Jay Shaft responds

[RBHam]

A few days ago, the following thread was posted re: interviews with soldiers. There was a controversy about whether it was fake...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1095965

Anyway, I e-mailed the author and he responded. I'm sharing it with you now, I believe that Jay Shaft is on to a growing truth. The soldiers of today are wising up quicker than they did during Vietnam

The following was written by Jay Shaft,
from The Coaliton For Free Thought In Media

I am aware of all the controversy these recent interviews have raised. I have numerous letters from troops still in Iraq and some who just came back. About 75% are in agreement with the interviews. I have a letter from a soldier I am including and I think it speaks for the fact that the interviews are real and most of the soldiers have similar thoughts and wish they could speak out.

THIS LETTER WAS SENT TO ME BY A MEMBER OF MILITARY FAMILIES SPEAK OUT. IT IS IN RESPONSE TO THE INTERIEW WITH TO US ARMY OFFICERS TWO WEEKS AGO. I COULD PUT A NAME ON THIS AND AN E-MAIL BUT I HAVE DECIDED THAT AS LONG AS THIS MAN IS STILL IN IRAQ, IT IS TOO DANGEROUS. IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT THE MOTHER I WILL CONSIDER IT AS LONG AS IT IS DONE DISCREETLY AND IN A MANNER THAT WILL NOT COMPROMISE HER SON.

I AM RELEASING THIS LETTER IN AN EFFORT TO NOT ONLY BACK UP THE RECENT INTERVIEWS, BUT TO SHOW THAT THERE ARE MANY SOLDUIERS WHO WISH THEY COULD GO ON RECORD ON HOW BAD IRAQ IS. THIS MATTER IS BEING IGNORED FOR THE MOST PART BY THE MAINSTREAM PRESS AND IT IS UP TO US TO MAKE THIS ISSUE PUBLICLY KNOWN.

THANK YOU FOR YOU HELP IN GETTING THIS LETTER SEEN AROUND THE WORLD

JAY SHAFT,
EDITOR,
CFTM

Dear Jay:

The last interview you did brought tears to my eyes, and I certainly
think it is one of the best you have done so far. I forwarded it to my son,and am sharing with you his response, he sent the interview for several people to read. You are welcome to email him, but obviously don't spread his email around, although he does not seem to be thinking of it. He will actually finally be out of there within about a month. Thank you for doing these interviews, and you can thank the commander who did this one, please let him know that he is in our thought and that I hope that they will not be able to identify him. Tell him I'm sure that his words reached the hearts of many of our soldiers over there who no longer no what to do or think or feel, certainly my son, who otherwise really doesn't care for commanders and usually rejects their opinions (it's the Army way).

LETTER FROM A US ARMY SOLDIER IN RESPOSE TO MY INTERVIEWS

>hey everyone. The media and the government are betraying us,
the soldiers and those who want truth in what's going on over here. It has betrayed me. So presently there is no way for me to get the
truth out except through my friends and family. I will never be sorry for joining the army, and I am not turning my back on it. I am still in Iraq going on a year though, and this is probably the only thing that I can be proud of doing, because it is the only thing I have done that isn't supporting a big corporation. The government contractors are making billions off my life and my friends' lives. If I die tomorrow, I hope I will be protecting someone's way of life rather than making someone richer. Do me a favor if you can and forward this to people you think would care. all they have to do is forward it. We can't trust the media to portray the real situation that me and my fellow soldiers are in, but you are people I can trust. all it would take is you passing on the word to people you trust. And then the strength in our unity might possibly change this situation for the better. It is about all I can do FOR NOW, but if I die tomorrow I will want YOU, the people who know me, to know that I did something. The following interview is basically my thoughts and feelings in a nutshell. But if you want to ask me questions on anything then just email me. I can't really say much from here, but that's why I'm asking
you to say it for me. I love you all, that's why I joined the army in the first place. I didn't join to fight for the government, I only swore I was willing fight so you all can live your lives free. The problem is that's not what I have ended up fighting for. So please spread the word. If you look into history that's all it takes for great things to happen. if you don't forward this I understand, just know that I love you all and can only do what I feel is right.

Sincerely,
A US Serviceman
www.mfso.org <http://www.mfso.org/>
www.michaelmoore.com <http://www.michaelmoore.com/>
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/coalitionforfreethoughtinmedia/

these are good places to hear about what's really going on.

[RBHam]

1. The Soldiers - Future Democrats?

It's up to John F Kerry, it looks like.

He has the Vietnam Vet vote, and if he can show that Iraq is becoming just as much of a quagmire as Vietnam - look out! How can BushCo impugn Kerry's patriotism then?

Young men dying so we can fill up with cheap gas.

If we can put a man on the moon, why can't we develop
another energy source?

It's a matter of political will.

Mr. Kerry, the stage is yours.