Posted on 01/23/2007 12:39:23 AM PST by atomic conspiracy
Edited on 01/23/2007 8:09:47 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
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.
Repeated attempts to reach the Khetanis were unsuccessful.
The controversy exploded last week when a soldier, identifying himself as Sgt. Jason Hess of the Army's 1st Cavalry Division, sent an e-mail to discount-mats.com asking if it ships to military addresses.
Someone on the other end answered no, but went on to add that "even if we did, we would NEVER ship to Iraq. If you were sensible, you and your troops would pull out of Iraq."
A handful of Hess' friends got wind of the exchange, and soon it was ricocheting around the Internet - first on the Web site snopes.com, then on conservative and military forums and blogs - and has since made its way to talk radio.
Military supporters were outraged, calling it disrespectful and urging one another to flood the company with e-mails and calls.
Several posted Khetani's name, telephone number and address, which is also the business address, though Nasir insists it's for mailing purposes only.
Many of the messages invoked anti-Middle Eastern or anti-Muslim sentiment. (Khetani is Muslim, Nasir said.) Others vowed to shut the company down, and a few suggested they might make a personal visit.
"I think it's disgraceful," said Sgt. Maj. Dennis Webster, executive director of the First Cavalry Association in Copperas Cove, Texas, who learned of the e-mail exchange from a reporter.
"He's certainly entitled to his opinion. That's what soldiers defend," Webster said. "But there's a matter of respect. A young soldier isn't making those decisions. He's following orders."
Eduardo Briones, a Milwaukee native and retired Army sergeant who lives in Colorado Springs, Colo., said: "All he needed to say was no."
"I personally think we screwed up in the war, but that's not the fault of the soldiers. That's the fault of the politicians," he said.
Anti-war and free speech advocates were equally offended, by the widespread criticism of the company and the individual who responded to the soldier.
"This is a matter of free speech," said Julie Enslow, an organizer with Peace Action Wisconsin in Milwaukee. "It is totally irresponsible for radio stations and bloggers to attack a person for his personal political views."
Othman Atta, president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, said he would fault the worker for his lack of tact but defended his right to speak his mind.
"If you look at the polls, his opinion is reflected by a majority of Americans now," Atta said. "In the United States, everyone one is free to speak their opinion."
Atta appeared concerned that the controversy might fuel anti-Muslim and anti-Middle Eastern sentiment.
"Some people will look for any excuse to target people from the Middle East," he said.
A person identifying himself as Hess, who was reached via a military e-mail address, has agreed to an online interview but has yet to respond to a list of questions.
West Allis police said Monday that they were aware of the controversy.
"We're monitoring the situation, in case somebody decides to retaliate," Capt. Tom Kukowski said.
"But we're hoping people use good judgment."
RE: Vice president Sajid Nasir
We notice you have fired the author of the return note to Sgt. Hess in Iraq regarding his inquiries about mats for his troops.
Having fired that person, but adding some feelings of outrage for the alleged employee's actions, an apology to the Sgt., and a statement of support for America's war against terrorist. would have served to diffuse the situation by fostering credibility, and would have appeared more genuine.
Americans feel strongly that their troops around the world allow you, and the rest of us, to have the lives and businesses we have… basically an assurance and gift from your country of safety and protection.
Many have noted throughout this country that American-Muslims seem to not openly support America, and remain silent while American soldiers sacrifice on their behalf. And some feel we can't have it both ways...either openly support America...or go to another country.
Perhaps our Muslims are afraid to openly make that commitment...perhaps of other Muslims...and based on the anger currently present among some of us, they have reason to be afraid of other Americans
We all hope to be brave enough to bite the bullet, so to speak, and that we are either Wimps...or Patriotic Americans who will defend this country until the last terrorist is turned into dust!
Some Americans are becoming suspicious of America’s Muslims, and others, especially those who remain silent since 9/11, that they may be subversive and have plans to again do us harm from within.
Should this silence continue, patriotic Americans will refuse to tolerate it much longer, and feelings of suspicion and anger continue, and also escalate.
A lot of us are looking for a target to hit, to retalliate for 9/11. Our selection of targets must have substance, and be deserving, not innocent. Some of us aren't the patriots we wish others to be.
We would hope American Muslims, as well as other citizens who remain angry of the site of 3000+ innocent Americans under 100s of tons of rubble, would also not forget the innocents who flew with those terrorists (who happened to be Muslims) and took them to their death.
We hope too, that we as Americans would seek to be able to tell the differences between the two types of Muslims. And as far as those terrorist-Muslims who harmed us are concerned, trust me....they are discovering that there are no Virgins in Hell!
America treated, out of panic and fear at the beginning of WW11, our Japanese-Americans in similar shabby manners, and went so far as to intern them (a nicer word for imprisonment) for the duration of the war. Strange how shamefully you act and do things when frightened. And the shame you have…after you destroy another American.
The owners have taken care of the situation by firing the idiot who made statements that could subsequently destroy a business and relationships. Granted, the owners could well benefit from advice on public relations and damage control. They are, like all of us, also Americans and have been damaged by these mistakes.
But lets shut down the lynching mob behavior, and give our American-Muslims some room!And American-Muslims, it may help to speak out about your feelings of America. It won't make you a better American, but it would certainly calm the barracudas who want a peice of your flesh!
Thank you
Downdraft
It's moonbattery at its worst.
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