
>* Bill Kristol: did not serve.
>* Kenneth Starr: did not serve.
>* Antonin Scalia: did not serve.
>* Clarence Thomas: did not serve.
>* Ralph Reed: did not serve.
>* Michael Medved: did not serve.
>* Charlie Daniels: did not serve.
>* Ted Nugent: did not serve. (He only shoots at
>things that don't shoot back.)JKW
>

[Pachamama]

84. What a great list! Thanks!

I'm sending that one as soon as I've answered the folks who sent this "letter" from Kevin Brown and challenge especially the family member who forwarded it on to send my response to the same people who sent it to him....

:kick:

[mitchum]

83. "Lt Flap" probably has a fragging somewhere in his future

[BreakForNews]

104. More Dirty Tricks... "Peace Train" is Blocked on Kazza

I cannot make new posts yet. Perhaps someone would oblige.
This might be a hard story to get out. Thanks. Fintan Dunne.

Cat Stevens' "Peace Train"
Is Being Blocked on Kazza

BreakForNews.com World Exclusive
28th Sept, 2004
by Fintan Dunne, Editor
Research: Kathy McMahon
http://www.breakfornews.com/Peace-Train-Blocked-On-Kazza.htm

The classic hit song "Peace Train" by the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens, is currently being blocked from download on the Kazza file-sharing system.

The block was uncovered by BreakForNews.com on 23rd September --when Yusuf Islam was prevented from entering the USA. Our monitoring shows that listings of the song on Kazza are spurious since at least that date. The artfully constructed block is still in place today.

Ostensibly, nothing seems to be amiss when Kazza clients search the sharing network for "Peace Train." A long list of available "free" download locations appears. But any attempt to actually download these offerings fails.

The Kazza usernames shown to have the song available for download periodically change. But these Kazza listings are all from the same source. The downloads fail in all cases.

Even when persistent searches by experienced Kazza clients eventually uncover downloadable copies of the song, the resulting file is an unlistenable, heavily cut version of the song with large chunks of audio missing.

Kazza veteran users have told BreakForNews.com that the techniques being used to block "Peace Train" indicate an organized effort. We have yet to determine if other sharing networks are similarly affected.

The blocking campaign might be a covert effort by agents of the the music industry seeking to protect copyright. Except that, no other "Cat Stevens" songs are being hindered.

The "Peace Train" song is a potent anti-war rallying cry. And in the light of the military campaign in Iraq by the Anglo-American alliance, it is far more likely that there is a political motivation behind the blocking.

With Yusuf Islam, aka Cat Stevens, making headlines around the world, it was predictable there would be widespread attempts to download his classic tunes - including "Peace Train."

That is a development that some may be determined to prevent.

The question is: who?

Original at:
http://www.breakfornews.com/Peace-Train-Blocked-On-Kazza.htm
Kazza Graphic:

[Name removed]

108. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[JHB]

109. MM, please don't post personal info on a public forum like this...

...(and we don't know if either of those is the right Kevin Brown, anyway).

Thanks for the digging but please edit your message to take out the numbers. If anyone really needs to call either of these people up, you can pass the numbers by PM.

On edit: I'm sure that's why your post was removed. Nothing personal, but posting phone numbers is against DU policy.

[MilitaryMole]

111. 1stLt. Kevin Brown

One exists and has a number that traces back to Camp Pendleton.

Unknown if it is the same Kevin Brown who "wrote" this letter.

[RivetJoint]

112. Much better!

:-)

[RivetJoint]

110. Rgr

[Qanisqineq]

114. yep, he certainly SOUNDS like an officer (eom)