http://kotorimagazine.com/ &copy;2007 Spoonlabs d.o.o. Vivvo CMS 4.0 2012-05-17T17:51:55-07:00 http://kotorimagazine.com/permalink/4156.html 2009-10-17T11:08:00-07:00 2009-10-17T11:08:00-07:00 David Biddle America&#039;s most important Prisoner of War still has an impact after nearly 35 years http://kotorimagazine.com/permalink/4156.html 2009-10-30T08:02:11-07:00 2009-10-30T08:02:11-07:00 James Simon Glad to hear that David Biddle is open-minded about Leonard Peltier’s guilt but the idea that there are many sides to the story regarding the Peltier murders is absolute rubbish. There is only one “side” to the story that matters: the factual side. The truth exposes the other accounts as a collection of propagandistic fables promoted by Peltier and his lawyers. There is no middle ground: either Peltier blew away those agents or he didn’t. Eighteen court decisions and Peltier’s own words unequivocally point to his guilt. The evidence against him is incontrovertible: he did it. Peltier has only shaky denials and ever-changing alibis as a defense, and the support of those who engage in his sick crusade. Robert Redford bought the ruse and got fooled out of his shoes. Same with Peter Matthiessen, whose book is demonstrably rife with faulty documentation and outright lies.<br /> Unfortunately, Biddle’s article is not much better. I count over a dozen falsehoods and distortions in what is supposed to be an evenhanded account of the murder of two federal agents who didn’t even know who Peltier was. Biddle’s claim that Peltier “is without a doubt the single most important symbol of how power groups in this country have treated traditional Indians ever since the New World was invaded” is outrageous on its face. Biddle likewise has no idea that his claim that Peltier’s parole would help us “understand the notion of true compassion” is highly offensive to both Indians and FBI Agents familiar with the case. <br /> Biddle is at least willing to consider other points of view, in contrast to most commentators on the Peltier scam. But wouldn’t it be great if all members of the media became informed on the facts of the case before reporting on it? Wouldn’t it be nice if they were at least casually familiar with the court decisions and their findings of fact? Perhaps they might then resist the urge to meld the justified call for Indian rights with cold-blooded murder. Perhaps they would stop enabling Peltier and his attempts to con people out of their money in support of his illicit defense fund. We’ve seen too many “informed” reporters (Steve Kroft, Maria Shriver, etc.) who have played right into the hands of a manipulative and unrepentant killer. Let’s hope Mr. Biddle gets it right for a change.