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219 posted on Sunday, March 18, 2012 7:14:22 AM by Belle22: “I saw the AP story detailing your defense of SSG Bales linked on the Drudge Report. God bless you and all those who’ve served honorably during this hellish decade.”

For the benefit of those who may be interested, the comments by our very own “Capt. Future Snake Eater” are here in the Reuters article to which the Drudge Report linked: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/18/us-usa-afghanistan-soldier-life-idUSBRE82H0A820120318

Here are comments from the Washington Post: “Army Capt. Chris Alexander, 28, who was Bales’s platoon leader during a deployment in Iraq, said in an interview Friday night that he ‘saved many a life’ by never letting his guard down during patrols. ‘Bales is still, hands down, one of the best soldiers I ever worked with,’ Alexander said. ‘There has to be very severe [post-traumatic stress disorder] involved in this. I just don’t want him seen as some psychopath, because he is not.’”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/soldier-accused-in-afghan-shooting-spree-could-return-to-us-friday/2012/03/16/gIQAauMSGS_story.html

Here's the CBS News report, including the photo Capt. FSE put up on Free Republic: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57399725/new-revelations-about-sgt-robert-bales-past/

Here's the Associated Press story which will be widely carried by lots of other media: http://articles.boston.com/2012-03-18/news/31208111_1_second-deployment-model-soldier-staff-sergeant

Many more links could be cited. Google News is showing 2,450 different news sources so far citing our Army captain from Free Republic in the same story as Sgt. Bales.

Welcome to the media world, Capt. FSE... I hope my colleagues from far bigger newspapers don't mangle your story. Sgt. Bales’ lawyer, and Sgt. Bales’ wife (apparently a public relations executive, based on media reports) have probably already given you lots of good advice on how to deal with reporters.

Now I need to get back to my main job for today, trying to make sense out of the uproar at the Missouri Republican caucuses on Saturday...

Welcome to the media world, Capt. FSE... I hope my colleagues from far bigger newspapers don't mangle your story.

Nah, they've been OK. It's just ridiculous how much they're all over me. ABC, CBS (local and national), WaPo, NPR, Reuters, AP, People Magazine (the hell?), Seattle Times...I've only spoken to a couple of folks, and I always tell them the same thing, but they seem to want to hear me say it over and over again. Can't these clowns just share notes?

Sgt. Bales’ lawyer, and Sgt. Bales’ wife (apparently a public relations executive, based on media reports) have probably already given you lots of good advice on how to deal with reporters.

Nope, I'm all by my lonesome here.