"And Townshend was on more than one list. More 'research' of his--on Russian orphanages, because of his concern for having Russian orphans adopted in England (by who? Certainly not by him or his friends)--got him into yet another kiddy-porn site that he evidently left either a URL or a credit-card number on. "
Source that, please. Evidently you know more than the London Times, the AP, CNN, Fox, Reuters...
Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you on this. I only visit FreeRepublic once a day or so.
I read this on thesmokinggun.com.
"A Different Bomb" wasn't posted by Townshend until January 2002--not January 2001. The ring was busted in August of 2001. Long enough for Townshend to know that he was going to be questioned at some point.
He claims that he input 'Russian', 'boys' and 'orphanages' into a search engine and came up with a kiddy-porn site. This, because he's been researching adoption of Russian kids. If you'll buy that...
Queen Guitarist Standing With Pete Townshend, Unhappy With Media Coverage
1/17/03, 6 p.m. ET) -- Add Brian May to the growing list of people willing to give Pete Townshend the benefit of the doubt, even as the media does not.
Earlier this week, the Queen guitarist issued a statement under the heading "For God's sake, you idiots, leave Pete Townshend (news) alone" that read:
"This is really in danger of getting deeply out of hand--remember McCarthyism in the U.S.A.?" May wrote. "Well, maybe we're too young, but if you read Orwell's 1984, it'll do the trick. The Thought Police seem to have materialized again in 2003. Surely the police conducting this investigation into pedophilia must realize that loads of people must go into areas of the Internet purely to see what is there? And are you going to tell me journalists don't do this in order to be informed enough to write their stories? Oh, I guess journalists will turn out to be exempt from this kind of investigation into THEIR private lives. But of course it is these very harpies who as usual can't wait to smear a great artist like Pete Townshend. It made me feel sick to see newsreel footage of these parasites camped outside Pete's house. Grow up guys. And own up.
"Pete Townshend's integrity is self-evident. He is as appalled by pedophilia as the rest of us.
"Show some respect to a man who has done so much to improve and inform our view of the world."
After thinking for a few days about what he wrote, May decided to amend his thoughts. He now writes: "It has deeply saddened me to see a man of such honesty and integrity so appallingly misunderstood and smeared. I believe Pete Townshend will be proved innocent of all bad intentions, but, whether he is or not, he has been carelessly thrust into a hostile glare by elements of the tabloid press in a way which risks permanently damaging both his reputation and his huge contributions to helping the victims of abuse. I say again, Pete Townshend's integrity is self-evident. He is as appalled by pedophilia as the rest of us. I would like to see some respect for a man who has done so much to improve and inform our view of the world."
Townshend was arrested Monday (January 13) at his London home as part of an ongoing investigation into pedophilia and Internet child pornography in the U.K. He has admitted to visiting three or four such websites, and using his credit card to access the content of one, although he denies downloading anything. The Who leader hasn't been formally charged with a crime and was released on bail, but he might be required to return for further questioning later this month.
-- Bruce Simon, New York
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030118/143/32cze.html