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September 19, email to Christiane Amanpour, CNN

Dear Ms. Amanpour,

I’m an information pro, Army trained, with backgrounds in military intelligence and public affairs.  I was a Desert Storm volunteer.  I want to express my admiration for your humanity in having deep feelings when Bush et al. covered up the Battle of Baghdad, in the bullshit Mayday speech aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.  I know you have been pissed about the journalistic compromises forced on you and your network. [Editor’s emphasis, in all cases]

I taught a family of Iranian boys (Mehran, Payman & Raisa Talabi) when I was teaching Latin, Greek and Russian in a Catholic school after an Army stint.  They were Shiites, but Mehran, my protégé, still managed to win the Catholic theology prize.  I stood in for his dad at his betrothal party a couple of years ago, and I have an engraved tray from Iran (a paradise scene) on the wall.  It is one of my few possessions.  I travel light, but my true friends are never far from me.

I’m attaching my book, pending, about what I have learned and experienced since the night it all happened on CNN.  I saw it through tears, and I haven’t stopped crying since.  My first grief was for the 3/7 Cavalry at the airport; my enduring grief is for my nation.

I salute your courage for speaking out on Tina Brown’s show, and I can understand why you wouldn’t answer the question about specific stories that you couldn’t cover.  You are the only person in media whom I would like to meet.  You are the only one for whom I have any admiration, because you are the only one who has any guts.

I’ve got guts too, Miss Amanpour.  I’ve been living underground since July 17, the day before David Kelly’s death – under advice from contacts.  I think I was part of “the issue” that the prez promised the press he would address at the end of his remarks July 17.

I think his presidency is on the rocks, on the basis of what the media is now willing to address.  The war is a bust, and all deals between the powerful elite are in the ditch.  I’d sure like to get out of my bunker one of these days, and when it’s all over, I’d like to have the honor of meeting you.  My nom de plume and my nom de guerre are the same, Captain May.  I took a look at my oath of commissioning when I knew that the prez had shit-canned the Constitution, and I began a public affairs campaign to bring out the truth because I knew my comrades in public affairs, like my colleagues in journalism, had been intimidated into becoming unwilling assistants to propaganda.  Isn’t that why you were so pissed – and still are?  I expect my book (pending with publishers) to be a hit, but I will not accept a penny of its profits.  I am donating my share to charity.

I will not pursue contact with you further than this email, which, like all others, has become part of my manuscript.  Believe me, a bit of scrolling through my manuscript (attached) will show you that I hold you in special regard.  Shalom.

Captain May

PS:  I append a few major chapters below.  Two are published op-eds from the Houston Chronicle that predicted the failure of the war plan back in early April, and the collapse of the Bush presidency in early July.  Two are too true to be published:  3/7 Cavalry, tragedy and travesty” and “Private Jessica, the media and the military.”  As a bonus I’ve included the Philippic I wrote against the prez on July 15 (it has your name in it, with praise) and the email to Thom Shanker of the NY Times that sets forth my allegations in detail (Shanker confirmed it, but would only do so in Russian for fear that he would be overheard by his cohorts).  It’s a hell of a day for the USA, ain’t it?

 

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