Update [2005-7-4 15:2:5 by Steven D]: His last voicemail is Here. Go listen to it for all the details of what happened to him.

(Front paged at Daily Kos)

For those of you who have read the diaries I’ve posted her about Leonard Clark, a soldier in the Arizona National Guard stationed in Iraq, or have read his emails posted at his blog this is a Very Bad Day.  Leonard has been called in to his Commander’s office and threatened with court martial unless he stops posting his thoughts and opinions about the war in Iraq and President Bush.  In addition he is being forced to take down his comments on his blog at the “request of his ranking officer.”  In short, on Independence Day, he is being censored, and his rights taken away.

This is sad news to have to pass on to those of us who have read his words and admired his courage, but he will no longer be permitted to post emails at his blog.

His last email after the break:

July 4th, 2005
Happy 4th

Well, happy days are here again! Our great Attorney General Gonzales flew into the Ultra Safe Green Zone and gave a speech at the embassy. You remember our Attorney General, the one who a chief counsel to the President, said it was quite alright to use certain torture methods that might get by the Geneva Convention, Washboarding, beating, etc. It’s all there, folks, and our great maniac executive strongly supports him. I’m reading the Stars and Stripes and I’ll feel so much more comforted when I’m standing up in the turret of my Humvee or driving it because of these very comforting words by our A.G. : “As we approach the Fourth of July weekend, I suspect there’s some of you that are here that sometimes feel lonely and you sometimes wonder whether you are not alone, ” and I’m here to tell you that you are not alone, that the American people are very much with you.”–Stars and Stripes, 7-4-05.

Oh, I can rest peacfully when the next bomb goes off because the man who approved torture by the United States of America and deeply shamed this nation has told me I am not alone. Well, he’s right about one thing I know I’m not alone – whether it’s the spooks or agents that are monitoring me or my journals or those of you out there reading these words I am certainly not alone. I know that many of those Iraqi people who wish to kill me and my fellow soldiers and are constantly waiting for their oppurtunity are making sure my fellow soldiers and I are not alone.

Well, I just wanted to thank the brave A.G. for flying into the Green Zone and having to endanger himself behind all of his heavy security just so he could tell me I’m not alone. My heart is truly warmed.

Now, fellow activists, let us keep up the non-violent fight against the terrorists and the tryants at home who are needlessly endangering my fellow soldiers and causing many of them to die needless deaths in this lie we call the Occupation of Iraq. We need to let the three-piece-suited politicians and their crooked lackeys know that we’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore! Immediately, fellow activist (even if you have to do it on your own, although working through one of the organizations linked to this site might also be the best way) find out how you local city, state, and federal politicians stand on the occupation of Iraq. If they stand for the lie or are just too afraid to do the right moral thing by standing against this horrible occupation of Iraq, then quickly find somebody who is running against them. If there is nobody running against, find somebody to run against them. Boycott any companies that are profiting off of the blood of my fellow American soldiers. And let us not forget our governors, congressmen and senators (especially Democratic ones) – ask them or their representatives where they stand on a timetable, and if they will not give you an answer then by all means find someone who can take their places who will support a timetable.

I’m damn tired of my Democratic leadership in Washington D.C. that refuses to publicly call for an immediate timetable for a withdrawal from Iraq. To those Democratic and Republican leaders who have done so I apologize in advance for the questions you are going to start receiving from your constituents on this issue, but you can no longer sit on the fence – our American soldiers are dying needless deaths over here and dammit, you’ve got to take a stand or we’ll vote somebody else in your place!

Not One More American Soldier Should Die Over Here in this Lie We Call the Occupation of Iraq!
N.O. M.A.S. !
Written by Leonard Clark (the damn liberal who patrols the mean streets of Iraq everyday)
and Kindergarten teacher in the public schools of America
Candidate for the U.S. Senate against John Kyl in Arizona

Please go to his blog and post a comment.  I also sugegst we copy each of his emails before they are removed.  

Leonard we will miss your voice.  Stay safe, come home soon, and God Bless You and those with whom you serve.

0 0 votes
Article Rating