Ted Maher had a strong advocate in Congressman Ben Gilman as chairman of the House International Relations Committee.
Chairman Gilman wrote Prince Rainier III of Monaco on Ted's behalf (letter is upstream in Free Republic and at TedMaher.com).
When I first called Gilman's office I spoke with his chief of staff, then with his HIRC liason John.
John arranged meetings with the State Department to get them on track in visiting Ted and transferring funds from home.
Because Republicans held to term limits on committee chairs, Gilman was replaced by Hyde.
Due to gerrymandering redistricting, Gilman was defeated for office.
Hyde's staff did work with Sue Kelly's to get Powell to force Monaco to do the legal thing and allow Griffith to represent Ted.
For Gilman's efforts in not just Ted's case but throughout his service he deserves recognition.
His staffer John was a voice of genuine concern.
If you're PLA Gen. Xiong Guangkai and you want to see Beer Crinton, you send in Johnny Chung, Charlie Trie and John Huang with bags of money.
If you're Ted Maher in need of justice, you need people who care for justice.
One of these is Amy Waters Yarsinske, author of No One Left Behind: The Lt. Commander Michael Scott Speicher Story.
Amy Waters Yarsinske has been in contact with Ted's family, even as she makes the rounds of Washington contacts on behalf of Scott Speicher.
She's been writing on Scott Speicher for eight years, from the time he was given up for dead, to the mention of his plight by President Bush in an internationally broadcast speech.
For some, truth beats inertia, though it takes years.
Merry Christmas to our troops and veterans two hundred twenty-five years into this grand experiment, this Republic.
Three Years.....(Rm # 101).....Three Years!........Enough is enough!
Bump for Ted Maher to be freely and graciously returned in health and safety to his loving family and country.
......In Jesus' Precious Name, Amen.
Merry Christmas!