the MILITARY on the media

Colleges and Universities A-Z Service Academy Parents
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<p>Thought this thread might be more appropriate as the military on the media....</p>

<p>Not sure if the letter below will be published in the NYT....(I understand the same info. referred to in Lt. Colson's letter was published in the LAT & WSJ as well)</p>

<p>June 26, 2006
A word from Lt. Cotton
Lt. Tom Cotton writes this morning from Baghdad with a word for the New York Times: </p>

<p>*Dear Messrs. Keller, Lichtblau & Risen:</p>

<p>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.)</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Very truly yours,</p>

<p>Tom Cotton
Baghdad, Iraq*</p>

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<p>Bravo, Tom Cotton!!</p>

<p>Thanks for posting, pm.</p>

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<p>He is obviously just a Bush shill, and doesn't appreciate how the NYT is the voice of reason in America. :rolleyes:</p>

<p>Excuse me while I go puke. :mad:</p>

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<p>It would appear that the NYT may have stepped over the line on this one. Unless there is some oversight issue that is heretofor unknown, I can see no good reason to print that particular story.
I do think more effort needs to be devoted to finding the leaks and prosecuting those people rather than simply blaming the press. IN my mind, the "leakers" are really the ones breaking the law.</p>

<p>If the Times broke the law, I am sure they will be prosecuted.</p>

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<p>Shogun,</p>

<p>Bet you a nickel that the NYT will not be prosecuted. But it won't be due to the lack of a legal basis.</p>

<p>I think Bush's political advisors will convince Bush's legal advisors that prosecuting the issue will play right into the NYT's plan to further showcase what NYT believes is the executive branch's overly invasive actions into previously private areas(bank records, email and phone calls) and its abridgement of individuals' (whether US citizens or not) due process legal rights (Guantanomo Bay, oversea detention facilities, deportation of illegal aliens).</p>

<p>I believe the NYT drools when it thinks about the opportunity to do front-page legal battle with the "Executive Brach Dragon". </p>

<p>While the NYT will trumpet its crusade to protect the individual's rights, I believe the best interests of our nation, soldiers and citizens are way done the list of priorities at the NYT. The Times continues to adhere to its motto: All the News that we see fit to print.</p>

<p>I agree that the leakers are culpable and should be prosecuted. However, similar to thieves needing "fences" to distribute their stolen goods, the leakers need a vehicle to publicize their leaks.</p>

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<p>I agree, Aspen. There always seems to be unseen forces just beneath the obvious. I think newspapers as well as governments sometimes fall into the trap that makes them think that because they are "right" on some things, they must be right on "every" thing.
We live in dangerous times in which Americans need to look at and consider much before they decide what the truth is--and even then, it may not seem so obvious or clear-cut.</p>

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<p>Is security breached more by:</p>

<p>(a) The disclosure that the government is examining financial records in its hunt for terrorists--a broad net, encompassing records and documents but probably few "couriers" or others that have a direct connection to terrorists--a fact that is probably widely known or speculated about in any event; or,</p>

<p>(b) The disclosure that the government had a mole next to Zarqawri's advisors--probably one of only 20 or 30 persons in the world--a fact that probably not widely known or, even, speculated that the governement was so close to one so close to him?</p>

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<p>Speculation is already surfacing that "Lt Tom Cotton" is a pen name and not a real Lt serving in Iraq/ Evidently a "Tom Cotton" is the fictional name of a hobbit from the Lord of the Rings stories and that the Cotton farm was the base of operations for the Hobbits' war against the Ruffians who had overrun the "Shire".</p>

<p>Hopefully this is not true. Manipulation and dis-information seems to be the tool of choice these days by forces on both sides of the Iraq war argument.</p>

<p>Who the heck knows what is truth sometimes.</p>

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<p>Shogun, I have not read or heard anything that would indicate Lt. Cotton is bogus.</p>

<p>Just curious... do you recall where you found that piece suggesting that "'Lt. Tom Cotton' is a pen name and not a real Lt. serving in Iraq”?</p>

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<p>One could reasonably question whether a Harvard educated lawyer who "practiced with" [one does not "practice with" an appellate judge] an appellate judge [a Lt. at that!] would become an infantry officer. I'm sure its possible, his style of writing, however, does not seem to square with his claims . . .</p>

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<p>Prayerful mom</p>

<p>I did some internet searches to see if I could read more about Lt. Cotton. Surprisingly, I can find mention of this letter only in blogs on the net. It does not seem to have been published anywhere in a newspaper (NYT or LAT or anywhere else). I did find this one comment about the name and the Lord of the Rings Reference at: </p>

<p><a href="http://bokertov.typepad.com/btb/2006/06/the_bestlettert.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://bokertov.typepad.com/btb/2006/06/the_bestlettert.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>This letter seems to exist only on blogs that cite "powerlineblog.com" as their source, but that "source" doesn't cite where the letter came from, and doesn't seem to come from NYT's anyway.
Very confusing, and sets up an easy (but perhaps not correct) argument that the letter may not be "all it appears to be".
The letter seems to be circulating amongst certain blogs and some conservative talk radio (I believe Rush mentioned it and it seems he picked it off a blog as well), but not anywhere else.</p>

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<p>Yes, I know it has not been published in the NYT, that's why I started my initial post with, *"Not sure if the letter below will be published in the NYT *..."</p>

<p>I know it is linked from powerline, I am not convinced that is sufficient evidence to discredit its authenticity. Anyhow, just thought that perhaps you had additional information...</p>

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<p>I agree, Prayerfulmom, there is basically no evidence to either confirm or discredit the letter as actually being from a Lt. in Iraq. I imagine that may be why it hasn't made it past the bloggers.</p>

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<p>Update on Lt. Cotton.....(link below)</p>

<p>July 01, 2006
A note on Lt. Cotton </p>

<p>On Monday we posted Lt. Tom Cotton's letter to the editor of the New York Times on the blowing of the terrorist finance tracking program. The letter generated inquiries from ABC News, Jeff Jacoby and many readers. It also attracted substantial attention around the Internet. Some readers wrote questioning the authenticity of the letter. One message from George Spence went so far as to accuse us of inventing Lt. Cotton:
*I suspect that Lt. Cotton is a fictional character you employed to lend your views about the advisability, propriety, and legality of the NYT reporting on the government's financial surveilance program more moral and patriotic weight.</p>

<pre><code> I'm currently in a running debate on a listserv I subscribe to on that very issue, and am quite willing to risk being publicly proven wrong to the great delight of my detractors. If Lt. Cotton does indeed exist, please reply with independently and objectively verifiable evidence to that effect. If you ignore me, chide me, or provide self-serving "proof," that'll be enough to confirm my suspicion, but I doubt it'll make any difference to the true believers in the choir box. I eagerly await your reply.*
</code></pre>

<p>Although Lt. Cotton has declined to respond to media inquiries, we have verified his identity and the authenticity of his message. Coincidentally, Lt. Cotton and I have several mutual friends. As we corresponded on the morning of June 26, Lt. Cotton mentioned them. </p>

<p>Lt. Cotton is a graduate of both Harvard College and Harvard Law School. In 1997 Lt. Cotton was a Claremont Institute Publius Fellow. After graduating from law school in 2002, Lt. Cotton undertook the practice of law in Washington, D.C. A few years later he sought to join the Army infantry. </p>

<p>The Army naturally sought to turn Lt. Cotton's professional training to use in law or administration. In January 2005, Hillsdale College President Larry Arnn wrote a glowing letter supporting Lt. Cotton's requested assignment to the infantry, stating that "he hopes to be sent where there are enemies to fight." Arnn added: "If you send him to fight I will pray for him, that he may be preserved to do all that he is able. That is very much." </p>

<p>We understand that next week Lt. Cotton's letter will be entered into the Congressional Record.</p>

<p><a href="http://powerlineblog.com/archives/014567.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://powerlineblog.com/archives/014567.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>Thanks for posting that prayerfulmom. Hopefully Lt Cotton will stand up and reply to inquiries, particularly since his friends and acquaintances are informing the media about the details of his career anyway. Thats the surest way to remove any doubt. Iam sure if he exists, he will be found, esp if the media knows his name and he's in Iraq. Im surprised they haven't yet.</p>

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<p>okaaaay . . . man enough to fight for your country, man enough to write a letter like that but not man enough to stand behind it when the questions start coming. Interesting.</p>

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<p>Further updates on Lt. Cotton follow for those who might still question his credibility or manhood.....
(bold print mine for emphasis)</p>

<p>July 04, 2006
Notes on Lt. Cotton
We continue to receive messages regarding Lt. Tom Cotton. Lt. Cotton is serving hazardous duty in Baghdad, but took time out to draft the notable letter to the editor of the New York Times that we posted here last week. In response to messages questioning the existence of Lt. Cotton and the authenticity of his letter to the editor, United States Navy Commander (ret.) and Vietnam veteran Stuart Settle writes: </p>

<p>After reading your "Derangement and Credulity" piece, I got down my copy of the Harvard Alumni Directory 2005 edition. I assume the man you refer to is the gent listed as **Thomas Cotton, Harvard College, magna cum laude 1999, and Harvard Law School, cum laude 2002*. They show a home address in [redacted].</p>

<p>All the best,
Stuart W. Settle, Jr.
Harvard Law 1972*</p>

<p>We have also heard from two of Lt. Cotton's teachers. Michael Uhlmann writes: </p>

<p>**Let me hasten to assure one and all that Lt. Tom Cotton is not only real but a superlative example of the virtues that have made this nation what it is.* After taking his bachelor’s degree at Harvard, he came to Claremont as a doctoral candidate in Political Philosophy and American Government. Along the way, the lure of the law proved stronger, so he stopped at the master’s level and then returned to Cambridge. (In addition to his master’s thesis, he wrote a superb paper for me on the law and politics of presidential impeachment.) He performed admirably at law school, took a turn clerking with A-1 firms in Washington, then an Eighth Circuit clerkship. In a word, the world was his oyster. But after 9/11, duty called. Tom volunteered, led his OCS class and, I believe, his Ranger class as well. He is indeed an officer and a gentleman, well schooled in the virtues of the ancients, and even more so in the principles of the Declaration and the thought of Abraham Lincoln. On this Fourth of July, let us particularly salute, and give thanks for, his exemplary courage and patriotism. And Happy Independence Day to all of you. </p>

<p>Cheers,
Mike Uhlmann*</p>

<p>George Mason University Law Professor and Hoover Institution Senior Fellow Peter Berkowitz writes: </p>

<p>I am proud to say that I had the honor of teaching Tom Cotton when he was an undergraduate at Harvard College. As a citizen, I admire and am grateful for his decision to serve his country by joining the U.S. armed forces. But as a former professor of Tom's I cannot say I am surprised that he would conclude that, during a time of war, it was both an honor and his duty to share the burden of defending his nation through military service.
Happy Fourth of July.
Peter</p>

<p><a href="http://powerlineblog.com/archives/014599.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://powerlineblog.com/archives/014599.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>Thanks for posting the additional info, prayerfulmom. I think there will continue to be skeptics until the story gets picked up and researched by more independent media outlets---that all this is to be found only in conservative blogs hurts it's perceieved credibility. Similar to a lot of the stuff on the liberal blogs. It's a letter that seems to have been received by only the conservative commentating press---I still can't find its mention in the NYT or WSJ or LAT and being a LAT's reader, there is no shortage of criticism in letters to the editor that get published in that paper. , I wish someone like NPR would pick up the story and check it out. I also find it almost impossible to believe that some news service in Iraq (esp Fox) doesn't find this guy and put a camera or microphone in front of him or even just publish an interview. I think that on some issues there will always be doubters despite overwhelming evidence (heck, some people still won't acknowledge the Holocaust or Moon landings!), but most people will accept that kind of evidence when presented in a non partisan manner. </p>

<p>Have a great 4th!</p>

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<p>And Elvis is still alive...</p>