Posted on 06/26/2006 4:19:50 PM PDT by Hamilcar_Barca
A word from Lt. Cotton
Lt. Tom Cotton writes this morning from Baghdad with a word for the New York Times:
Dear Messrs. Keller, Lichtblau & Risen:
Congratulations on disclosing our government's highly classified anti-terrorist-financing program (June 23). I apologize for not writing sooner. But I am a lieutenant in the United States Army and I spent the last four days patrolling one of the more dangerous areas in Iraq. (Alas, operational security and common sense prevent me from even revealing this unclassified location in a private medium like email.)
Unfortunately, as I supervised my soldiers late one night, I heard a booming explosion several miles away. I learned a few hours later that a powerful roadside bomb killed one soldier and severely injured another from my 130-man company. I deeply hope that we can find and kill or capture the terrorists responsible for that bomb. But, of course, these terrorists do not spring from the soil like Plato's guardians. No, they require financing to obtain mortars and artillery shells, priming explosives, wiring and circuitry, not to mention for training and payments to locals willing to emplace bombs in exchange for a few months' salary. As your story states, the program was legal, briefed to Congress, supported in the government and financial industry, and very successful.
Not anymore. You may think you have done a public service, but you have gravely endangered the lives of my soldiers and all other soldiers and innocent Iraqis here. Next time I hear that familiar explosion -- or next time I feel it -- I will wonder whether we could have stopped that bomb had you not instructed terrorists how to evade our financial surveillance.
And, by the way, having graduated from Harvard Law and practiced with a federal appellate judge and two Washington law firms before becoming an infantry officer, I am well-versed in the espionage laws relevant to this story and others -- laws you have plainly violated. I hope that my colleagues at the Department of Justice match the courage of my soldiers here and prosecute you and your newspaper to the fullest extent of the law. By the time we return home, maybe you will be in your rightful place: not at the Pulitzer announcements, but behind bars.
Very truly yours,
Tom Cotton Baghdad, Iraq
Bumperoo
they also need food and that cost money.
bttt
Positively infuriating.
I hope that my colleagues at the Department of Justice match the courage of my soldiers here and prosecute you and your newspaper to the fullest extent of the law.
Hell yeah.
Wow!
Excellent letter by Lt. Cotton. The NYTimes are the enemy within and a terrorist's friend. I want to see them, and the "leaker" held accountable for their treasonous actions. New Yorkers who are concerned for their safety and fear the possibility of another terrorist attack, would be wise to band together and run that treasonous "rag" out of business.
Gotta BUMP this one!
Peter King has been on talk radio today discussing his letter to the Justice dept. requesting prosecution of the NY Times for treason. Hopefully, he will get the ball rolling.
Thank you for your service to our Country, Tom Cotton.
Someone is going to have to do something! Clearly the left is on the side of our enemy, and nothing is being done to stop them. There are supposed to be laws you know.
If it is ever discovered who leaked the secret to the NY Slimes, I'm betting it was a US Senator.
Way to go Army!! (former Marine here)
Excellent letter.
"And, by the way, having graduated from Harvard Law and practiced with a federal appellate judge and two Washington law firms before becoming an infantry officer,"
This is a guy that is grabbing big 'ol chunks of life.
Hope we hear more from him in the future.
The Lt. said it much better than I. Here's my letter to Keller:
Dear Mr. Keller,
I would not say that your publication of the bank records story was unpatriotic and dangerous, as you said in your rebuttal letter. Rather, I would say what you have done, and what you are trying to justify by claiming freedom of the press, is actually treason. The New York Times has become anti-American. I hope all of you who have had a hand in exposing this national security program are prosecuted, found guilty, and jailed for the maximum allowable time in order to pay for your disturbing, purposeful efforts to aid our enemies and endanger our fighting men.
Go to hell.
Well said
The Times seems to begging for a showdown.. pitting treason against the 1st amendment.. I say arrest ALL the owners of "B" stock.. Hold them in gitmo..
Boy, is it time!
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