WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES!
The US Press Misses Another Story
07.07.04 12:19 pm
Remember the guy who got on a plane with a bomb built into his shoe and tried to light it?
- Did you know his trial is over?
- Did you know he was sentenced?
- Did you see/hear any of the judge's comments on TV/Radio?
Didn't think so.
Everyone should hear what the judge had to say. Ruling by Judge William Young U.S. District Court. Prior to sentencing, the Judge asked the defendant if he had anything to say.
His response: After admitting his guilt to the court for the record, Reid also admitted his "allegiance to Osama bin Laden, to Islam, and to the religion of Allah," defiantly stated "I think I ought not apologize for my actions," and told the court "I am at war with your country."
Judge Young then delivered the statement quoted below, a stinging condemnation of Reid in particular and terrorists in general:
January 30, 2003 United States vs. Reid. Judge Young:"Mr Richard C. Reid, Hearken now to the sentence the Court imposes upon you on counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the custody of the United States Attorney General. On counts 2, 3, 4 and 7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the sentence on each count to run consecutive with the other. That's 80 years. On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years consecutive to the 80 years just imposed. The Court imposes upon you each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000 for the aggregate fine of $2 million. The Court accepts the government's recommendation with respect to restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to American Airlines. The Court imposes upon you the $800 special assessment. The Court imposes upon you five years supervised release simply because the law requires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need go no further. This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes. It is a fair and just sentence. It is a righteous sentence.
Let me explain this to you. We are not afraid of you or any of your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid. We are Americans. We have been through the fire before. There is all too much war talk here and I say that to everyone with the utmost respect. Here in this court, where we deal with individuals as individuals and care for individuals as individuals. As human beings, we reach out for justice. You are not an enemy combatant. You are a terrorist. You are not a soldier in any war. You are a terrorist. To give you that reference, to call you a soldier, gives you far too much stature. Whether it is the officers of government who do it or your attorney who does it, or that happens to be your view, you are a terrorist...And we do not negotiate with terrorists. We do not treat with terrorists. We do not sign documents with terrorists. We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice. So war talk is way out of line in this court. You are a big fellow. But you are not that big. You're no warrior. I know warriors. You are a terrorist. A species of criminal guilty of multiple attempted murders. In a very real sense, State Trooper Santiago had it right when you first were taken off that plane and into custody and you wondered where the press and where the TV crews were and he said you're no big deal. You're no big deal. What your counsel, what your able counsel and what the equally able United States attorneys have grappled with and what I have as honestly as I know how tried to grapple with, is why you did something so horrific. What was it that led you here to this courtroom today? I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I ask you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort of fathomable hate led you to do what you are guilty and admit you are guilty of doing And I have an answer for you. It may not satisfy you, but as I search this entire record, it comes as close to understanding as I know.
It seems to me you hate the one thing that is most precious. You hate our freedom. Our individual freedom. Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not believe as we individually choose. Here, in this society, the very winds carry freedom. They carry it everywhere from sea to shining sea. It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful courtroom. So that everyone can see, truly see, that justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely. It is for freedom's sake that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on your behalf and have filed appeals, will go on in their representation of you before other judges. We are about it. Because we all know that the way we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties. Make no mistake though. It is yet true that we will bare any burden; pay any price, to preserve our freedoms. Look around this courtroom. Mark it well. The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here. Day after tomorrow, it will be forgotten, but this, however, will long endure. Here in this courtroom and courtrooms all across America, the American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice, justice, not war, individual justice is in fact being done. The very President of the United States through his officers will have to come into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be judged and juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that evidence democratically, to mold and shape and refine our sense of justice. See that flag, Mr. Reid? That's the flag of the United States of America. That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten. That flag stands for freedom. You know it always will. Mr. Custody Officer. Stand him down."
The US Press Has Its Own Agenda?
05.27.04 3:55 pm
For the first time in US history since Abraham Lincoln's presidency, an American Commander-in-Chief is being attacked during a time of war by the press.
It seems that the US Press has decided to take it upon themselves NOT to tell the whole story, but rather a slanted, politically-driven version of it that basically attacks President Bush. How many stories have you seen since the Iraqi prison abuse scandel stories broke that offered ANYTHING positive about our presence in the Middle East?
Has the news that WMD's have been found in Iraq made headlines? Yes, we've found both Sarin and Mustard Gas there, just like the President suggested before the conflict began, but the newspapers are continuing to focus on the prison story.
For that matter, why is the US Press ignoring the fact that over 600 Christians were murdered in Nigeria just a week ago by Muslims? WorldNetDaily reported the entire story of carnage, murder and mutilation of Christians and the burning of 12 Christian churches. Want to see for yourself?
CLICK HERE FOR THE WORLD NEWS DAILY REPORT!
Why has the US Press refused to show images of the bodies of US Servicemen being burned and hung from a bridge in Fallujah? They don't have problems showing the prison abuse pics whatsoever. You didn't KNOW about our brave servicemen being desecrated at the hands of Iraqi citizens? Well, all I can say is, I hope your faith is strong and your stomach is able to handle the following images:
You shocked? I sure as heck hope so.
I have read nothing but stories of how loving and peaceful the Muslim religion is since 9-11 and I've yet to buy into this "politically correct" crap being spouted by the US Press. No "insurgent" prisoners in our custody had their hands and feet chopped off and bodies burned, have they? OK, so show me the love of the Muslims here, please.
Daniel Pearl, Murdered In Pakistan
Did the US Press ever get around to showing what the entire Arab world witnessed on Al Jazeera when the video of American Journalist Daniel Pearl being murdered in Pakistan? For God's sake, they cut his throat on video. You seen any images of that in the American press?
The World Trade Center Attack of 9-11
No, I'm not putting a link to the video of Nick Berg getting his head sawed off with a butcher knife at the hands of Muslim "extremists" that kidnapped him. I've seen it, it makes me sick.
But let's take it back to the first big attack on the US by these same "loving and peaceful" Muslims. 9-11. The World Trade Center.
Anybody seen the photos of people in those skyscrapers leaping out of the buildings to get away from the fires? These people certainly were not a threat to the Muslim beliefs. Some of them WERE Muslims themselves.
Why Are We In Iraq?
If your only source of news is the US Press, then Iraq is already worse than the darkest times in Vietnam.
Want to know how it's really going? Go look at the US Military's current re-enlistment numbers, it appears our military has the highest morale ever right now.
Below, in its entirety is a letter from Ray Reynolds, a medic in the Iowa National Guard serving right now in Iraq:
As I head off to Baghdad for the final weeks of my stay in Iraq, I wanted to say thanks to all of you who did not believe the media. They have done a very poor job of covering everything that has happened. I am sorry that I have not been able to visit all of you during my two week leave back home. And just so you can rest at night knowing something is happening inIraq that is noteworthy, I thought I would pass this on to you. This is the list of things that has happened in Iraq recently: (Please share it with your friends and compare it to the version that your paper is producing.)
- Over 400,000 kids have up-to-date immunizations.
- School attendance is up 80% from levels before the war.
- Over 1,500 schools have been renovated and rid of the weapons stored there so education can occur.
- The port of Uhm Qasar was renovated so grain can be off-loaded from ships faster.
- The country will have its first 2 billion barrel export of oil in August.
- Over 4.5 million people have clean drinking water for the first time ever in Iraq.
- The country now receives 2 times the electrical power it did before the war.
- 100% of the hospitals are open and fully staffed, compared to 35% before the war.
- Elections are taking place in every major city, and city councils are in place.
- Sewer and water lines are installed in every major city.
- Over 60,000 police are patrolling the streets.
- Over 100,000 Iraqi civil defense police are securing the country.
- Over 80,000 Iraqi soldiers are patrolling the streets side by side with US soldiers.
- Over 400,000 people have telephones for the first time ever.
- Students are taught field sanitation and hand washing techniques to prevent the spread of germs.
- An interim constitution has been signed.
- Girls are allowed to attend school.
- Textbooks that don't mention Saddam are in the schools for the first time in 30 years.
Don't believe for one second that these people do not want us there. I have met many, many people from Iraq that want us there, and in a bad way. They say they will never see the freedoms we talk about but they hope their children will. We are doing a good job in Iraq and I challenge anyone, anywhere to dispute me on these facts. So If you happen to run into John Kerry, be sure to give him my email address and send him to Denison, Iowa. This soldier will set him straight. If you are like me and very disgusted with how this period of rebuilding has been portrayed, tell a friend and let them know there are good things happening.
Ray Reynolds, SFC
Iowa Army National Guard
234th Signal Battalion
Positive Images Not Reported By The US Press
Don't let the US Press control your beliefs on what is happening in Iraq. There are positives even though they seem to refuse to cover them. Think for yourself and demand that the Press show the WHOLE story. You know, "Fair and Balanced" as FOX News likes to call it.
Why The Spin?
Why is the US Press not showing us the whole picture? There has to be an agenda connected with both the upcoming November presidential elections and ever-growing Muslim presence in the US.
I thought it was the job of the press to REPORT the news and give us the means to make up our own minds about what is going on, not to editorialize by just bringing up what they want to.
Should the US Press leave out facts and images that may be considered offensive to the Islamic faith? Why should we? They don't mind showing off their so-called "extremists" handiwork on Arab television one bit. With the slanted anti-American reports that proliferate the Arabic airwaves, why isn't our press responding by showing the world THE TRUTH? At least give everyone the same means to make up their own minds about the situation in Iraq.
After all, isn't that what the founding fathers envisioned by the whole concept of a "free press?"
So here is the real question I pose to those members of the American press corps that have a say in what we see on television news and in newspapers:
I found everything on this page quite EASILY on the internet. Why didn't YOU report it?
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