4/9/02 - An Open Letter From "Mike" Vreeland to David Corn of The Nation and Norman Solomon of FAIR.

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Ruppert [mailto:mruppert@copvcia.com]
Sent: Monday, April 08, 2002 9:38 PM
To: From The Wilderness
Cc: Pacifica Network News (pnn@pacifica.org)
Subject: Vreeland Challenges Solomon and Corn Directly - Requests a Pacifica Interview - An Open Letter

I have just received the following letter, which was forwarded to me by former Navy Lt. Delmart "Mike" Vreeland. He was so angry at the way he’s been treated by the press that I suggested that he go straight to the sources. Apparently, he did.

The same letter was sent to both Norman Solomon of FAIR and to David Corn of The Nation. I did assist with some phrasing in the letter but the letter was sent by Vreeland and signed by him. The feelings expressed are ALL his. The email address is accurate and he does respond to e-mails.

At his request I have deleted his private cell phone number before forwarding with his permission.

I hope that Messer’s Corn and Solomon can find it in themselves to rise to the challenge.

Mike Ruppert

Publisher/Editor
"From The Wilderness"
www.copvcia.com

-----Original Message-----
From: CaLtvreeland@aol.com [mailto:CaLtvreeland@aol.com]
Sent: Monday, April 08, 2002 8:12 PM
To: mediabeat@igc.org
Subject: WHAT ARE YOU SCARED OF, THE TRUTH ?

Mr. Norman Solomon - Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting

Mr. David Corn - The Nation

Via e-mail

Dear Mr. Solomon and Mr. Corn:

PUT ME ON THE AIR! INTERVIEW ME!

I have watched your recent attacks and criticisms of journalist Mike Ruppert with great concern. Especially in the case of Mr. Solomon I have to say that your behavior is entirely consistent with a government funded or sponsored disinformation program. I have experience in this area.

Mr. Ruppert has written or published four separate articles on my case. He has traveled to Toronto twice and hired Canadian Correspondent Great Knutsen to cover every court proceeding since January. He has met with and extensively interviewed my attorneys, who have given him on-the-record statements as to what has happened in my case, and he has published derogatory information about me and my past. I am advising you that every criticism you have made of either Ruppert’s reporting, or my case, is not only meritless and provably inaccurate, it is also a misleading attempt to distract open discussion on the one thing that Mr. Ruppert has most relied upon for his reporting - the court record.

Why are you ignoring the court record? Why are you ignoring first-hand source information?

Lawyers are officers of the court and prohibited from making false statements in or to the press. My attorneys have reviewed Mr. Ruppert’s most recent articles and have said that they are accurate and consistent with the court record. The court record affirms that I wrote my warning letter using pens smuggled into my jail cell in a short period of time. The court record and the statements of my attorneys indicate specifically that my warnings related to the attacks which took place on September 11th. Canadian officials know this. I know this. My lawyers know this. And I reaffirm it to you again. I tried for months to make intelligence officials acknowledge my information and the letter was written as a last ditch effort. All of this is documented and has not been disputed in court.

When the letter was opened and read by a Canadian official on September 14th my attorneys immediately moved for the first available court hearing date which was October 7th. On that date the letter was received into evidence. This is what the court record indicates. Yet you, Mr. Corn have the dishonesty to tell the American people on the radio that the letter wasn’t written until October 7th. Not even Canadian solicitors who are defending U.S. interests have made the arguments that you two have made because they know there is no foundation for them.

Your deliberate and continued refusal to address any of the court record in my case - when that is in the highest interests of the American people - tells me that you both have clearly demonstrated another agenda. Even if you choose to call it a critique or commentary.

I am offering to make a public radio appearance, with either one of you, on any Pacifica radio station or any other station of your choosing, to discuss the actual record and the actual facts of the case. There is evidence, as indicated in Mr. Ruppert’s stories that I knew exactly what I was talking about when I wrote the warning and that I was referring to exactly what took place on September 11th. If either of you have any interest in authentic journalism, where you go to the best sources first, where you rely on official records and where you desire to present the most accurate information to the American people, then you should not be afraid of having me on a radio show and demonstrating me to be a liar, a fraud, or a con man - if you can. I may be living in a safe-house under temporary refugee status in Canada, but I am not in hiding.

Either address the facts of the case or stop acting, transparently, as someone who will do anything to keep people from hearing and evaluating the truth. My long career in covert operations suggests to me that this is exactly what you are trying to do.

You may reach me at the above email address or by calling 1-XXX-XXX-XXXX.
Sincerely,

Delmart "Mike" Vreeland
caltvreeland@aol.com