HAMS deliver 53 tons of emergency aid.

Let me get this straight! They sent a bunch of untrained, unarmed children into a fire fight and they're proud of it? Surely I have missed something here!

 

Dear Greg, N3MVF:

For all your accomplishments you come off as being a world class twit...and so do I !!!

May the road rise with you,

Chuck, AA1MN

 

Dear M3TMC,

While I have never heard a "young op" get "flamed" directly on the air myself -- if anything, I've only witnessed those who are new to amateur radio here in the States receive encouragemnet -- there is, unfortunately, some among us that do "flame" the younger or newer licensed hams.

Though there may be many reasons for this, much of it has to do with the fairly recent restructing of the licensing system which now requires only 5 WPM knowledge of code (I find nothing wrong with this -- it actually took me 4 attempts to pass the 20 WPM requirement to obtain my Extra).

Whatever the cause of this is, please rest assured M3TMC, I ask that you not judge all amateurs here in the United States by the few posts that sometimes appear on this site -- I like to think that those who do flame the newer hams are in the minority.

I, myself, will be first to admit that I am far from perfect; when I do "flame" some one I either will back up my staments with well based reasons or do it tounge-in-cheek.

There's hope for us yet...isn't there?

73's,

Chuck, AA1MN

 

To our young heroes in the Solomons, I say "Well Done"!

I don't know the details of this story and most likely never will, but young people volunteering to deliver disaster supplies and provide communications for disaster relief operations sounds outstanding to me. I don't understand what it is to live in a lawless place, but I do know the comfort that Amateur Radio can provide when all other communications are lost, and I pray that you are able to complete your mission safely!

I don't understand how people can criticize you or your training. Obviously, it is first class.

 

Hi Sam,

I have a few questions about this incredible report you wrote about "saving lives" in the Solomon's:

Given reports that you were nearly charged by Foreign Minister Gareth Evans under the Foreign Incursions Act, in Australia; let me play Devil's advocate for a moment and help you dispel any myths that may exist in the minds of readers about your current activities.

Pretend I'm Larry King.

I noticed a couple of the guys mentioning they thought there might be a little more to your story that you were leaving out. Shame on you guys!

OK Sam, here goes:

As a student of the Solomon Islands conflict, I was wondering if the police your students saved were part of the Malaita Eagle Force (MEF) or were they ex-Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) militia?

Were these "police" involved at all in trying to oust Harold Keke from his hideout, and is that the reason they were fired on? Keke is on the Weathercoast of Gudalcanal is he not? What exactly were you delivering, and to whom?

What is your current involvement, if any, with the BRA and the MEF?

Do you find the radio still fuels the fire between the warring factions in the Solomon Islands as Malaitan Islander John Naitoro said in a portion of his essay below:

"Using the two way radio system in the Solomon Islands, both groups started abusing each other. In this war of words, many social tabus of both customs were openly violated. This produced the immediate effect of legitimating the animosity. Malaitans became united under these hostile conditions and those who were opposed to any such united front were discouraged strongly. Malaita Eagle Force was then seen as representing the interests of Malaitan lives lost and their properties... The idea of democracy as 'rule of the people, for the people by the people' is quite different in the Solomon Islands. The version of democracy in the Solomon Islands is perhaps better represented as ' rule of some people, for some people by some people'. "

Sam, could you tell the group whether you are a follower of the teachings of Trotsky and what your opinion is on anarchy and socialism in general?

Do you believe it's true that anarchy can create the conditions necessary to build a true socialist government led by a vanguard of the revolution?

Have you ever taught communist doctrine to your students? Do you feel America is a bastion of capitalism and an imperialist state that should be crushed and rebuilt?

Is it true that you won't QSL from the Solomon's because you feel that would be a capitalist enterprise and contrary to the example you are trying to teach?

Tell us what Radio Independent Mekamui is and how it came to be? How many watts is the station putting out? Where is the station hidden?

What about Colonel Abdullahi Yousuf Ahmed's SSDF station in Somalia? Is the station still at 800 watts since you sent the Colonel parts in the Autumn of 2000?

Why do you think the Colonel refused to step down after the legal elections of the Somali elders chose someone else? Do you still support the Colonel?

When you set up stations for armed militia leaders, did you know Amnesty International said the leaders in charge had committed human rights abuses like kidnapping, murder and hostage taking?

What other stations have you "helped out?"

What was your involvement in Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Bangladesh, El Salvador, China and Russia? Are there any militia stations you've worked on that haven't been mentioned?

Are the Children of the Young Communist League as friendly as people say?

How do you square all of the deaths against calling yourself part of a 'radio peace corp'?

As head of the IARN, did K1MAN know he was helping build radio stations for armed militias overseas? Do you plan to remain overseas Director of IARN? What is it like working with Glenn Baxter?

Isn't Francis Ona the indigenous leader who dynamited the Panguna mines power pylons, closing the mine where he was a surveyor, that was mostly owned by Rio Tinto. I read recently that  Francis' faction recently stole 212 weapons from UN caches and moved them to BRA territory. Is that true?

I noticed you are still the QSL manager for the Somali station and RIM. Do you still support Francis Ona with Radio Equipment? Do you plan to support him if he starts another war and makes a bid for complete independence from Papua New Guinea? Do you feel the destruction of the island, civil war, and the 20,000 deaths were worth it?

Is it true these stations are 90% propaganda and 10% coercion?

Are the Solomon islands still the main smuggling route to Bougainville? Have you smuggled anything in or out of Bougainville lately? Do people ever tease you about being a smuggler?

Have you felt any apprehension lately about Australia's new anti-terrorism laws?

I'm simply fascinated by the stories you post on QRZ. Please, keep them coming!

I guess I'll let you answer these questions before I ask any more. Don't make any rash judgements before he gets a chance to answer guys. Thanks in advance for your responses Sam, I'm sure the guys will be very eager to read them. If you get a chance, check out my webpage:

http://users.adelphia.net/~k3vr/charity.html