Military Families United

al Qaeda, Barack Obama, Gitmo, Guantanamo, Kirk Lippold, Military Families United, USS Cole

USS Cole commander applauds Director Mueller’s testimony, Senate vote to deny funds to close Gitmo

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Talk-radio host Steve Malzberg interviewed Commander Kirk Lippold who commanded the U.S.S. Cole when it was attacked in 2000 and is currently a Senior Military Fellow with Military Families United. They discussed today’s 90 to 6 Senate vote to deny President Barack Obama the funding needed to close the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay.

In addition, they talked about FBI Director Robert Mueller testifying before the House Judiciary Committee today, his risk assessment of bringing al Qaeda’s terrorists into America should Gitmo be closed:

“The concerns we have about individuals who may support terrorism being in the United States run from concerns about providing financing, radicalizing others,” Mueller said, as well as “the potential for individuals undertaking attacks in the United States.”

“All of those are relevant concerns,” Mueller said.

The FBI chief said he would not discuss specific individuals. He said there were also potential risks to putting detainees in maximum security prisons.

Here is Commander Lippold’s written statement about Director Mueller’s testimony.

heroes, Iraq, Justin Ellsworth, Military Families United

Vandals Destroy Fallen Heroes’ Monument, Son of National Pro-Troop Advocate (for the second time)

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Vandals destroy memorial to LCpl Justin Ellsworth for 2nd time (before and after photos)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Wednesday, April 8, 2009, Contact: Meghan Tisinger, Meghan@FamiliesUnitedMission.com, (202) 510-5304
Vandals Destroy Fallen Heroes’ Monument, Son of National Pro-Troop Advocate

Mt. Pleasant, MI – April 8, 2009 – Last week, a monument honoring the life and death of Lance Corporal Justin Ellsworth was vandalized on Island Park near the Michigan Vietnam Memorial. Lance Corporal Ellsworth died on November 13, 2004 [while] serving in Iraq. His father, John Ellsworth, is the President of Military Families United, an advocacy organization that has recently been vocal in opposition to President Obama’s plans for Guantanamo Bay and the handling of the War on Terror.

“My son made the ultimate sacrifice for his country when he gave his life in Iraq in 2004. The people of Mt. Pleasant, MI honored my son by collecting funds to erect a monument to honor his life and support our family,” said John Ellsworth. “The thieves who conducted this senseless act have taken an honorable and elegant monument to my son and made it a focal point of their hatred and destruction.”