U.S. Fines Woman for Being 'Human Shield' [Archive]

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Seraphim

08-11-2003, 11:32 AM

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030811/ap_on_re_us/human_shield_fine_1

SARASOTA, Fla. - A retired schoolteacher who went to Iraq (news - web sites) to serve as a "human shield" against the U.S. invasion is facing thousands of dollars in U.S. government fines, which she is refusing to pay.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury said in a March letter to Faith Fippinger that she broke the law by crossing the Iraqi border before the war. Her travel to Iraq violated U.S. sanctions that prohibited American citizens from engaging in "virtually all direct or indirect commercial, financial or trade transactions with Iraq."

She and others from 30 countries spread out through Iraq to prevent the war. She spent about three months there. Only about 20 of nearly 300 "human shields" were Americans, she said.

Fippinger, who returned home May 4, is being fined at least $10,000, but she has refused to pay. She could face up to 12 years in prison.

In her response to the charges, she wrote the government that "if it comes to fines or imprisonment, "please be aware that I will not contribute money to the United States government to continue the buildup of its arsenal of weapons." Since she won't pay, she said, "perhaps the alternative should be considered."

The government also has asked Fippinger, 62, to detail her travels to Iraq and any financial transactions she made. In her response, Fippinger wrote that the only money she spent was on food and emergency supplies.

If Fippinger does not pay, the fine may increase, and the money will be drawn from her retirement paycheck, her Social Security (news - web sites) check or any of her assets, officials said.

"She was (in Iraq) in violation of U.S. sanctions," said Taylor Griffin, a Treasury Department (news - web sites) spokesman. "That's what happens."

Shortly before the U.S. invasion in March, Fippinger was one of several dozen human shields scattered around a refinery in Baghdad.

"We are planning to stay here in the refinery if war breaks out," Fippinger said at the time. "We are staying here because we think this war is unjust."

budanski

08-11-2003, 11:37 AM

I like the part about checking into travel agents who assisted with travel to Iraq. "Yes, I'd like the Axis of Evil special package rate at the Baghdad Hilton, please."

To me, the real irony is that if this woman wanted to really help the Iraqi people she would have stayed after May 4 to help them recover from Saddam's years of abuse. But I guess that's not really why she was there.......

usa320

08-11-2003, 11:42 AM

yeah, if she really cared she would be there NOW helping them clean the place up and providing aid.

Frankly we shouldnt have let her back in.

The funny things is that the human shields stand under the bombs, but then if a bomb hit them they would be the first ones to complain about collateral casualties... Defeinately they are all nominees for Darwin Awards.

Argyll

08-11-2003, 02:21 PM

Hmmmmmm.Did the US state dept issue all the troops before the war with travel visas,prior to entry into Iraq? :lol:
I can Imagine the old Iraqi customs guard,stopping the 3ID,asking them"Business or pleasure"?,and how long to you intend to stay?
Do you have anything to declare?I'm sorry,that M1A1,has too much

ShotOver

08-12-2003, 08:43 AM

hahaha, Yeah.

Good story though.

SEALteamVBSS

08-12-2003, 04:44 PM

I agree with you USA320, maybe we should have terminated her citizenship in the US, I mean she went to help a country which was completely hostile to the US and in my opinion what she did should be considered treason.

Argyll

08-12-2003, 05:05 PM

Stop being ridiculous!!!
Shes probably seen more wars than you've had hot dinners!!
Did she commit an act of treason,did she endanger National Security,Jesus H Christ you guys take some things way too seriously,she harmed nodody,it's her right to do what she likes.......and you guys go on about freedom.......what a bunch of hypocrites!!!
Unless she came back full of VX gas leave her alone with her protests,she's 62 for Gods sake,and probably contributed a hell of a lot more taxes than you too!
Did she man any of the SAM launchers?Was she photographed smiling and shaking hands with Saddam Hussein........jesus we have George Galloway here who represents Saddam in Glasgow.

By your name and avatars,you just fall into one category.....wannabe!
Try using something that does not imply SOF,these guys earned it !!

PAK

08-12-2003, 05:11 PM

[quote="Argyll"]jesus we have George Galloway here who represents Saddam in Glasgow.

Hey, Argyll, what about Galloway's case against Daily Telegraph? There was quite a stirr when Telegraph published that story about Galloway taking money from Saddam through his charity organisation...

Argyll

08-12-2003, 05:14 PM

Still ongoing,but like a lot of the stuff involving the Government,it's going to get very very Ugly!!.........just like Clare Short!! rofl

ibstolidude

08-12-2003, 05:14 PM

i think we should kick her out of the country for speaking against our government's speaking against the iraqi government being against the iraqi's ability for free speaking!!

yea!!...
huh? what? who?
:roll:

Argyll

08-12-2003, 05:17 PM

rofl nice one!!

budanski

08-12-2003, 05:48 PM

If 300 out of 300 human shields were never actually human shields in practice...doesn't that make the noble HS argument BS?

ScoutRanger

08-12-2003, 08:29 PM

SEALteamVBSS

08-12-2003, 09:04 PM

SOG

08-12-2003, 10:31 PM

By your name and avatars,you just fall into one category.....wannabe!
Try using something that does not imply SOF,these guys earned it !!

actually its idol worship, admiration, childhood dreams, utter respect, overly supportive, backing them all the way in which we use pics and names of our boys kicking ass for us. its like yelling at someone on the mettalica thread for having the name metalicus with a avatar to match. WTF do you want!? whole reason why anyone is here is because were FANS and as any utter idiot can see we wholly dig spec ops or whatever. if you think using spec op names etc is some sort of BS idenity theft then go cry at all the unreal and counterstrike clans for defaming spec ops. trying to insult everyone because you disagree with a topic is pathetic.

as for the school teacher she is pathetic. goes to show the so called inteligence of teachers now days. 1st, what she did had no outcome as to ease any iraqi suffering, it did not change anything nor would it, if she wanted to help she should have done something after the war. also she could have better effected her cause over here talking with americans daily instead of looking like some stupid beatnik with nothing better to do on Azhal tv.

and now the gov is simply saying, hey, you did what you did, it was illegal at the time, you gotta pay a small fine. WTF is wrong with that? its not a personal attack against her, its not retaliation, she broke the law, pay up (&*#^! what if i disagree with the law and i feel justified i dont have to pay? hell yeah screw the mortgage!

OzMan

08-12-2003, 11:22 PM

Take that name to SOCNET, or NavySEALs.com, and see how far it gets you. Or how fast you get reamed, banned, and reported for public lying. If you haven't earned it, don't say you have. Those people take a lot of pride in what they do, and the things they have done and gone through to get there. And they hate people who try to steal their name or their pride more than you will ever know. I've seen phoneys get taken down by the Real Deals, and it is not pretty. It's not funny either.

Have some respect, please.

As for the human shield, we should've bombed her anti-American a** off the face of the earth. She should not be allowed back into the country she hates, and I hope she never gets put in front of another class of students for the rest of her life.

Piccolo

08-13-2003, 01:20 AM

lol, do we really exspect alot from this guy (I'm not addressing him as 'SEAL' because he obviously isn't fit to be called such)? I mean, this is the same person who has a SWAT tag on a tactical vest he plays airsoft in. Some people have no respect for the hard work, dedication, and sacrifice people go through to earn these titles. To simply use these titles in any seemingly unimportant way, is utterly idiotic and disrespectfull.

To 'you know who', I would suggest you change your name and signature, or leave. We have enough wannabe's here, one more, especially of your caliber, is just overkill.

budanski

08-13-2003, 01:33 AM

I still got my FBI t-shirt from my college days.....Female Body Inspecter ;)

James

08-13-2003, 02:08 AM

A 62 year old woman vs. the United States Government... I say good for her. What would you guys be saying if this was 1774, we were still English subjects, and she spoke out against the King?

James

08-13-2003, 02:10 AM

I guess im in the bad person here for the name and avatar I have, I say we all can fall in the "wannabe" catagory because we all would like to and want to be in Special Ops, so dont bitch at me asshole for my name.

Uh, count me out, unless someone thinks "Ninja" or "Snake eyes" would be a bad name. James is starting to sound a little bland...

General_Makabe

08-13-2003, 02:57 AM

General_Makabe

08-13-2003, 03:13 AM

as for the school teacher she is pathetic. goes to show the so called inteligence of teachers now days. 1st, what she did had no outcome as to ease any iraqi suffering, it did not change anything nor would it, if she wanted to help she should have done something after the war. also she could have better effected her cause over here talking with americans daily instead of looking like some stupid beatnik with nothing better to do on Azhal tv.

and now the gov is simply saying, hey, you did what you did, it was illegal at the time, you gotta pay a small fine. WTF is wrong with that? its not a personal attack against her, its not retaliation, she broke the law, pay up (&*#^! what if i disagree with the law and i feel justified i dont have to pay? hell yeah screw the mortgage!

As for breaking the law, read the article. She is quite obviously arguing that she did not break the law. She is stating that the only money spent was on her own basic necessities...this is the standard applied in all such cases.
The ironic thing about this is that the President stated that one of the goals of this war was to bring Freedom to the people of Iraq. Perhaps, a few of us here at home need to be reminded of what it is all about.

SEALteamVBSS

08-13-2003, 07:22 AM

Yall are making me out to be the d*mn enemy here, I never ever said I was a SEAL I know I didn't earn the right to be a SEAL or any other Special Ops personel. Yall are attacking me like said above because people disagree with you, so go take your whining ass somewhere else.

P.S. BTW piccolo, I see you've came to run your mouth again, I have just as much respect as any many/woman/child in this forum, and in the country, so don't tell me what do and don't have.

Salty Dog

08-13-2003, 10:03 AM

all they are saying is that you are some guy with a "SEAL" name and that it is disrespectful to the actual SEALs. they are not whining so much as they are stating their opinions. i think it is disrespectful as well. if i worked hard to achieve something like that, and then saw some guy with a name or anything that linked him with having that title, i would be pissed.

budanski

08-13-2003, 11:01 AM

Ah c'mon guys... let the guy be. I'm sure he paid good money for his setup. I think Id be more flattering than offended if I were a SEAL. I wouldnt jump down a 5 years old's throat for wanting to be a cop or better yet, a cowboy like myself.

Argyll

08-13-2003, 11:07 AM

14 posts and you know it all eh?
I'm glad that the majority of others have agreed with me,having an admiration for SOF is one thing,but to plaster yourself with such paraphanalia ,just makes you a target for criticism,do not come here shooting your mouth off,show some respect,and you will get it back!!
My guess is your under the age of 16 anyway,as grown men tend to admire Spec Ops silently,and from a distance.......not in your face full on!!

Now it's interesting to start slagging off Piccolo,who I'd class as a distance friend(UK/USA),by stating that he's running his mouth off again,which implies that YOU have been here before,and used to post under another name,as Piccolo has not been posting here as much rescently,and just foe your info smart alec,I doubt you could lace Piccolos boots!!!

Beowulf

08-13-2003, 11:54 AM

If you didn't earn, it don't wear it. It's a simple as that.
-beowulf

martinexsquaddie

08-13-2003, 01:09 PM

Getting back to the point there was an interview on Radio 4 with one of the the people from voices in the wilderness who is being sued for the crime of Get this taking Medical Supplies and Soft toys to Iraq.
Come on since when has giving a Teddy bear to someone Been a crime?
ever heard of the Mclibel trial or the term phyric victory. Give it a break.
p.s. I reserveing SAS/DELTA WEARING COOL SHADES :lol:

Seraphim

08-13-2003, 01:24 PM

p.s. I reserveing SAS/DELTA WEARING COOL SHADES :lol:

Too late, I already called them
:lol:

http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/4a5323f/bc/My+Photos/Picture+6.jpg?bcCOoO_A2xHhZHtc

grrr.....everytime I load a pic from my yahoo photos, it never works.

martinexsquaddie

08-13-2003, 01:29 PM

Damm how about DELTA WEARING OLD NAVY PANTS :lol:

SEALteamVBSS

08-13-2003, 04:31 PM

bout to turn 18 actually and this is the only name I have here, and yall have no goddamn right saying that i have no repsect for the Spec Ops community. This is only a damn forum, i'm not running around saying im a SEAL or anything else, I just have alot of the respect for the guys b/c they lay there lives on the line for people like me who care, and other people who could care less. So don't go attacking me, you don't know me, you don't know what I think, so just end it there!

Argyll

08-13-2003, 05:24 PM

So why with the statement about Piccolo running his mouth off again and putting him downthen?,as I said he doesn't post here as regular as he used to............so you're nearly an adult ,thats good....start behaving like one then!.........you just don't get it,do you?

SEALteamVBSS

08-13-2003, 06:10 PM

Get what? your always right and im wrong??????? If thats the case than your wrong. Piccolo was telling me how wrong and disrespectful I was when I posted my airsoft stuff and had the SWAT patch on it.

Ratamacue

08-13-2003, 06:18 PM

You're not a SEAL. You're not in SWAT. Honestly, I couldn't give less of a **** about your name. Get that damn banner out of your sig though.

Seraphim

08-13-2003, 06:19 PM

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OzMan

08-13-2003, 06:40 PM

Seriously, as said before, you don't get it. I strongly urge you to take that name to NavySEALs.com, and then you can find out for yourself what we're talking about. Whether you think so or not, you are declaring yourself as a SEAL. By having a name that includes the word "SEAL", or "VBSS", and having a banner saying "SEALs", and by not saying anything like "Fan" or "wannabe", you are declaring yourself as one. I frequent that site, and I'm scared to even say my last name there because it looks and sounds a little too much like "SEAL". Whenever I go to airshows where the SEALs are setting up a display, I make sure I don't wear my Air Force Academy shirt, because it looks too much like the classic SEAL "Blue and Gold" shirt.

I will tell you right now, I AM A WANNABE. I'm 16 years old, and I WANNABE in the Air Force after I graduate.

What you fail to understand is the amount of respect you lack for those operators. There is a major difference between admiration and respect. Respect the name, and respect the job. You can admire them, which you seem to grip quite well, but you need to respect them. Don't steal their name or their honor by cheating yourself and saying it.

Grow up, and have some respect.

Haiw

08-13-2003, 07:12 PM

argyll, him being 16 doesn't have much to do with it; i'm 16 (ok, 17 in a few days) and have u seen me with all the wannabee stuff? ;/

on a sidenote, what happened to that digital-adamballchet-ghost wannabee? (i've been on vacation)

SEALteamVBSS

08-13-2003, 07:21 PM

Well I guess im always gonna be ****in wrong huh.......well untill the damn I don't see how im disrespecting them, I guess yall are just looking for excuses huh.............well thanks for the people who dont think im the ****in enemy, and **** the rest, ban me from the forums if you want I don't care but you cannot tell me what and what not to do with the way I show my respect for these men, I know what they do, I know what they put on the line for me and you and i'll keep this name and banner as long as im here.

Argyll

08-13-2003, 07:21 PM

Haiw,the point I made regarding his age ,was about being mature,I could sense by his responses that I was dealing with a teenager!!,I have nothing against teenagers!! Most of them grow up sometime!!!

Argyll

08-13-2003, 07:26 PM

VBSS,
If you started behaving in a more mature way you'd get better support,most psoters here have all said the same thing,and you cannot accept that.......well it shows your lack of maturity,........you think these Spec Ops guys are doing all this for you?,all the stuff about laying it on the line......hey.......they do it because it's their freakin job!!!

California Joe

08-13-2003, 07:32 PM

Damn, I didn't know that one of the Dixie Chicks was that old.

Americans are allowed to do any dumbass stupid thing they want to. Like be a human shield if they want. Because we're supposedly FREE. If you legislated stupidity you'd have to lock up Anna Nicole Smith for her show and Trent Lott for his frigging hair.

OzMan

08-13-2003, 07:33 PM

No, you don't know what they do for you. I don't know, and no one knows what they do for us except themselves. We will never understand how much they sacrifice for us, and you will never understand how much you are disrespecting them.

If you want to know how much they appreciate your "respect", take that name to NavySEALs.com. You don't believe us, ask them.

California Joe

08-13-2003, 07:43 PM

PS. My handle is that of a Berdan Sharpshooter from the Civil War. Just so we're clear on that.

But the boy with the SEAL paraphernalia does seem a little extra excited about being an internet Ninja. Someone check his closet for semi auto's.

Haiw

08-13-2003, 07:49 PM

Haiw,the point I made regarding his age ,was about being mature,I could sense by his responses that I was dealing with a teenager!!,I have nothing against teenagers!! Most of them grow up sometime!!! i know, and none offense was taken, but take in regard that age doesn't always say much; there's plenty of kids act like matures and plenty of matures that act like kids...

California Joe

08-13-2003, 07:58 PM

I don't think "matures" is a real word used in that context. Try "adults".

usa320

08-13-2003, 08:10 PM

I wouldnt jump down a 5 years old's throat for wanting to be a cop or better yet, a cowboy like myself.

:lol:

Darn yankee cowboys... :roll: