Gloves are coming off, Reuters just called me for an interview

[Mari333]

so the military families are getting some attention , finally. Its about damned time our kids got some coverage, finally..lets hope the media continues to bring them to the forefront in this occupation and civil war.

[enough]

1. That's great, Mari --

Been thinking about you and your family.

[MoonAndSun]

2. Mari333, you are one of my heroes.....

I respect your determination and courage in trying to get not only your son, but all the sons and daughters of American back home where they belong.

[librechik]

3. Hooray!

give em hell, Mari!

[tom_paine]

4. Give 'em hell, Mari333!

:toast: :toast: :toast:

Knock 'em out!

[Doctor_J]

5. Reuters is pretty

international, or something. IOW, will it jump quickly from there to AP? IOW, will most AMericans be able to read this in their fishwraps, or will they need the internet?

Brava, at any rate :toast:

Edited for toast

[Zero Gravitas]

8. Reuters

is very well respected through out the world. Journalists will see it any story that comes out of this interview on the Reuters wire and it will have an impact.

Freepers hate Reuters because they tell the truth and don't suck up to Bush* like the US-Based corporate owned media does.

[Doctor_J]

12. I know that part

it's the premier news agency in th world. But the world already knows about * and hates him. I'm wondering how many Americans will see this as part of basic newspaper reading.

[xxqqqzme]

27. True

I'll read a Reuters story B4 one w/ AP behind it.

Mari thanx 4 the MFSO link. I'm sending it on 2 my sister..her son turns 18 next month and she is scared squatter will re-instate the draft.

[Mari333]

9. I dunno

The reporter was very nice, and very detail oriented..he said many families are being contacted by him right now whose kids and loved ones are being sent back with medical problems, or sent over now with them..hes also surveying military families opinions on the "war". I gave him mine thats for sure. I hope the military families who are protesting at Dover AF base March 14th are covered by someone in the media..
www.mfso.org

[blondeatlast]

47. Speaking out when it really matters! Great news, Mari...

As always, keep us informed.

[aldian159]

23. Reuters:

Just discussed them in my International/Global Communication class not 40 minutes ago.

They're based in the UK and part of the big 4 along with AP, UPI, and AFP (Agence France Press). The big 4 is responsible for over 90% of news reported to the "third world" because those nations can't afford to hire correspondents, so they hire Reuters.

In the US, Reuters in a close second behind AP, and their stories are much more international in flavor than those from the AP.

[Terwilliger]

6. you tell 'em, Mari333

:bounce:

[MissB]

7. I'm so glad

For you and your family. Let us know how it goes!

[MountainLaurel]

10. Holy crap Mari!

Let us know about any news stories that develop. And thank you so much for being willing to do this. So many people aren't, because they don't want to seem "unamerican" or not supportive of the troops, or because they're afraid they'll be ostracized in their community.

:hug:

[Mari333]

11. My community hahaha I have no social life

and I live in the woods so Im not too worried. besides who cares, its life and death now and the soldiers and their families have no face at all thats what it boils down to.No one in the media has been giving them any coverage. Its so overdue before even one more kid dies or is wounded. we are NOT getting the truth at all.

[duhneece]

46. You have all of us here at DU

I have come to look for your posts and I care about you and your family. And I am part of this large DU family who has come to love you!
Can't wait to hear more.

[Bozita]

13. attagirl, Marie! ... We'll be watching Reuters

jumping up and down ... well, ... maybe not very high and not very many times.

[Cooley Hurd]

14. Kick it home, Mari!

The country needs to know how the Army is treating its fighting men and women! You are truly one of the most eloquent spokespersons for the soldiers families & I'm so glad to hear you're going to be heard by everyone, not just us on DU...

Oh, and try to plug DU, if you can! :hi:

[G_j]

15. they sure picked the right person to interview

tell it like it is!! give 'em hell!

[marie123]

16. all mothers with sons

thank you dearly

[11 Bravo]

19. We fathers with sons

are equally grateful.

[Stephanie]

17. What happened, Mari?

Did you contact them about your stepson's having bad back pain but they're sending him over anyway without treatment? That's the last thread I saw from you. Just curious how you hooked up with this reporter.

[Mari333]

18. mfso called me and told them he was calling me if that was okay

so I said okay..a whole bunch of families are being interviewed...
www.mfso.org

[VLC98]

20. Mari, you are a wonderful lady. Keep up the good work! n/t

[ignatius]

21. Good for you..I know you have been working to get some

attention to the treatment of our soldiers. Give 'em hell lady!!!

[Mari333]

22. The only thing thats important now

is that every soldier is shown as a real person. Bu$sh's achilles heel right now is the truth about whats really going on there and the faces of the soldiers, the caskets, and the wounded that arent getting covered. (I had no idea Reuters was that big ) oh well who cares. All thats important is the kids get coverage , all of them. They want to come home and they dont think anyone cares over there. the only heros are those kids who are sitting ducks , thats the heros..and they want to come home from this.

[catmandu57]

24. Great going Mari

You've been carrying this fight for a long time now, hopefully people will start to listen. I know you will,but I hope you stress thye fact that our dead and wounded are coming home in the dead of night, instead of broad daylight with the honor they deserve. Also the fact that this awol sob has yet to attend a single funeral of those he has sent to die.

[Mari333]

28. yes I told him that and I thanked him and cried

a little because I was so glad someone was willing to cover the kids..he said he was more then happy to cover the kids over there ..I thanked him profusely..he was a very kind person..I hope the families he interviews all get the word out..
He took my name and number and he said he is calling back again etc..he talked and asked questions for about 20 minutes..I didnt give my stepsons name but I did give him enough to know how we felt, and he wanted human interest as a family so I gave it to him..he also knows how much my stepson does not want Bush in office, nor does most of his unit, and yes I was vehemently straightforward on the lack of the US press and their coverage of the wounded, the caskets, and the soldiers in Iraq now..and how they really want to come home, and what the families are going thru..he asked about my town, I told him how the recruiters come here and promise poor kids the moon if they enlist...and how poor our community is, and some of these kids dont have any other out then the military..
he asked a lot of questions, and I gave him a lot of answers..anyway I hope the soldiers get some face put on them from this..thats what is most important...no one is speaking for them in the press..its all sanitized..cept for Christine Amanpour, who tried.

[rasputin1952]

40. Excellent! Great going!...

Did you get his name so I can look for the story in case I miss his byline. I go to Reuters all the time, but I scan until something jumps out at me, or I look for something specific.

Great job! People are finally getting together over this.

Your son will be home, have courage.

:yourock:

O8)

[GOPisEvil]

25. Awesome!!!!!

Tell 'em the (real, non *) truth!

[9215]

26. Congratulations: Here is something you might want to take to Reuters

Remember my topic on no Repug National Representatives having kids in the military?

On the eve of battle with Iraq not one Republican national representative's child is enlisted in the military, and only one democrat's:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5920-2002Dec3.html

As my friend, columnist Mark Shields, pointed out recently, when Congress authorized the use of force in Iraq, not a single member of the House and only one senator had a son or daughter serving in the enlisted ranks of the armed services. And only three House members have children who are officers.



If you want more on "chickenhawkitis" p-mail me.

[Mari333]

29. Ill tell him that when he calls again

I mentioned it to the Mother Jones guy ..I think thats a vital statement, that no one with a kid that serves is now making these policy decisions..and I also think Ill let him know that isnt being covered in the press in the US..I think I got that point across to him, that there is little free press in the US, and the military families are ignored when they protest, like the ones who protested at the SOTU address were given NO coverage..
he knows that, he also knows the caskets are coming in at night and no one covers it here, and we are furious about it, and yes, he knew I was outraged..and he wanted to ask how my husband is holding up, and I said not well..my husband sits in a corner and starts crying out of the blue..so I wont hold back ever on what I know and how I feel..I echoed how we felt as a family and used Ted Kennedys words
"this war is a fraud"
he heard that.
anyway we just have to wait and see if this helps the kids in Iraq and helps get them coverage and get them home.

[9215]

34. Glad you find this useful. I wanted to keep it simple

and quick for the soundbite media. If I were doing this I would stick to the one issue that would really spark the publics ire the most.

Sounds like the guy from Reuters is OK.

Just some thoughts. Good luck! :hi: :bounce:

[Hekate]

44. Thanks for what you're doing

If you think it would help at all, please pass along the links below. There are a lot of us trying to get the word out to the public, more of us than the "news" media reports, and I think people overseas must think we are all compliant and complicit... A couple of months ago I went to a small concert by an American folksinger who lives in London (over 30 years); small enough venue that I got to speak to her a bit. She told me that "everyone over there" thinks that "no one in America" is actively resisting the Bushes and their policies. When I gave her a thumbnail sketch of local activism she said, "You are living in the mouth of the Beast."

Thanks again for what you are doing. You'll all be in my heart.

Hekate

ARLINGTON WEST, SANTA BARBARA CALIF.
http://www.veteransforpeace.org/Default.htm
click on the large photo of AW to go here:
http://www.veteransforpeace.org/Arlington_west_121003.htm
Scroll down the page for all the photos, history and purpose of the project, how-to steps, etc.

[rhino47]

30. Kick

:kick:

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[ninkasi]

32. Thank you...

Mari333, you have been tireless in your defense of America's soldiers, and are doing the country a service by bringing this into the spotlight.

What kind of country are we, anyway, to send our sons and daughters to be slaughtered and maimed for a bunch of rich old guys who never had to do an honest day's work in their lives? What kind of a country destroys another country, makes their lives a living hell, just so * and his cronies can steal even more money to stuff into their bloated bank accounts?

We need more like you, who are vocal, and bring the entire situation into the public eye. To me, there is nothing more patriotic than trying to preserve the ideals which our country is supposed to stand for. The neo-cons are the traitors.

[proud patriot]

33. Wish you the best

:hug:

[Jazzgirl]

35. You go Mari!

I am so glad you're going to be able to be able to get this story out front. You stepson and my brother and all the other people who have been manipulated into this war will appreciate it.

:yourock:

[Iverson]

36. that's good news, Mari

You'll be in my thoughts.

[democrank]

37. Don`t ever feel alone.

Think of the millions of people on this planet who came out against this war. Now imagine that they are all standing beside you, supporting you.

[bobthedrummer]

38. Just tell your story Mari333

People are listening for the truth amidst all these Bush lies...

[9215]

43. I agree, If she gets a chance to speak just lay it all

and don't worry about the details.

Tell the story.

[Rebellious Republican]

39. Choose your words wisely Mari333, these media pukes have...

a way of twisting things around to make you look bad. Just be careful and I so glad that you have this golden opportunity to speak out! Give them hell for your son, his friends and us!!!!

:kick:

[Mari333]

42. I always speak well, and will now more then ever.

because hes on his way there tonight. Its life and death now for him and all the other kids who SHOULD NOT BE THERE. and in memory of the kids over there who died and were wounded for

NOTHING..absolutely NOTHING.

[lostnfound]

45. Reuters is OK..but by the time it gets to print, it might get distorted

and cut by the editors at the newspapers.

[greatauntoftriplets]

41. Go get 'em, Mari!

Give 'em hell! I am so pleased for you.

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

48. Mari,

you should be so proud of the way you fight for your kids. It seems more and more clear everyday that the purpose of the war was oil and politics and money. I saw the hearings the Democrats were having on Cspan yesterday about Halliburton and Brown and Root gouging and making huge piles of money while not even supplying decent meals to the troops.

I am starting to see the advantage of Kerry as the nominee because maybe it will wake people up to the fact that this is another immoral, corrupt war and maybe he will get us out of this mess because he knows what it was like to go off to a f*cked-up war. A lot of people are determined to get Bush out and hopefully the country will wake up and do that and your stepson can come home!