Independent Patriots for America

Friends,

Officials may be uncertain, confused, bewildered in Edinboro, PA surrounding the assault on the Swartout family on April 22, 2008. 

More than once I have wondered why there were no police present at the peace demonstration that day. Would this unfortunate act of violence been prevented?  I would hope so.  Be that as it may, a family standing up for America may be in the cross-hairs of a railroad action………..

It appears the Swartout’s received citations (or whatever they are called) in the mail today charging them with “harrassment” based on the physical altercation of April 22nd.  The citation suggests there is an option to plead guilty, pay a fine of 231.00 each and be done with it.  Nothing would please the Edinboro police Department, District Attorney (DA), or the peace thugs more than to have the Swartouts plead guilty. Based on my observation, this is bizarre and absurd…no guilty plea is a possiblity…fighting this tooth and nail in the courts is the only option.   I suspect if the fine was only $2.00 that would be too much….Any requirement to acknowledge guilt for standing up for America, our troops, families while being assaulted for exercising a constitutional right is prepostureous.

It would appear reasonable for the DA to reflect what happened with regard to the Duke University case in North Carolina.  Failure to consider all the evidence or allow distortion and fabrication to derail justice would surely bring the sledge hammer of the law on Edinboro officials, the city, and possibly other institutions.

Fox News Bill O’Reilly aired a short segment with Carrie Swartout on Tuesday and indicated he would be following the case.  O’Reilly raised concern as to whether the DA in Edinboro was being objective and upfront with the case…O’Reilly sounded a cautious note with regard to the Edinboro DA and urged her to retain an lawyer.  It was unfortunate the segment was so short, sandwiched between other news, that Carrie was not able to mention she was kicked in the head which resulted in a concussion, her son received a blow to the face, and husband received numerous abrasions from the attack…keep in mind the Swartout family took no aggressive action beyond a defensive posture.

There is some indication no one in Edinboro wants to take responsiblity for deciding who gets charged.  Police seem to suggest the DA decides but so far there is no information that the DA has looked at the evidence.  As noted by Bill O’Reilly during his report of the incident, the DA or his office would not respond to queries from Fox News. 

Some who organized the peace protest have been encouraging followers to call child protective services, implying that parents who bring family members to an event to stand up for America, wave the flag, are somehow negligent. These are the tactics of the “anti-everything” crowd who have one goal…destruction, chaos, confusion, intimidation and violence…all demonstrated and more on April 22nd. There are also other acts of intimidation…night visits to the Swartout home by unknown individuals, vandalism of the family vehicle…  What’s wrong with citing those that attack children, use intimidation etc.?

The goal of the peace thugs is to stop any countering of their protests…they want to shut down the freedom of speech guaranteed to the Swartout family.  Jason Swartout spent nearly 10 years on active military duty, is now in the reserves/guard, and is a veteran having served in Iraq.  He, personally stood in the gap in Iraq for those in Edinboro that would tear America down and what happens?  He decides to stand on the street and lift up our troops and gets sucked into violence going to the aid of his 14 year old son who was under stress while taking a video of public displays associated with the peace group.

Dan Malone, Gathering of Eagles New York offers the following which includes detailed description of the April 22 assault using the Swartout video as well as video from a peace element source.

Quote:
Follow this link to my latest brief article on the assault on the Iraq War Veteran and his family with links to the original video of the event and newly released video from the ‘peace’ thugs’ perspective here:

http://newyork.gatheringofeagles.org/?p=119

Feel free to use the links to the videos and anything else you might want to copy from this or the prior two articles:

http://newyork.gatheringofeagles.org/?p=103
http://newyork.gatheringofeagles.org/?p=99

Thanks,
Dan
Unquote

There is no suggestion in my observations that violence is condoned, supported, or should be a tactic to answer the “peace thugs” in Edinboro, PA.  Neither is there a suggestion that those that resist violence will be runover.  My hope is the Swartout family will use legal means to deal with any charges from police or the DA and pursue civil action against those who attacked them or failed security. My hope also is that peaceful demonstrations supporting our nation, troops, families will continue in Edinboro and everywhere else in America that anti-America crowds gather.

There have been a number of patriots contact me and offer financial support to the Swartout family if it is needed…I add my personal offer also.

We can stand up to hateful acts against America or knuckle under…the Edinboro assault is no small issue…it reflects a cancer that is growing more destructive to America.  Each time we make excuses for not challenging these “nut cases” we only encourage them on…..

We are fortunate to have courageous Americans like the Swartout family who think America is worth whatever it takes.

Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret.

www.eaglesup.us “Where there is no offense, there is no effect.”

Isaiah 40:31 - But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Eagles Up Welcomes you to “Talon”…

 
A Blog that will give you a cross-section of professionals expressing thoughts on a variety of topics, themes, and interesting approaches.

As you can see from the schedule below, there will be new contributions each day.

Mondays - Rurik
 
Tuesdays - Rosemary & Concrete Bob

Wednesdays - Wednesday Hero & Jonn Lilyea
 
Thursdays - Cao & Dave Jeffers
 
Fridays - Ron Winter

Please visit our site (Click Here) and take a look at the ‘ribbon cutting” piece by Rurik, who has volunteered to manage “Talon” and also blog.  Also note blogger personal web sites on the right of the page and get acquainted with our bloggers by clicking the “contributors” tab in the banner.

After reading the blog page, click on “home” and take a look at Eagles Up homepage.

Mike Connelly, George Mellinger, bloggers, and others have expended considerable volunteer effort to bring us a credible, interesting, and informative product.  A special note of thanks to everyone involved.

It’s an honor to be associated with these dedicated patriots who honor America, our troops, families, and fallen.

Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret

www.eaglesup.us “Where there is no offense, there is no effect.”

Isaiah 40:31 - But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Friends,
 
What, in the name of common-sense, is going on in Florida’s legal system?  For that matter what is going on with America’s approach to justice?
 
Some examples…yesterday a 10 year old in Florida was arrested by police, placed in a juvenile facility, because she was using a steak knife to cut her meat that she brought to school in her lunch.  Now one can argue the meat should have been cut at home, but given she was displaying no intent to do anything but cut her meat at lunch, why would a teacher call the police rather than confiscating the knife, calling her parents, and using the situation as a reasonable learning experience, not only for the young girl, but the entire school?
 
In Destin, Florida, a man was convicted and given a life sentence without parole because he loaned his car to a friend who, with some others, committed a robbery which resulted in a homicide.  The owner of the car was not involved, knew nothing about the crime, but was convicted along with those that committed the crime because his car transported the individuals to the crime scene.
 
I don’t have to rehash the DA Nifong criminal and wrongful prosecution debacle of Duke University lacrosse players which Nifong used as a political reelection tactic.
 
Consider border agents Ramos and Compean…convicted and sentenced to 10+ years for shooting an illegal alien drug smuggler who lied on the witness stand against the border agents…a prosecutor who knew the illegal alien was lying, but for political gain used the false testimony to convict two border agents protecting America.
 
National Security Adviser to the Clinton Administration, Sandy Berger pleaded guilty to pilfering highly  classified documents from the National Archives, saying he showed “very poor judgment” and that his actions were “wrong.”  What’s his sentence?  A fine, some community service, and barred from the National Archives.  Berger was later selected to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign staff as an adviser which appears more painful than the theft sentence.
 
None of this meets the common-sense test…worse yet it demonstrates a legal system that is broken, focused on numbers of convictions, arrests, but without the underlying principle of “justice”.
 
To take this issue one gigantic step further, consider the “illegal alien” fiasco.  The American legal system is replete with laws on the books to control our borders, prosecute those that violate immigration policy, and protect our sovereignty. 
 
Given the Florida example of the Destin man who knew nothing about a crime being committed but was convicted, what does this say about the United States Congress, and all  other officials who know crimes associated with illegal aliens are being committed, and take an oath,
 
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.
 
Yet, from top to bottom,  our officials who know without any doubt,  that illegal aliens are breaking American laws, are pouring across America’s borders, employers are hiring them, these aliens are bankrupting our medical facilities, overcrowding our schools, creating hazards on the highways, depleting social services designed for Americans, destroying unity and assimilation principles in America, a major ingredient in crime and prison population, a potential funnel for Islamic terrorists,  yet Congress plays political games, ignoring the criminal activity and threat to America’s sovereignty for political advantage. 
 
Doesn’t it follow that the United States Congress, given they are fully aware of crime associated and being committed by illegal aliens and take no meaningful action,  be prosecuted by the United States Justice Department for violating their Congressional oath?  A Florida man can be convicted for a crime he knew nothing about, but the US Congress can perpetuate an ongoing crime and not be held accountable?
 
The point seems to be made without going into issues such as, politicians abandoning warriors in battle, givng aid and comfort to the enemy, thirty some US Senators voting against English as our official language two years in a row(four of them presidential candidates), our moral rudder is considered obsolete and “political incorrect”, we have to define marriage, smut rules, God and prayer is attacked, we must establish forts as homes, on and on.
 
Friends, America is about a half-step from chaos…our nation is disintegrating and destructing from the inside.  We are being herded as sheep to the slaughter by wolves rather than being protected by a faithful shepherd.
 
While our gallant warriors sacrifice to protect our freedom from without, they cannot save us from the cancer within. 

We need to stand-up on the homefront and take back America.
 
Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret

CONGRESS: Do Something Right For a Change……

Put America First
Stop playing games with the lives of our troops………..we want a funding bill for our warriors without all the pork, qualifiers, and political maneuvering.

You people committed the troops to combat, now fund them!. America is not a quitter!. Congress may want to quit because they feel no pain…surrender is not an option….America feels the pain of it’s warriors. Many of us and our families have been there….Just do the right thing…….do it today, tomorrow and next month………..STOP THE POLITICAL SQUABBLING.

Veterans Day 2007 is behind us, the political photo-ops are history, must we  continue the deception, distortion from Congress and childish antics from presidential candidates.

 Sadly, for the most part, politicians return to Washington, D.C., immediately forget the troops and continue on the path of political games as usual…in fact it’s likely not more than a handful even made it through the day before forgetting our veterans, and troops in harms way.  I suspect even less got on their knees at the end of the day to lift up our warriors and families.

Politicians that use our warriors as political pawns for political advantage is an act of betrayal to our troops and America.

American leadership has abandoned the rudder.  Founding principles are being ignored, relativism is the rule, in short, the American compass that should be pointing solidly at our Constitution is spinning wildly.

Fund the troops without attaching garbage to the Bill.

Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret.,  hmriley@cox.net

 Are there enough Patriots in America to keep the Red, White, and Blue from Dishonor, from turning into a Crescent?

I have a few questions for my American brothers and sisters…questions I view as serious,  ones I never thought it would be necessary to ask or even seriously consider.
 
“Are you sure America is safe, that freedom is secure, that our national system of protection is doing everything it can to protect America, that enemies of America are being challenged adequately, that leadership in Washington, D.C. understand the peril America faces, are you willing to allow the direction America seems to be going as the America for your children and grandchildren, do you feel like something is drastically wrong in America today?” 
 
My answer is a firm “no”, except for the last one which is an unqualified “yes”.  Please consider your answer but read on………..
 
These questions beg for an answer now, “What are you and I doing or going to do to reverse the answers to the above questions”?  Something, nothing, what would it take to move you?  Those that would see America humiliated, destroyed will gather on September 15, 2007 in Washinton, D.C…we must be there to protect our nation.
 
Here’s what happened on March 17, 2007 during Gathering of Eagles in Washington, D.C. that proved America still has the courage, determination, and patriotic fervor to stand up for the Red, White, and Blue in opposition to those that would see America destroyed.
 
“At GOE 1 in March I was never so proud & worried in my life….the proud is self explanatory because of the Veterans & spirit that I was honored to be in the midst of, including my own husbands…the worry was because I knew how many very ill Veterans that were there. Many Vets were in the middle of chemo & radiation treatments & still were there. One old Nam medic that was determined to be there amongst his treatments died shortly after GOE 1….instead of his death bringing me total sadness the comfort of knowing how damn determined & proud he was to have been there is a memory that I’ll always cherish & remember……” shared by Shelia.
 
How many that read this have loved ones that died in war, in law enforcement, fire protection, have friends who suffered in POW camps, are longing for the touch of fathers still missing in action,  are recipients of valor awards on the field of battle, recipients of the Purple Heart Award for wounds suffered in battle, have bodies that are maimed, broken, destroyed in defense of America,  recipients of recognition for selfless service in the protection of America, a spouse-family member who sacrificed often equal or greater than a loved one in the line of duty, were spit on when you returned to your beloved America for doing your duty, and many that read this have received no recognition for saving America, but deserve enormous gratitude?  Is the cost of all this and much, much more for naught?  Will we allow the shrill nay sayers, the minority once again prevail in ignorance as in the 60s?   Our numbers on the streets of Washington, D.C. on September 15 will settle this score.
 
Please click on link http://eaglesup.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=8&Itemid=65 and read the heart warming and aching story of a Daughter of a MIA Warrior….Where Eagles Dare….it’s time to tell the haters of America…no more, we’ve had enough, there is no more free ride down the streets of America.
 
How can we remain silent, remain dormant, reflect a state of denial, while the enemy cancer slowly but methodically eats away the freedom patriots fought for from the beginning of America to our warriors now fighting for our freedom in Iraq?  Will we allow our destruction by a ruthless Islamic butcher,  or rally to the WWII cry of  “never again”?
 
I can hear the voices of the 58,000 men and women listed on the Viet Nam Memorial whose graves are spread through America crying,  “don’t let me be dishonored again, let me rest in peace”…the Korea, WWII warriors, who experienced unimaginable and incalculable horrors sacrificing for Americas freedom are pleading for America to standup , recent Americans killed in Beirut, Somalia, Khobar Towers, Embassies, ships, New York City, and others…all by an enemy with barbaric intentions, are wondering, will I be forgotten,  treated as my Viet Nam warrior brothers and sisters?
 
This enemy of the freedom, greatness and compassion of America, that so many have sacrificed for, has it’s tentacles in elements right here in America.  They will be taking to the streets in Washington, D.C. on September 15, 2007 attempting to convince America to give up, give up our freedom, surrender, make a mockery of lawful expression, all in the name of a communist based, Islamic terrorist supported, radical leftist hating organization called A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism).  Read for yourself those that sponsor ANSWER at http://answer.pephost.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ANS_homepage  ,  a group of people and organizations with a warped sense of human dignity bent on destruction of America, your freedom, your childrens freedom.  America as the founding fathers envisioned would be destroyed if they were in control or can convince gutless, cowardly leaders to abandon the fight for freedom.
 
Will you allow the ANSWER crowd to rule the streets of our Nations Capitol, most who have done nothing to preserve America, only milk it and have a desire to destroy? 
 
All the pain, suffering, sacrifice, loss, and blood given by American patriots demands a force of hundreds of thousands, if not a million on the streets of Washington, D.C. on September 15 to completely overwhelm the message of hate. 
 
The resounding message of American hope, confidence, love and support for our troops, and honor for those gone before must rule the day….we must do nothing less.
 
Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret, Crestview, FL 32539 850-689-1818 hmriley@cox.net

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary;  they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
 
http://www.eaglesup.us  -  Where there is no offense, there is no effect.