Military supporters bombard Wisconsin company with threats over e-mail to soldier

[LTR]

What began as a brief e-mail exchange between a U.S. soldier in Iraq and a Wisconsin-based online retailer has erupted into an international incident that has pitted military supporters against free speech advocates and threatens to shut down the local company.

Bargain Suppliers of West Allis said its discount-mats.com Web site had to be taken down Monday to address the thousands of e-mails it's received since news of the exchange - in which an employee voiced opposition to the war in Iraq - began circulating on the Internet last week.

Vice president Sajid Nasir said the employee is being "held accountable." But he said the incendiary and threatening nature of some of the e-mails - and voicemails left at the West Allis home that co-owner Faisal Khetani shares with his parents - have shaken the family.

"It's really getting out of control," said Nasir, who described the messages as "angry and vulgar."

"Our main concern is for the safety of the family. That's more important than the business," he said.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=555527

[Freddie Stubbs]

1. Discount-Mats.com

Discount-Mats.com is Experiencing Technical Difficulties...

If you are inquiring about your order, please contact us via phone or email.

Thank you for your understanding & patience.

[northernsoul]

2. Threatening people is NOT supporting the military!

Maybe a better headline would be: "Pro-War Thugs Threaten Man For Expressing His Opinion."

Those of who truly support our military want to get it out of the business of playing out George Bush's messianic/apocolyptic delusions for him, and back into the business of truly defending our country.

[michreject]

3. While I somewhat agree

That threats shouldn't be made against someone for voicing an opinion, this company shouldn't penalize the soldier for following orders. The soldier is going where he is ordered to go and do what he is ordered to do.

[baldguy]

4. Why don't these thugs contact Bush & the Pentagon about properly equipping our soldiers?

[rinsd]

5. That employee was wrong but what a crazed overreaction.

[PVnRT]

6. 1. The employee's response was unprofessional and out of line

2. The subsequent response by the uber-patriots is just as bad.

Sorry, but I would shitcan anyone who responded to a customer like that, regardless of who the customer is.

Of course, if these "protesters" were really that gung-ho and looking for a fight, they would be lining up outside the army recruiting office instead of being internet warriors.