Talk:Steven A. Boylan

Edit note
I have relocated the following unreferenced material from the article page. At this stage the source of this is unknown. --Bob Burton 13:44, 13 December 2007 (EST)


 * Original text of email sent out to the reporters from Baghdad on October 25, 2005 prior to the AP reporting on the 2000th soldier killed in action:

The 2,000 service members killed in Iraq supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom is not a milestone. It is an artificial mark on the wall set by individuals or groups with specific agendas and ulterior motives. In some cases, this could also be the creating news where none really exists.

The 2,000th Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine that is killed in action is just as important as the first that died and will be just as important as the last to die in this war against terrorism and to ensure freedom for a people who have not known freedom in over two generations.

The true milestones of this war are rarely covered or discussed. The troops that have volunteered to serve their country in time of war; the families that have loved ones deployed for a year or more that continue to support them and await their return; the Iraqi people who volunteer to join the Iraqi Security Forces [police and military] in a time of war that stand in recruiting lines that can become instant targets for the terrorist and when attacked, return the next day to stand in line again and continue to volunteer to make their country safe; the Iraqi citizens going to work each day to provide for their families and to make a better life; approximately 10 million Iraqis who voted for their future – for the rule of law on October 15th; the children who go to school each day that didn’t have that opportunity before; the water projects that have brought drinking water to areas that have not had it before; doctors and nurses treating people in new clinics and hospitals that were not available in the past; and the members of the Iraqi government who have become instant targets for the terrorists because they want to govern a free and democratic Iraq. These are the daily milestones that deserve yours and our attention.

Those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice for freedom here in Iraq; U.S. Forces, Coalition Forces, and the Iraqi people deserve to be honored, not used by individuals or groups with maybe less than honorable motives. Those actions do not pay tribute to their sacrifices or the sacrifices of their families.

Celebrate the daily milestones, the accomplishments they have secured and look to the future of a free and democratic Iraq and to the day that all of our troops return home to the hero’s welcome they deserve.


 * The source is from the orginator of the email to the media then Lt Col Steven Boylan. Posted by user Adder06


 * OK I found an online source to the original email and have added to to the links on the Boylan page. Since the full text is online elsewhere, I can't see the need to reproduce it in full. Though it is reasonable to provide more detail on the context of Boylan's original comments and link to the source so that readers who want the full text can get it. --Bob Burton 14:27, 13 December 2007 (EST)

Salon Links
All are only opinion based without any factual information and providing email addresses and other information to all is not appropriate as none of the corresponance was intended for the public (Posted by Posted by user Adder06


 * what is on the SourceWatch site are links to the articles. Readers can judge for themselves whether there is any factual information in those articles if they follow the links. I can see no reason for deleting the links. --Bob Burton 04:45, 14 December 2007 (EST)

There are numerous factual errors associated with the Salon.com articles to including the claim that the email was sent from Col Boylan. An invesitigation has revelaed that it did not come from his computer, therefore the claims are null and void and without basis and are only opinions. The claims that his family was involved in political issues is also false. At the time, they were watching the President as he came through where they were living, not manning any phone banks. In addition, providing email address information without permission is not ethical and should be removed from the site.


 * If you can direct us to the published results of that investigation, we'll evaluate your claims. Until then, please stop deleting these links or we'll have to block you from further editing. --Sheldon Rampton 08:56, 14 December 2007 (EST)

The results were not published and those that have asked recieved an offical response. This goes directly to the issues as hand. The assumption is that this web site wishes to be a factual source of information rather than a source of unsubstantiated opinions.


 * You'll have to be more specific? Who conducted the investigation? To whom should a request for an "official response" be directed? We'll be happy to go that route if you'll be specific. As for whether we wish to be a factual source of information, we certainly do. However, simply allowing you (an anonymous individual who may or may not be Steven Boylan) to delete links to published material on the basis of claims for which you provide no evidence would not take us in the direction of becoming "a source of unsubstantiated opinions." To the contrary, you have to substantiate YOUR claims just like everyone else. --Sheldon Rampton 11:57, 14 December 2007 (EST)