The Rick Amato Show

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The Rick Amato show is saddened by the recent tragedy at Virginia tech, our thoughts and prayers go out to all affected.

It is amazing how quickly the special interest groups and those with a self fulfilling agenda take center stage to turn a horrific event into their personal soapbox, overlooking the real story, that 32 innocent men and women have lost their lives, leaving countless grieving family members and friends, whose lives will be forever changed.

The media is filled with speculation and second guessing as to how the events could have been avoided or better handled. The special interest groups race to parade their causes, exploiting the lives lost; proclaiming gun control would have prevented the shootings or the contrasting view that armed students and security guards could have stopped it, better planning on the part of the school officials could have saved more lives, scapegoat the mental health professionals who had evaluated Cho Seung-Hui for not reporting his psychological problems, blaming the fact that the family had a hard life, that he was bullied, the professors for not reporting his disturbed writings, and blaming the police because he had two previous stalking cases – all just theories of those thinking their way could have prevented the casualty.

So who is right? While the timing is not, all these opinions make viable arguments; there are countless scenarios that could prevent such a disastrous event.

Conversely, think for a moment, of the precedence set by the courts, the government, the politically correct, and the media in trying to figure out which would best apply. I could go on and on to dispute all the special interest claims.

I’d rather advise a simpler solution: Respect yourself, respect your fellow man, it is not always about coming out in front, but using integrity, common-sense, moral standards, and having accountability - the attributes that are too often under-glamorized and overlooked.

Anthony Payne

Associate Producer, The Rick Amato Show

Journalist Tells It Like It Is

Editorial by Michael J. Splinter, Dandridge, TN

STAFF SGT. GIROUARD GETTING BUM DEAL

Most Americans feel insulated and protected from dangerous terrorists, but to whom should we be grateful for this perceived security? Politicians who refuse to close our borders? No, our defenders are the members of our armed forces.

The case of Staff Sgt. Raymond Girouard is a sad commentary on how we thank them for protecting us.

Girouard, who personally hurt no one, is suffering the consequences of the actions of subordinates who killed detained Iraqis. These were terrorists who would have cut their throats if given the opportunity.

For simply attempting to protect these men in his charge, he was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment and has already served more than one year in solitary confinement. Talk about military justice - an apparent oxymoron.

Will President Bust now do the right thing and reunite Girouard with his young son by commuting his sentence to time served or even issuing him a presidential pardon?

Don't bet on it.

What about the newly empowered Democrats who profess so much concern for our military members in Iraq? Will any of them come to the aid of this fine young man by urging Bush to set him free?

Again, don't bet on it.

And you thought you elected your new protectors last November.

An American Legend Passes

On a day when the media is a ga-ga over the stupid, asinine words of shock jock Don Imus in describing the Rutgers University women's basketball team, it is worth reflecting upon the passing of Eddie Robinson, a  true American legend.

Unlike Imus, Sharpton and MANY others Eddie Robinson was all class.

Though he grew up under the humiliation of segregation and worked while battling institutional racism, he always appeared above being bitter. He once said:

"The best way to enjoy life in America is to first be an American, and I don't think you have to be white to do so.  Blacks have had a hard time, but not many Americans haven't."

His greatness is reflected by the accomplishments of being the second winningest coach in college football history,  the first college coach in history win 400 games and by sending over 200 student-athletes off to play professional football.

But in my mind what truly set Eddie Robinson apart, was his ability to turn obstacles, into successes and the graceful way he went about doing it.

He coached at the tiny historically black college of Grambling University. Located in the hinder lands, halfway between Shreveport, Louisiana and Arkansas (or so I am told), with little to no operating budget, a stadium seating capacity of only 13,000...

...he merely sent the first black football player to the pros, got his team invited to play in The Big Apple- New York City- at Yankee Stadium and played before 220,000 paying customers during one season.

Eddie Robinson was a creator. He knew how to create success on the football field, and in the lives of those around him in the process.

 

Tancredo's Message: "I Represent The Forgotten America"

This is the second in our '08 Presidential Candidate Spotlight series. Today' we take a "spotlight view" at Tom Tancredo  the Republican presidential canidate from Colorado:

Though he trails the media favorites - Obama, Clinton, Romney, and Giuliani - by as much as 20 to 1 in campaign financing, Tom Tancredo is building a grassroots campaign in hopes his common-sense principles will catch on with middle-America voters and allow him to emerge as a top GOP candidate for the 2008 election.

Tancredo’s message is simple – Secure our borders; ensure the sanctity and sovereignty of our Nation - and the majority will follow.

In a recent newsletter Tancredo voiced his concern on the continuing under-representation of the American People:

“…Wherever I go, Americans like you--of all backgrounds and political beliefs--thank me for standing up for them against the Establishment politicians who have become pawns of corporate America. They believe Washington is selling out our nation, and they are right...”

Tancredo also recently said,

"I have a built-in constituency of average Americans who are worried the impact of illegal immigration will have on their jobs, their schools, their hospitals, their prisons, their national security and their culture. There are millions of them"

Tancredo has also been an outspoken advocate for the release of imprisoned border agents Ramos and Compean and a critic of the Bush Administration for it's (mis)handling of the case.

Tom Tancredo. He may be a long shot bid and regarded as a second tier candidate for the presidency. But he is one of the few with the backbone and conviction to stand for his beliefs.

US Gov't Pays Illegal Immigrant $100,000 Jackpot!

     While Gilmer Hernandez sits in a federal prison, the immigrants who were involved in an illegal human smuggling operation are cashing-in courtesy of the American taxpayer.

     Claiming violations against their civil rights, Maricela Rodriguez-Garcia and Candido Garcia-Perez, who were in a van that attempted to run over Deputy Sheriff Hernandez after a traffic stop April 14, 2005, in Rocksprings, Texas were successfully able to pocket a $100,000 payday with help from attorney, James D. Doyle, III, in a mediation hearing.

     The settlement may be a small price to pay as it keeps the case out of litigation – Garcia and Perez initially were seeking $1.5 million, and ensures Deputy Hernandez is not sued once released.

     Rodriguez-Garcia was injured in the face and Garcia Perez on the arm by shell fragments from Hernandez's weapon in an attempt to shoot the tires on the smugglers vehicle. U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton, who also prosecuted border patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, was successful in convincing a jury Hernandez took unwarranted deadly force. Hernandez is now serving a one-year prison sentence.

     Sheriff Don G. Letsinger told WorldNetDaily:

"I think it is kind of ridiculous that a bunch of people enter into a felony conspiracy to violate the immigration laws of the United States, and one of the conspirators who was driving the vehicle tries to run over a deputy sheriff…”

“…And now the conspirators want to turn around and sue the deputy sheriff for defending his life, as well as sue the county and the sheriff the deputy worked for."

     Clearly, Gilmer Hernandez was in the right place at the wrong time and Rodriguez-Garcia and Garcia-Perez in the wrong place at the right time.

     While Gilmer’s wife and young daughter not only lose a husband and father for a year, the family will also be financially burdened by the loss of income and legal fees; it appears the Bush Administration is sending the message: take the risk to cross illegally. The financial rewards are well worth it.

Defense Attorney Responds

On Friday British film maker John Laurence, director of '"I Am An American Soldier"', spoke out regarding his criticism of articles written recently here at AmatoTalk.com.

Today defense attorney Anita Gorecki responds to to Mr. Laurence's comments. Ms. Gorecki was the lead civilian attorney representing SSG Raymond Girouard during his recent court martial in what is known as The Iron Triangle Case.

The defense was unsuccessful in their attempt to call Commanding Officer Col. Michael Steele as a witness in the case. Existing film footage believed by Gorecki to be favorable to SSG Girouard- of Col. Steele giving a 'pep talk'- is available in the film ' I Am An American Soldier'-  but also was not shown at the trial.

The pep talk included the message:

" Don't let them live to fight another day. They’re going to breed, multiply . . .,’You'll be eaten unless you act like the dominant one on the food chain...rely on your training to do what's right, do not hesitate...you’re the hunted … don't bring any of them back".

The film will be seen at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York starting April 26th. The film's trailer can viewed here: http://www.iamanamericansoldier.com/

Below is lead civilian defense attorney Anita Gorecki's response:

"I do not begrudge Mr. Laurence making money or critical acclaim for his documentary however, his argument that this documentary was not relevant to SSG Girouard's trial or those convicted in the Iron Triangle Case is simply HIS opinion.

The decision as to what is "relevant" is an issue for the Court, specifically here, the Military Judge in the trial. Is Mr. Laurences' opinion relevant to the Court? No. Unless you were one of the attorneys on the defense team (myself, Captains Miller & Merriam) you have no idea what was relevant to our defense strategy or to the co-accused and their attorneys. I pray that when I see this film I deem it irrelvant to the trial.

My concern is that it will be and SSG Girouard, a decorated, multiple combat tour soldier, is sitting in the Fort Leavenworth Disciplinary Barracks and a piece of evidence, the documentary, could have been used at his trial.
                                                    
Again, I was not afforded the opportunity to form my opinion as his attorney because I was not allowed to see the entire film. Mr. Laurence's job is creating Documentaries and my job is defending Soldiers - why could the 2 have not come together?

Bottom line:

1.COL Steele was given immunity by the Government so his 5th Amend. rights are not at issue
2.I saw a snipit of the documentary on the Saturday before the start of trial and had no idea that this documentary existed until the eve of trial. Did you know of this court-martial or this investigation? I did not know of you so the real question is did you know of the Iron Triangle Investigation?
3. A news anchor who saw the piece stated, as I understood it, and I could be wrong, that you (John Laurence) allegedly threaten legal action.
4.I never said that a briefing alone, given 8 months prior was an excuse for the killigs in this case. Again, you and no one else for that matter are privy to the defense strategy. I was charged with defending SSG Girouard from Life Without the Possibiity of Parole. My curiosity is what if anything else do you have closer in time to the event? Had a he made similar speeches as the one given the day before?
5.Finally, and most importantly, SSG GIROUARD WAS FOUND NOT GUILTY OF PREMEDITATED MURDER! He was found guilty of Negligent Homicide, in essence he negligenty entrusted those detainees to those 2 squad members, the 2 sqaud members who actually shot the detainess not SSG Girouard.

All this being said, we both obvioulsy care about soldiers and I hope too see the entire film and I hope that it facilitates more dialogue on the issue".

Anita Gorecki

                        

                         

 

                         

                        

                     

                   

 

British Film Maker Speaks Out

British film maker John Laurence who directed "I Am An American Soldier" a documentary about the 101st Airborne and their heroics in Iraq, has taken exception to articles written here at AmatoTalk.com.

The 101st Airborne includes Staff Sergeant Raymond Girouard. SSG Girouard was recently sentenced to ten years in prison after being convicted on three counts of negligent homicide for his role in the deaths of three Iraqi detainees on May 9, 2006.

SSG Girouard refused a government plea bargain deal to plead guilty to lesser charges in exchange for a lesser sentence.

We pointed out in an article titled "The Training and Conviction of Staff Sergeant Girouard" that film footage existed of Commanding Officer Col. Steele giving a 'pep talk' , saying things such as:

" Don't let them live to fight another day. They’re going to breed, multiply . . .,’You'll be eaten unless you act like the dominant one on the food chain...rely on your training to do what's right, do not hesitate...you’re the hunted … don't bring any of them back. "

While the defense was unsuccessful in their attempts to call Col. Steele as a witness in the case (he was eventually reprimanded and re-assigned out of Iraq by the military) his comments are a part of  "I Am An American Soldier".

John Laurence has pointed out the Col. Steele DID NOT receive financial compensation for his role in the film.   Instead  Laurence and his  film crew spent 14 months embedded with a company of the 101st Airborne and filmed Colonel Steele's deployment speech.

The film will be seen at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York starting April 26th. Listed below is the movie's trailer, and John Laurence's comments to AmatoTalk.com:


http://www.iamanamericansoldier.com/


"You make an assumption about our film, "I Am an American Soldier" -- that Colonel Steele was paid for his story -- that is not true. We spent 14 months embedded with a company of the 101st Airborne to make this documentary about the lives of ordinary soldiers in Iraq. Colonel Steele happened to be the brigade commander and we happened to film his pre-deployment speech which you have taken totally out of context. We were invited by the Army to make this film. We did not pay a penny for the privilege. The film will be seen at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York starting April 26th.

The last paragraph is a complete lie. Col. Steele was interviewed and filmed during the 14 months filming this movie. It most certainly does not tell his story, but that of a company of the 101st Airborn in Iraq. most was filmed before the subject of the court case".

John Laurence, Director, verite films limited, U.K.


It is our belief that you deserve to know what film maker John Laurence had to say.

The Little Things That Make A Big Difference

In a world too often characterized by cynicism, jaded attitudes and hardened points of view it is sometimes easy to miss a story involving little things that make a big difference.

Such is the case of Staff Sergeant Ray Girouard and the supporters who believed in him.

If you are a regular reader of this site you are aware that as recently as a few months ago Sergeant Girouard was facing the possibility of a life sentence and he lacked the necessary funds to hire proper outside legal representation. Without proper outside legal representation, he would be represented only by an assigned military attorney... the military equivalent of a public defender.

The small town of Sweetwater, TN (population 6,000) rallied behind their hometown hero as Girourd's grandparents and sister, Joy Oakes, went on a mission to raise the money necessary for an attorney.

Only $24,000- was needed and $24,000- was raised.  While a jury sentenced Girouard to a decade in prison, it is believed he could have received a life sentence, if not for the $24,000 that paid for his civil attorney.

$24,000- may not sound like a great deal of money in the grand scheme of things...but it is all the money in the world when you are in need of it, are facing a deadline and don't have it. In this case it was enough to give a young man his life back.

Ray Girouard Gets 10 Year Sentence

 Staff Sergeant Raymond Girard accused of ordering subordinates to kill three Iraqi detainees should be sentenced to 10 years in prison, a military jury ruled on Monday.

Staff Sgt. Ray Girouard could have received up to 21 years in prison. He avoided a life sentence when he was found not guilty of premeditated murder. He refused a government a plea bargain deal to plead guilty to lesser charges in exchange for a lesser sentence.

Girouard testified during the trial that he lied to investigators about the slayings to protect his soldiers, and that he never told two of his soldiers, Spc. William Hunsaker and Pfc. Corey Clagett, to kill the detainees.

After he discovered the slayings Girouard said he decided to help them fake an attack, cutting Hunsaker and punching Clagett in the face, and lying to superiors by saying his soldiers shot the detainees in self-defense.

What has not been widely reported is the communication and training given to Girouard and his men by commanding officer Col. Michael Steele as they prepared for the realities of war in Iraq.

Film footage was obtained of Col. Steele giving a pep talk saying things such as "Don't let them live to fight another day. They’re going to breed, multiply . . .,’You'll be eaten unless you act like the dominant one on the food chain...rely on your training to do what's right, do not hesitate...you’re the hunted … don't bring any of them back. "

"I believe you create the perfect storm out there", said defense attorney Anita Gorecki. "To think that all those things (words, combat stress, adrenaline, fatigue, etc.) together do not have an effect on some 20 or 21 years old, who is newly coming into the military and find themselves in this very difficult situation there, I think is absurd."

The panel also recommended a reduction in his rank, a dishonorable discharge and forfeiture of pay, with a recommendation that the money go to his wife and 4-year-old son.

Girouard showed no emotion during the reading of the sentence, but afterward, he hugged his attorney. His family filed out of the courtroom without speaking to him.

His attorney, Anita Gorecki, called the case a victory, considering that her client could have faced life in prison.

"I believe it does work to fight the system," Gorecki said. "In Sgt. Girouard's case not only does it show you can fight for your day in court, it was never a possibility for him to plead. He was never going to take a deal."

She said that he will likely be eligible for parole in three to four years.

Girouard's sister, Joy Oakes, had mixed emotions.  "We are sad. We really wanted him to come home," Oakes said. "It's a sad day for our family, but I do feel we got a fair trial.

"I made a bad decision, and I fully accept my responsibility," Girouard said.

Girouard's family and hometown of Sweetwater, TN  have remained staunch supporters throughout and rallied to raise money for his legal defense.

I received this touching email from Girouard's grandfather a few weeks ago:

"RICK,

  WE HAVE RAISED   $17,000.00... ALL WE NEED IS  $8,000.00  WE ARE ONLY LOOKING FOR THAT AMOUNT...IF WE GET MORE  WE WILL USE IT ON OUR MOTELS AND EATS FOR RAYS TRIAL...WHICH SHOULD LAST 8 DAYS THEY TELL US...AND ALL RECIEPTS WILL BE SAVED.  BUT WE ARE ONLY LOOKING FOR $8,000.00 

BUT I HAVE COME DOWN WITH LYNFORMA  CANCER  AND HAVENT WORKED SINCE JAN.10TH   SO MONEY WILL BE SHORT FOR OUR TRIP     THANKS FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR US    RON & PAT   GOD BLESS "

Staff Sergeant Girouard and his sister Joy Oakes were raised by their grandparents. His grandfather and  sister had both appeared as gracious guests on my radio show prior to receiving the email.

The Training And Conviction Of Staff Sergeant Raymond Girouard

Twenty-four year old Staff Sergeant Ray Girouard was convicted on three counts of negligent homicide for his role in the deaths of three Iraqi detainees on May 9, 2006. He could face up to 21 years of prison time. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for today.

 Girouard was accused of telling his soldiers to release the detainees after they had been captured during a raid of  a terrorist training camp, and then shoot them as they fled. 

Girouard testified during the trial that he lied to investigators about the slayings to protect his soldiers, and that he never told two of his soldiers, Spc. William Hunsaker and Pfc. Corey Clagett, to kill the detainees.

After he discovered the slayings Girouard said he decided to help them fake an attack, cutting Hunsaker and punching Clagett in the face, and lying to superiors by saying his soldiers shot the detainees in self-defense.

What has not been widely reported is the communication and training given to Girouard and his men by commanding officer Col. Michael Steele  as they prepared for the realities of war in Iraq.

Film footage was obtained of Col. Steele giving a pep talk saying things such as "Don't let them live to fight another day. They’re going to breed, multiply . . .,’You'll be eaten unless you act like the dominant one on the food chain...rely on your training to do what's right, do not hesitate...you’re the hunted … don't bring any of them back. "

" I believe you create the perfect storm out there", said defense attorney Anita Gorecki. "To think that all those things (words,combat stress, adrenaline, fatigue of war, etc.) together do not have an effect on someone 20 or 21 years old, who is newly coming into the military and find themselves in this very difficult situation there, I think is absurd."

The defense was unsuccessful in their attempt to call Col. Michael Steele as a witness in the case. Steele has since been reprimanded by the military and re-assigned out of Iraq.

While Steele will not have to testify as a witness he will be telling his story to thousands of movie goers. He was apparently successful in selling his account to a documentary film maker as he will be heard and seen in a movie titled  "I Am An American Soldier”, scheduled to open in New York in the next few weeks.