US Fines Woman for Being 'Human Shield' ('bout damn time!)

Yahoo! News / AP ^ | 8.11.03

[mhking]

SARASOTA, Fla. - A retired schoolteacher who went to Iraq (news - web sites) to serve as a "human shield" against the U.S. invasion is facing thousands of dollars in U.S. government fines, which she is refusing to pay.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury said in a March letter to Faith Fippinger that she broke the law by crossing the Iraqi border before the war. Her travel to Iraq violated U.S. sanctions that prohibited American citizens from engaging in "virtually all direct or indirect commercial, financial or trade transactions with Iraq."

She and others from 30 countries spread out through Iraq to prevent the war. She spent about three months there. Only about 20 of nearly 300 "human shields" were Americans, she said.

Fippinger, who returned home May 4, is being fined at least $10,000, but she has refused to pay. She could face up to 12 years in prison.

In her response to the charges, she wrote the government that "if it comes to fines or imprisonment, "please be aware that I will not contribute money to the United States government to continue the buildup of its arsenal of weapons." Since she won't pay, she said, "perhaps the alternative should be considered."

The government also has asked Fippinger, 62, to detail her travels to Iraq and any financial transactions she made. In her response, Fippinger wrote that the only money she spent was on food and emergency supplies.

If Fippinger does not pay, the fine may increase, and the money will be drawn from her retirement paycheck, her Social Security (news - web sites) check or any of her assets, officials said.

"She was (in Iraq) in violation of U.S. sanctions," said Taylor Griffin, a Treasury Department (news - web sites) spokesman. "That's what happens."

Shortly before the U.S. invasion in March, Fippinger was one of several dozen human shields scattered around a refinery in Baghdad.

"We are planning to stay here in the refinery if war breaks out," Fippinger said at the time. "We are staying here because we think this war is unjust."

[mhking]

Just damn.

If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[HRC]

How did she get back into this country? She should have been held up in customs until she paid.

[Viet Vet in Augusta GA]

Great! I wish they would prosecute Jane Fonda too...

[SunStar]

In her response to the charges, she wrote the government that "if it comes to fines or imprisonment, "please be aware that I will not contribute money to the United States government to continue the buildup of its arsenal of weapons." Since she won't pay, she said, "perhaps the alternative should be considered."

Ashcroft, arrest this hag!

[ZinGirl]

"please be aware that I will not contribute money to the United States government to continue the buildup of its arsenal of weapons."

I'll bet they're tempted to respond with "Fine. Please be aware that if there is ever a huge ICBM heading straight for your house, we won't lift a finger to stop it"

[theDentist]

Since she won't pay, she said, "perhaps the alternative should be considered."

Fine with me!

[Paul Atreides]

Fippinger, who returned home May 4

What, she didn't stay in Iraq to help in the rebuilding effort? Some commitment to "the people."

[Paul Atreides]

In her response to the charges, she wrote the government that "if it comes to fines or imprisonment, "please be aware that I will not contribute money to the United States government to continue the buildup of its arsenal of weapons." Since she won't pay, she said, "perhaps the alternative should be considered."

I wonder what the bat knows how her taxes are used.

[Jokelahoma]

I notice she isn't still in Iraq, but rather she hightailed it home to enjoy the comforts and freedoms for which she refuses to pay. In her attempt to maintain her own personal "moral high ground", she's cutting off the branch on which she's sitting. It's a long way down, honey-bunny.

[Paul Atreides]

how her taxes are used

[Libertina]

Excellent point. I'd support your nomination for INS head :)

[bedolido]

GREAT POST!!! lol... I hope she gets the 12 years if she doesn't pay her fine.

[GnuHere]

And send her to Gitmo.

[Paul Atreides]

All that she, and her comrades, cared about was trying to embarass President Bush.

[zip]

A retired schoolteacher

Leftist teachers like her give the other 10% of honest, pro American teachers a bad name.

[SolidSupplySide]

US Fines Woman for Being 'Human Shield'

This headline is false. The woman has been fined for violating travel restrictions to Iraq during Saddam Hussein's regime. The fact that she went to interfere with American military operations is irrelevant.

Would the AP claim that a drunk driver was fined for "driving home"? One can drive home without facing fines. One should anticipate a fine if one drives drunk.

I attribute this poor headline to bias.

[nutmeg]

ping!

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent ‘miscellaneous’ ping list.

[Catspaw]

Don't post personal information about ANYBODY.

[Paulie]

The remarkable thing about this country is how leanient we are with traitors...

[tom h]

Fippinger, who returned home May 4"

If she didn't die then she didn't fulfill her duties shielding Iraqi targets. Bet she was sitting in a hotel while the bombs fell.

Bloody coward and hypocrite.

[Paleo Conservative]

Is there any way to send her to a men's prison?

[Tom Bombadil]

Fippinger, who returned home May 4, is being fined at least $10,000, but she has refused to pay.

Sure that isn't spelled flipfinger?

Maybe she should help dig up some of the mass graves being found in Iraq...

[DEPUTYMAYTAG]

Shackle the c--t!

[lawgirl]

Throw her in jail!!!

[Paul Atreides]

Leftist teachers like her give the other 10% of honest, pro American teachers a bad name.

I hear that, in the old days, teacher used to teach, rather than train little liberal activists. Is that true?

[Paul Atreides]

Those panty shields were so sure that only their noble presence could avert a war. Their lives are much more valuable that everyone else's.

[Tom Bombadil]

I hear that, in the old days, teacher used to teach, rather than train little liberal activists. Is that true?

My HS teachers in the SF bay area back in the middle 60's were all very conservative except for one young lady who taught english from a left perspective and wrote for the Berkley Barb. She lasted one year.

I recently visited the HS website and everything has changed. 'Seems like my old HS is now bleeding edge left.

[Spiff]

Faith is the traitor being hugged by the traitor in the pink shirt.

Here's a picture of the traitor bawling her eyes out because Saddam is no long in power.

[King Prout]

I say send the wench to jail.

[Paul Atreides]

I remember, back in '93, on my first day of college, at the beginning of class hearing three different instructors say what a great president they thought Bubba was going to be. Mind you, this was not a lecture but the part of the first day in which the instructor introduces himself and tells what the class is all about. It is also an Alabama university. I can just imagine what it would be like on a really leftist campus.

[dead]

Please do not put this woman in prison. I can not bear the thought of having to put up with her face on my television 24 hours a day with "Faith Fippinger" hunger strikes and school children's letters asking Bush not to kill her.

It's exactly what she wants.

Just ignore the loser.

[Tom Bombadil]

Two years ago I stopped into a mom-pop store here in central Maine and found myself in line behind a fifth-grade Public school teacher (a woman) who was bragging to the clerk about how she was able to indoctrinate her fifth grade girls in feminist ideas.

She claimed to have taught them that cooking a large meal at Thanksgiving was somehow evil and was something to be avoided.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

'Remember the Lost and Suffering on September 11, 2001'

http://www.TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=33

[Paul Atreides]

Good grief! It is no wonder that kids leave school as dumb as bricks.

[lilylangtree]

YYYYYYeeeeeessssss!

[Tom Bombadil]

Just ignore the loser.

Just the opposite of the woman wants........not a bad idea.

[dead]

She looks like Katherine Hepburn, only deader.

[Tom Bombadil]

Good grief! It is no wonder that kids leave school as dumb as bricks..

We home and private schooled our last two because we got tired of swimming against the current in the PS system.

[Bigg Red]

If she didn't die then she didn't fulfill her duties shielding Iraqi targets.

**

That's right. As another person here points out, the sole purpose of this human shields bullclinton was to embarrass President Bush. If she cares so much about the Iraqi people, why didn't she stay there and help with rebuilding the country?

[Salgak]

Yes. . ignore her. Ignore her social security and other government payments. Ignore her Medicare card. Ignore her taxes paid.

If she wants attention, give her ABSOLUTELY ZERO government attention in any way. . .

[dead]

If she cares so much about the Iraqi people, why didn't she stay there and help with rebuilding the country?

And why wasn’t she in Iraq, pretend-crying, when Clinton was dropping bombs on her Baathist buddies?

[chiefqc]

The perfect example of a brain on vacation.

Put this moron in jail.

[Catspaw]

She's being interviewed on MSNBC right now. Poor baby--although she admitted she knew about the sanctions when she went to Iraq.

She doesn't pay the fine, toss her butt in jail.

[jonalvy44]

good point! What a fruit cake. Should make her live in Iraq.

[weegee]

See explanation here:

[aruanan]

"We are planning to stay here in the refinery if war breaks out," Fippinger said at the time. "We are staying here because we think this war is unjust."

"I think I should be able to do anything I want but without having to suffer any consequences."

Hey, Faith! Put your money where your political mouth is.

[CWOJackson]

I can't believe how cruel everyone is being towards this poor lady. She was only standing up for the principles she believes in. Indeed, she should be rewarded for her heroic stand.

Give her a cell in Gitmo with the rest of the terrorist scum she love so much.