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Joint Chiefs Send Rare Protest Letter to 'Wash Post' Over 'Reprehensible' Toles Cartoon
Editor and Publisher via Drudge ^ | February 1, 2006 | Joe Strupp, Dave Astor and Greg Mitchell

Posted on 02/02/2006 1:26:34 AM PST by madconserv

NEW YORK A Tom Toles editorial cartoon published in The Washington Post on Monday and on its Web site has drawn a very rare and very strong protest letter to the editors from all six members of The Joint Chiefs of Staff, E&P has learned.

The letter, written on Tuesday, charges that the six military leaders "believe you and Mr. Toles have done a disservice to your readers and your paper's reputation by using such a callous depiction of those who have volunteered to defend this nation, and as a result, have suffered traumatic and life-altering wounds. ... As the Joint Chiefs, it is rare that we all put our hand to one letter, but we cannot let this reprehensible cartoon go unanswered."

A Pentagon spokeswoman confirmed the contents of the letter to E&P late this afternoon. That the newspaper had received such a letter was reported on the popular AmericaBlog site, which is run by John Aravosis, this morning.Download a copy of the letter (PDF)

The spokeswoman said a letter from all six joint chiefs to anyone, let alone a newspaper, is rare, but the cartoon so offended them, they wanted to let their feelings be known. "It was expressing their disappointment with the paper and outrage at using that image to make a political point," said Lt. Col. Diane Battaglia. "That is a rare occurrence, but the level of inappropriateness prompted a response of unanimous support."

Battaglia said Post editors told her office that the letter would be published in Thursday's paper. Editorial Page Editor Fred Hiatt declined to comment on the letter. "My policy is I can't talk about letters until we publish them," he told E&P. "If and when a letter runs, I'd be happy to talk about it."

Reached by E&P, Tom Toles said, "no comment."

For more GOTOhttp://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001955937


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: dod; jointchiefs; toles; wp
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HEY, I don't have a problem with this, do you? (sarcasum)
1 posted on 02/02/2006 1:26:36 AM PST by madconserv
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To: madconserv

Certainly a worthwhile topic but this is the 4th thread on the subject.


2 posted on 02/02/2006 1:31:52 AM PST by Straight Vermonter (John 6: 31-69)
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To: madconserv

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1569660/posts

How to post a thread and other interesting facts. (Welcome Newbies)


3 posted on 02/02/2006 1:34:09 AM PST by leadpenny
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To: Straight Vermonter

I went through 2 pages of threads and didn't see it.


4 posted on 02/02/2006 1:34:25 AM PST by madconserv (Proud to be FReepin--Support Our Troops)
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To: madconserv

Just pick a relatively unique word in the title like "joint" or "chiefs" and punch it into the search panel.

Live and learn FRiend.


5 posted on 02/02/2006 1:38:50 AM PST by Straight Vermonter (John 6: 31-69)
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To: leadpenny

Thanks for the tip. I will check keywords in search from now on. And yes I am a newb


6 posted on 02/02/2006 1:38:50 AM PST by madconserv (Proud to be FReepin--Support Our Troops)
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To: madconserv

first time ive seen it and we should hang the person who made it from the nearest tree


7 posted on 02/02/2006 1:39:53 AM PST by son of caesar
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To: Straight Vermonter

Thanks for not being too pissed. Proud to be FReepin.


8 posted on 02/02/2006 1:41:09 AM PST by madconserv (Proud to be FReepin--Support Our Troops)
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To: madconserv

Had you searched with the complete title you would have gotten this:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/search?m=any;o=score;s=Joint%20Chiefs%20Send%20Rare%20Protest%20Letter%20to%20%27Wash%20Post%27%20Over%20%27Reprehensible%27%20Toles%20Cartoon


9 posted on 02/02/2006 1:43:05 AM PST by leadpenny
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To: son of caesar
I first saw it on Hannity@Colms last nite. Then I went to bed. But , yea, this is outrageous. Disrespectful of the wounded. Awesome that the DOD responded. I'll bet Rummy steamed.
10 posted on 02/02/2006 1:46:58 AM PST by madconserv (Proud to be FReepin--Support Our Troops)
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To: leadpenny

Wow, heavy responses, tons!


11 posted on 02/02/2006 1:49:26 AM PST by madconserv (Proud to be FReepin--Support Our Troops)
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To: madconserv
Here's some help so you don't get flamed next time you post J

Be sure and read the Lexicon

HTML Help Threads & Other Info for Newbies
(And Anyone Else Who Needs It )




12 posted on 02/02/2006 1:49:36 AM PST by Fiddlstix (Tagline Repair Service. Let us fix those broken Taglines. Inquire within(Presented by TagLines R US))
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To: madconserv

I'm really not a posting policeman (although I sometimes play one on FR), but it is nice, once in a while, to have all comments on a topic on one thread. It's a messy world and I usually do well dealing with it. Usually.


13 posted on 02/02/2006 1:56:57 AM PST by leadpenny
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To: leadpenny
Agreed. I don't want to make the Administrator mad either. Ok lets end this. I don't want to make the original poster mad either. Proud to be FReepin.
14 posted on 02/02/2006 2:03:15 AM PST by madconserv (Proud to be FReepin--Support Our Troops)
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To: madconserv

I mailed this letter this morning. I urge everyone to write a letter via snail mail and send it.

Mr. Philip Bennett
Managing Editor, The Washington Post
1150 15th Street NW
Washington, DC 20071

To The Editor of the Washington Post:

I saw cartoon drawn by Tom Toles portraying a wounded, amputee in a hospital bed. I am completely outraged. I understand this is First Amendment material. People are free to say what they like as long as it does not endanger others. But this is indicative of a total lack of decency.

This person (and I use the phrase so loosely to describe someone who would pen such an unthinking, hurtful, inconsiderate, malicious "cartoon") who authored this “cartoon” obviously detests the military. His distaste for them and everything they stand for is evident in this work.

The military, in general, tries to inculcate loyalty, dedication, maturity, work ethic, respect, honor, pride, consideration and thoughtfulness. (Having been in the military, and grown up as the son of a 30-year Naval veteran who now rests in Arlington, I know that this is what the military tries to do. It doesn't always produce the desired result or level of result, but the effort is there)

The person that drew this cartoon, protected by THE LIBERTIES THAT OUR MILITARY FIGHTS, BLEEDS AND DIES FOR, has taken this opportunity to use a horribly wounded military person as a PROP to make a petty partisan political point.

A man, in a bed, with NO ARMS AND LEGS, who, at that stage, cannot feed himself, relieve himself, bathe himself, dress himself, walk, read a book on his own, change a television channel, pick up a phone, use a computer, hug his loved ones or any other number of things the rest of us, including this despicable excuse for a human being who authored this cartoon, take for granted. He has taken the liberty to shower disrespect on the sacrifice that many of our military personnel have suffered, using them as a tool in order to take a passing swipe at political policy he disagrees with.

As a condition for maintaining a continued relationship with your newspaper, I would like to suggest two things that would satisfy me as a reader:

First, require Tom Toles to spend a weekend at Walter Reed Hospital, helping care for the wounded men, particularly those in the Amputee Ward. He should be tasked with feeding them, helping them relieve themselves, and doing any small task they are unable to do for themselves.

Secondly, I ask you to request a sincere, public apology from Tom Toles, which if obtained, should be published prominently in your paper. Barring a public apology, any relationship with this person should be severed.


15 posted on 02/02/2006 3:32:58 AM PST by rlmorel ("Innocence seldom utters outraged shrieks. Guilt does." Whittaker Chambers)
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To: madconserv

If the patient had been other than white we would have heard the howls all the way to Teddy and John, but as long as it's only a white man, what the hey, its freedon of speech.


16 posted on 02/02/2006 4:20:59 AM PST by Scaaty
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To: rlmorel

FYI.the letter is supposed to be published in today's WP..


17 posted on 02/02/2006 5:34:41 AM PST by ken5050 (Ann Coulter needs to have children ASAP to pass on her gene pool....any volunteers?)
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To: madconserv
If you have to make a mistake on your first post, this is definitely something that needs to be out there AGAIN AND AGAIN.

Welcome to FR, hope you have a thick skin! We can get rather prickly at times!!

18 posted on 02/02/2006 5:37:51 AM PST by OldFriend (The Dems enABLEd DANGER and 3,000 Americans died.)
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To: ken5050
Better than a letter, it should have been printed as a guest editorial.

But then that would give the military too much of a voice I suppose!

How I hate the America hating elites in our media!

19 posted on 02/02/2006 5:39:47 AM PST by OldFriend (The Dems enABLEd DANGER and 3,000 Americans died.)
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To: ken5050

You mean the JCS letter I presume? I won't hold my breath for any letter of apology, but one never knows...


20 posted on 02/02/2006 8:48:29 AM PST by rlmorel ("Innocence seldom utters outraged shrieks. Guilt does." Whittaker Chambers)
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