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This message was self-deleted by its author (nadinbrzezinski) on Sun Feb 5, 2012, 01:21 PM. When the original post in a discussion thread is self-deleted, the entire discussion thread is automatically locked so new replies cannot be posted.
Brickbat
(19,339 posts)nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)I happen to have it.
His link was to the US Army Special Operations Command.
Brickbat
(19,339 posts)How and when did he die?
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)where, I have my suspicions, but I could not tell you for sure, the DoD will confirm that when pigs fly, and it would put at risk an ongoing operation. You understand that. But we have, just form the open source material and doing a lot of reading between the lines, a good idea.
Which reminds me. Any of you are in the armed forces, lose lips sink ships. Truly, there is quite a bit we are NOT going to publish either.
Brickbat
(19,339 posts)nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)I got a non denial denial from his command.
He is being buried this week.
Robb
(39,665 posts)And the name of the officer you spoke with, thank you.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)not on an open forum.
Robb
(39,665 posts)Last edited Tue Jan 17, 2012, 04:36 PM - Edit history (1)
If you called a base and identified yourself as press, you spoke with a trained information officer who gave you a quote you can use.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)I both called and emailed the base.
But you are free to call this bullshit. I know that how this came out we were going WTF ourselves... due to the actual rank violation of OpSec...
But in twenty years or when pigs fly and this finally comes out... remember you read it here first.
Robb
(39,665 posts)nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)You understand that?
I hope you do.
Robb
(39,665 posts)That makes no sense.
If you, as a member of the press, emailed someone at a base and they got back to you, you can disclose it.
You can redact some information if you feel it somehow besmirches the fallen soldier.
You can at a minimum give the name of the information officer you called and emailed.
Response to Robb (Reply #40)
nadinbrzezinski This message was self-deleted by its author.
Robb
(39,665 posts)nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)have a good day.
dionysus
(26,467 posts)Response to nadinbrzezinski (Reply #41)
Post removed
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)it will put lives at risk and sources at risk, You understand that? It has nothing to do with mata hari.
No, the NYP does not print all there is to any story EITHER.
Why Syzygy
(18,928 posts)is a long time, respected and honest member of DU. You? Not so much. Did you sign up here just to harass her?
Shankapotomus
(4,840 posts)she has to be wined and dined to get any information out of her...you have to charm her and buy her presents...maybe give her a foot massage...even a relative newb like me knows that.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)Unless the family is informed prior. It's fine to wish to question the details of this story, but please don't urge someone to do something against strict protocol.
NB is holding up her end of the bargain that we all uphold when granted access to sensitive information. You are welcome to question who the fek I am now, and let's go.
Robb
(39,665 posts)I asked for the name of the officer she spoke to, and the text of his response. Neither is privileged in any shape or form.
Brickbat
(19,339 posts)This article is a hot mess and illustrates the pitfalls of so-called "citizen journalism."
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)go ahead poke all the holes you want...
I will even offer you a target.
Personally man bytes dog stories are much easier to do. You can even call the vet and he will tell you, how many stitches were used. This one is not that easy... some of this... we cannot get any comment from official places, and at this point from family. There are reasons for that, very good reasons.
Now man bytes dog, sure.
By the way I expected the knives, that does not surprise me. And I can tell you this, while in the article I did not want to leap to the obvious conclusion, personally I know we have them there.
Brickbat
(19,339 posts)I'm trying to make sense of what you posted.
Robb
(39,665 posts)See below, reply 160 or so.
Brickbat
(19,339 posts)tammywammy
(26,582 posts)Who exactly did you confirm his death with?
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)OWS did not cancel the memorial. A part of OWS cancelled the memorial, and the memorial was still held.
zappaman
(20,605 posts)Do you do that often?
Might I suggest one for Merle Haggard who is also alive?
Yup, folks, Merle Haggard is alive.
"Reporting" is hard...
zappaman
(20,605 posts)Another broken promise.
ProdigalJunkMail
(12,017 posts)it would seem we are now memorializing obscure soldiers who haven't died...
the stench from this is pretty powerful even hear on the eastern seaboard.
sP
tammywammy
(26,582 posts)It says right on the Occupy San Diego events page:
Thursday, 2012-01-12
12 Jan 2012 - Memorial Service for occupier Jay Polk CANCELED
Since there's obvious confusion on if this man is even dead, who did you confirm the death with?
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)at civic center plaza per scheduled on the FB page.
This event just showed the strains...
tammywammy
(26,582 posts)nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)Patriot Guard was present, so was a largish contingent from OCCUPY SAN DIEGO, and Veterans for Peace.
This event split Occupy to points that I only observe, but that is what it did. Not only that, it drove more than a few long time activists away as well... because of the ugliness and I am not going to go into more on this. Suffice it to say OSD went to war with itself.
Have a magnificent day.
(As is the tree and forest are missed)
tammywammy
(26,582 posts)Since you've been going around saying this man died while fighting in Syria. The confusion about if this man is really even dead, makes me take the rest of your article with a grain of salt.
Have a good day.
ProdigalJunkMail
(12,017 posts)there are ZERO facts and nothing but deflection from the great nadin...
sP
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)But I doubt, like many others, you read the travel warning from state, yes, the us department of state, issued on the 11th at the end. Nor do I believ you have read the links to actual articles in elite, as in very elite, papers in the us. I like th grans of salt, but, so we be clear, from headline, this is offered as a possibility.
Have a magnificent day.
tammywammy
(26,582 posts)zappaman
(20,605 posts)"Nor do I believ you have read the links to actual articles in elite, as in very elite, papers in the us."
Yes, none of us are as smart as you, as you point out all the time, so why would we read "elite, as in very elite" papers?
So, anymore news about the dead guy who is alive and is in Syria but isn't?
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)american soldiers. This is unexcusable. Sorry. I am a Vet's wife and if my husband were there I'd be pretty pissed if someone gave up our cover.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)And to be honest if a slew of events did not occur we would not have gone digging. If nothing else the article will catch people up with the situation in Syria nicely.
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)he was a holocaust survivor.
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)hung Mussolini my grandfather and my mother had a glass a red wine celebrating his death. My grandfather use to play music on the radio and when he wouldn't become a facist they took him off the radio.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)stories before he died. Since both me and my husband have seen some combat, with my husband far more intense, he realized we'd get it.
Some of it involves the resistance, some of it the Russians... and how they dealt with collaborators after liberation.
Suffice it to say if I posted them even edited, there would be pearl clutching all around.
It was a relief though for him to finally tell somebody who'd actually get it. I am sure he never thought that be his daughter. It helped him make his peace I think, or I'd like to think so.
And yes, before anybody says it... war is hell.
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)the day he died he slept with a baseball bat next to his bed. When you woke him up you would stand at the end of his bed and pull in his big toe. LOL. You bet war is hell. He told us some of the stories. I come from a family of military veterans all who served over 20 yrs including my own husband. God bless our soldiers.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)and in many ways we owe them, what we don't give them, but it is time that we as a country reassess this empire shitick.
But most, there are those who give a bad name... and then there are the politicos who use them all like disposable bullets.
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)others to do the dirty job. Look at Romney. He has 5 sons and not one ever went into the military. I think congress shouldn't vote going to war unless they have experienced it themselves. I don't know any military soldier who has been to war that are so anxious to go back to war.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)MattBaggins
(7,893 posts)The only ones in the dark will be American citizens who have this crazy little concept of a right to know what the military is doing in their names.
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)to send our troops then congress needs to make sure all options are covered before you go.
MattBaggins
(7,893 posts)What you propose is the very cover they use for illegal operations.
Soldiers are in harms way anyway. The enemy will know they are there. "Harms way" in these cases is a cover to keep US citizens in the dark.
All predicated of course on the veracity of the story.
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)it on facebook. Everyday in the country we have soldiers undercover anywhere in the world. I know soldiers wives that husbands are in the detal force and they never know where their husbands go on a short notice. My next door neighbor was always going all over the world and across this country before the president goes to make sure everything is fine when he arrives.
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)him to do. Nothing else matters.
Puregonzo1188
(1,948 posts)Which strikes me as being illegal.
Who authorized this? What are we doing there?
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)It is a fact. Thank your lucky stars. Illegal or not sometimes the president of the country they are in want our help but don't want people to know we are there.
Liberty Belle
(9,525 posts)Only contact available was through the Occupy Page and family later posted that they would be returning all emails unread.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)the body of the story is the rest. We would not have done that if he did not post that.
People are looking at a tree, not the forest.
midnight
(26,624 posts)Liberty Belle
(9,525 posts)I captured it before it was taken down. he also told local Occupy members in person that he was going to Syria. So there is no question that it was Jay who made this statement.
I also have a screenshot of his wife informing the group that he had died overseas, but for her privacy will not post it as she does not wish to be disturbed in her time of grief. But anyone in Occupy SD can confirm seeing it - it was widely discussed.
Is this firm proof that he was in Syria when he died? No, but he most certainly claimed he was going there, and all the evidence points to a strong likelihood that we have forces there now; our own top military special ops commander confirmed to Congress that we had special ops in Syria last year. With the situation deteriorating and American lives at risk with evacuations now ordered, it all fits.
Robb
(39,665 posts)Well, he says "Puris." But I suspect he meant Paris.
Unlike yours, mine is still up.
Also: "Ask anyone" isn't a source either.
Liberty Belle
(9,525 posts)As for the "puris" post not sure if that means paris, but if so it's possible that's a stop en route to mideast or perhaps the destination changed.
No clue why site was scrubbed then restored, unless DOD saw screenshots posted and realized they couldn't hide those posts.
Links to posts are now in story
aikoaiko
(34,113 posts)That is an easy operational security decision to make.
I'll wait for more facts.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)he did more than just post it. If they caught it before he left, he would have gone for an Article 32, leading to a court martial. Anyhow, we just went digging.
aikoaiko
(34,113 posts)ps. I do not doubt that special forces are in Syria, per se, but that an actual Special Forces soldier posted his secret deployment on Facebook.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)Liberty Belle
(9,525 posts)and the conversation was overheard by others as well. It was common knowledge within Occupy SD, straight from the horse's mouth.
Robb
(39,665 posts)Can you shed some light on who was contacted to confirm any of this? Officials or family?
I am neck deep in this now, you can use family initials if you'd prefer.
Liberty Belle
(9,525 posts)Sgt. Polk's wife has refused to return any messages and may have been told by DOD not to talk to press. Family also declined offers of donations made online from friends of the soldier (that was among the other posts scrubbed), not the mark of a scammer, but a proud military family more likely.
DOD has not confirmed or denied the death (they responded with a nondenial useless response); Nadin contacted another military source she's cited who also was vague.
For security reasons Nadin can't disclose more. Is there firm official confirmation? No but nobody's denying it either.
The story is intended to raise questions about possible US involvement in Syria, however, not to claim to have all the answers.
There is more info not published that adds further substantiation, obtained from outside DOD channels, but could not be included due to specifics that could put lives at risk if it is true. T
here is enough in the links provided, however, to make clear that the soldier claimed he was going to Syria, and that there are numerous credible sources indicating we likely have special ops there.
Robb
(39,665 posts)Have I flown into a journalism cuckoo clock??
Liberty Belle
(9,525 posts)who don't want to be named. No apologies for that, but those sources confirmed to the writer and/or editor details that were on FB and more.
At any rate the story does NOT claim the soldier's death is confirmed and makes clear that it is not (at least not yet) specifically because as you point out FB is not necessarily accurate. Story never claims that it is, merely that it raises an intriguing set of questions. The point of the story is to raise questions about the US role in Syria. That's a legit question with or without this soldier's specific story.
Robb
(39,665 posts)You're dishing up a big scoop on an Occupy protest guy KIA during a super-duper secret mission abroad that he inexplicably blabbed about on Facebook... And you're holding back confirmation details out of concerns for NATIONAL SECURITY??
You've got to be kidding. Do you get paid advertisers for this? I'm going to start my own newsletter of Shit I Heard Somewhere, and if anyone asks me for proof I'll tell them it could endanger the Martian troops if I squeal.
Clearly I misunderstood the whole business.
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)Liberty Belle
(9,525 posts)I cannot believe you'd suggest publishing something that could get Americans killed. It's one thing to discuss the possibility of the US having a presence in Syria -- a very large country, and quite another to reveal possible location or mission for a specific unit.
Robb
(39,665 posts)Much as I hate to kick this trainwreck:
You're saying you've got operational details of a Syria mission in your pocket, yet still can't confirm there are US troops in Syria?
Do you know how stupid I'd have to be to believe that?
CoffeeCat
(24,411 posts)...has goals. They've got a region of the world that they have set their sights on dominating militarily because of the oil, other resources and its geopolitical advantages.
They know best. They've been working on this plan for decades. Bush got their foot in the door--when we invaded Iraq. They've stated their desires: Iraq, Syria, Libya, Iran and others. Does anyone really believe that we're being propagandized about all of these countries (especially Syria and Libya) because their situations are unique? Many countries are experiencing upheaval and oppression which is tenfold. We don't hear much about those countries, and why is that? Because the neocons don't want those countries. They aren't on the target list.
The neocons want these countries and they'll get them. They don't feel the need to ask permission to invade countries or to put special forces in these countries. They know better than we do. Yeah sure, they totally miscalculated Iraq and screwed that up beyond repair--but that's beside the point.
These people are operating beyond the scope of our government. They decide what our military does, and they don't feel the need to brief us. They've got a region of the world to dominate, plunder and take over. They don't have time to ask our permission or get the a-ok from "We The People".
If you haven't read the very-detailed neocon warmongering plan--they were kind enough to post it on their webiste. It's all there. http://www.newamericancentury.org/RebuildingAmericasDefenses.pdf
tabatha
(18,795 posts)"Syria is witnessing a revolution of youth. The people went to the squares to demand their freedom, but they were faced with violent and oppressive response which lead to the death of many people, and that exacerbated the situation," Mr Ghalioun said.
"The regime is insisting on the security solution. This is why we have disasters in some cities like Homs, which has been divided by the regime into different isolated areas by checkpoints.
"Nobody can move because of the snipers and continuous shelling, and there are no services, and no area can help any other area.
"The camera and words cannot describe the tragic situation there. The children in the city are going through terrible daily fear. I saw lots of cases of frightened children screaming at night, not being able to sleep because of bombardment. Homs now is a city under siege witnessing continuous violations of human rights."
http://www.channel4.com/news/syrian-defector-reveals-human-rights-abuses
I think the people who are demonstrating, being tortured and dying would be horrified to learn that they are PNAC puppets.
ronnie624
(5,764 posts)they know with virtual certainty that the U.S. played a major role in the destabilization of their country.
U.S. secretly backed Syrian opposition groups, cables released by WikiLeaks show
[link:http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/us-secretly-backed-syrian-opposition-groups-cables-released-by-wikileaks-show/2011/04/14/AF1p9hwD_story.html|
tabatha
(18,795 posts)It really is too bad that PNAC policy now taints unfairly any movement that tries to get rid of an abusive government.
This is a genuine, grass-roots movement triggered by the Arab Spring movement. And PNAC is "new American", yet the support is coming from more than America. The Arabs are the biggest players in support for the opposition movement - you would have to call it "New Arabian".
It is really muddle thinking to yell PNAC for things that are really quite different.
tabatha
(18,795 posts)"Going to Syria" may have been a way of saying that.
Most, if not all, in the Syrian opposition do not want foreign troops on the ground.
Those among the Syrian opposition who have asked for foreign help, have asked for a no-fly zone and nothing else.
I do not believe there are US troops in Syria, or have been.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)tabatha
(18,795 posts)What I do believe is that US troops in Jordan or Turkey are helping Syrian opposition defectors who have fled to Jordan or Turkey.
I do not believe that Obama would be stupid enough to have troops in Syria who could be captured and deal a blow to the Syrian opposition who do not want boots on the ground.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)and Turkey, and I will leave it at that.
I am not going to argue... we went digging because of very particular circumstances...
tabatha
(18,795 posts)I am not saying there are no US troops in the area. There are. Some troops who left Iraq went straight to Jordan.
However, "special ops" is way different from a soldier. A "special ops" person would never paste a destination on a FB page.
There may well be a small number of special ops people going in and out of Syria - but there are no "soldiers" in Syria. There are soldiers in countries around Syria, not in Syria.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)and I know the difference.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)are interfering in a 'grass roots' uprising. Hilary pretty much admitted all we suspected about Libya in a recent interview with Time, I believe. All it was, was verification of what was being denied during the Libyan 'mission'.
Robb
(39,665 posts)What is the soldier's name?
Where is the screen capture of the posting?
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)all references to this soldier went poof... hell, all references to Syria went poof within 72 hours,
MinervaX
(169 posts)nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)Jay Polk
Last day in sd leave in the morning for syria love u guys at osd wish u all the best in everything yall do hope I see u guys again if not you all have my love goodbye guys and gals
It is gone...
No, we did not make this up...
As Tabatha said he could have been on his way to the border on the Jordanian side. But we have reason to believe that we either have or had teams on the ground. On background, and no, I will not tell you more, or I will expose a source, we were told what they were doing.
To be frank... OpSec was violated six ways to Sunday.
MinervaX
(169 posts)If US troops are in Syria then they are there illegally, exposing that wouldn't do anything but shine a light on it for the American people, it wouldn't put "troops" in danger. If they are in Syria, I'm sure the Syrians already know, the only "johnny off the pickle boats" here would be the American public.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)BINGO!
MinervaX
(169 posts)Robb
(39,665 posts)SidDithers
(44,228 posts)from his FB page:
Jay Polk
Bradley Manning u r a disgrace to the uniform and I hope u rot in your cell ....uncle sam all I want for xmas is to be bradley's assassinator ive been a good boy this year well almost anyway kmsfl
Sid
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)this is a common feeling among many active duty troops.
And yes, the irony meter is off the scale on this one.
Robb
(39,665 posts)and I found this where someone with the same name was quoted as being a former soldier
http://mobile.fox5sandiego.com/p.p?m=b&a=rp&id=1005540&postId=1005540&postUserId=23&sessionToken=&catId=5303&curAbsIndex=1&resultsUrl=DID%3D6%26DFCL%3D1000%26DSB%3Drank%2523desc%26DBFQ%3DuserId%253A23%26DL.w%3D%26DL.d%3D10%26DQ%3DsectionId%253A5303%26DPS%3D0%26DPL%3D3
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)maddezmom
(135,060 posts)noticed the pic in one of your articles that he was marching in San Diego with Veterans for Peace on Dec 23rd.
but he's posting from TX here:
Jay Polk
ATTENTION all special ops troop we have a woman beater in our midst spec 4 kevin perez stationed at ft sam houston san antonio tx has been brutally beating his wife I myself am willing to handle situation we dont condone domestic abuse im coming 4 u boy!!
Like · Share · December 22, 2011 at 9:36am via mobile ·
And when did he leave for deployment? the whole story is strange, imo. As far has having US having spec ops in Syria...probably.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)He went back on Duty on the third.
Oh and the story being strange... yup, it is.
I could write a John LaCarre style novel out of this. I might, I have the notes.
Change some things to protect the guilty.
SlimJimmy
(3,154 posts)nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)wait twenty years or until pigs fly, whichever happens first, or something really bad happening.
I will stand by the story and what was posted and what I know on background. I cannot post all of it, sorry.
pecwae
(8,021 posts)yet you post "we are there" so authoritatively. You do realize that a real reporter would have to back up such an assertion, no?
We're all waiting with baited breath for the next prediction/omen/sign/quatrain!
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)that is all i can tell you at this point, the links making the case are there
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)He did not say he would be in Syria.
I heard in a radio program that we have troops in the area around Syria waiting to be used if necessary.
"Leaving for Syria" is ambiguous especially when used by a kid leaving home and possibly really nervous about going. It could have meant that he was headed to Turkey on alert regarding Syria.
A normal person does not have to find out a secret to know that the US could become militarily involved in Syria if things continue to be violent there. It's just common sense.
The US, China and Europe depend on the flow of oil from the Middle East just to heat our houses in the winter. Violence and repression in the Middle East can mean very cold houses for the children and elderly in cold countries to the north of Syria.
Liberty Belle
(9,525 posts)MinervaX
(169 posts)Addressed in Robb's post.
Jazzgirl
(3,744 posts)I just went to both and got either a page error or page not found. The East County Magazine link is still good. Very strange.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)It worked for me, let me give you the first four paras
Somewhere on this planet an American commando is carrying out a mission. Now, say that seventy times and youre done for the day. Without the knowledge of the American public, a secret force within the US military is undertaking operations in a majority of the worlds countries. This new Pentagon power elite is waging a global war whose size and scope has never been revealed, until now.
Pentagon War
After a US Navy SEAL put a bullet in Osama bin Ladens chest and another in his head, one of the most secretive black-ops units in the American military suddenly found its mission in the public spotlight. It was atypical. While its well known that US Special Operations forces are deployed in the war zones of Afghanistan and Iraq, and its increasingly apparent that such units operate in murkier conflict zones like Yemen and Somalia, the full extent of their worldwide war has remained deeply in the shadows.
Last year, Karen DeYoung and Greg Jaffe of the Washington Post reported that US Special Operations forces were deployed in seventy-five countries, up from sixty at the end of the Bush presidency. By the end of this year, US Special Operations Command spokesman Colonel Tim Nye told me, that number will likely reach 120. We do a lot of travelinga lot more than Afghanistan or Iraq, he said recently. This global presencein about 60 percent of the worlds nations and far larger than previously acknowledgedprovides striking new evidence of a rising clandestine Pentagon power elite waging a secret war in all corners of the world.
tkmorris
(11,138 posts)Nadine put an extra period at the end of both links. Simply remove the period and they work fine.
As an aside Nadine when you finish a sentence with a hyperlink you must put a space after the link and before the period, otherwise the period gets included in the link and it goes nowhere. Easy mistake to make.
I also am wondering why the reluctance to post a screen grab of the Facebook posting. Without it you've got no story here, since all of the other background information is just a rehash of what the MSM has been saying.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)The problem is Mac related, I copied and pasted before they went missing... but here you go, once again
Jay Polk
Last day in sd leave in the morning for syria love u guys at osd wish u all the best in everything yall do hope I see u guys again if not you all have my love goodbye guys and gals

Like · · Follow Post · January 2 at 3:45pm via mobile
It now lives on my scrivener file... scrivener and mac work in strange ways
Oh and here is the copy and paste of his FB page, profile
Jay Polk
Works at U.S. Army Special Operations CommandStudied at The University of AlabamaLives in Austin, TexasIn a relationship with Julie Mills
You and Jay
Ray Lutz and Martha Sullivan are mutual friends.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)U.S. 'secret war' expands globally as Special Operations forces take larger role
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By Karen DeYoung and Greg Jaffe
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, June 4, 2010
Beneath its commitment to soft-spoken diplomacy and beyond the combat zones of Afghanistan and Iraq, the Obama administration has significantly expanded a largely secret U.S. war against al-Qaeda and other radical groups, according to senior military and administration officials.
Special Operations forces have grown both in number and budget, and are deployed in 75 countries, compared with about 60 at the beginning of last year. In addition to units that have spent years in the Philippines and Colombia, teams are operating in Yemen and elsewhere in the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia.
Commanders are developing plans for increasing the use of such forces in Somalia, where a Special Operations raid last year killed the alleged head of al-Qaeda in East Africa. Plans exist for preemptive or retaliatory strikes in numerous places around the world, meant to be put into action when a plot has been identified, or after an attack linked to a specific group.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/03/AR2010060304965.html
There are still there
dougolat
(716 posts)Broderick
(4,578 posts)Ok, that bothers me on a odd level.
maddezmom
(135,060 posts)NEW NEW UPDATE from 1/12/12: A reporter from a local news website who has been researching this story, says this in an email this morning: He [Jay] died in the line of duty and what he was doing is supper, duper classified,
NEW UPDATE from 1/11/12: There is research still going on over this case about whether Jay Polk was killed or not. It is still possibly true that he was killed. To speculate why the DoD has not publicized his death yet, we understand that in certain black ops where lives are still in danger, info is carefully squeezed out or not at all until its over.
UPDATE FROM EDITOR: Unfortunately for all involved, there have been some real questions raised as to the validity of Jays death. Our original source was within Occupy San Diego, but who is now having second thoughts themselves. Their source was reportedly a member of Jays family. Others have been making calls and have found NO confirmation of his death, either at the DoD site, Jays hometown, theres no funeral home, no obituary, no report of his death except via this family member. And that person is not returning calls.
http://www.copswiki.org/Occupy/OccupySanDiegoEmailBlast2012Jan10
snip¬
Occupier Jay Polk lost his life in military service overseas
OSD Food Cte member MSGT Jay Polk lost his life while in the active, selfless military service overseas. He leaves a family, his wife Julie and 4 children, 2 of them newborn. ◦ Read comments captured from Facebook below
◦ See and comment on his Facebook page
◦ Memorial Thursday 2012-01-12, 5pm to 9pm at FreedomPlaza Facebook Event
◦ There will be a Pot luck, please bring a dish/drink/paper plates
◦ Candle light vigil: 6:30 PM
◦ Money for Jay's family account to be set up soon by Chris Mckay.
¬snip¬
12 Jan 2012 - Thu
Memorial Service for occupier Jay Polk CANCELED
but looks like they went ahead with the service so maybe it was later confirmed.
http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/taxonomy/term/12547
and the facebook page here
https://www.facebook.com/events/283710275011748/
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)And due to the nature of what they were doing, it can take a while for the Army to post the official notice... when they do... location will read CLASSIFIED.
http://www.defense.gov/releases/
But I got a non denial-denial of his death from his command, after 36 hours of initial email enquiry and 24 of telephone enquiry.
And a side story, the OSD site was wracked division, charges and counter charges. The family refuses to speak to anybody from San Diego because of the accusations that were flying, including theft and fraud. Moreover, they were given a gag order.
That is far more background than it is usually provided.
The rag ran the story, we went to work.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)why we called commands and all that. I got a non denial-denial from his command that he is indeed dead. He is to be buried this week. I suspect DoD is waiting (which is odd to a point) until he is in the ground. It can take up to three weeks for DoD to post at official site.
Realize this is SOF, not a regular army unit These guys can hit the field in 12 hours if they are in the right place... from CONUS 36 hours to the ME.
Broderick
(4,578 posts)I don't believe in coincidences necessarily. Just strange to me. In a conspiracy way I guess. Just on the surface. Not propagating a conspiracy by any means, but noting it as an "odd" occurrence if in fact he is deceased following the "post".
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)and I will be brutally honest, if he were not killed... we would not be digging. If he posted going in, or going to Afghanistan, again... so?
I know why the knives are out, I get it, but like the folks at OSD, even after it is very official, they will not believe it.
Broderick
(4,578 posts)I will be anxious for the followup and continuing news on this.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)it is the what the hell we are doing over there?
Broderick
(4,578 posts)why are we there?
If he is dead, how, when, why and was his post accurate?
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)I think we gave a pretty good picture of why we are there. This does not necessarily mean the FSA or other forces necessarily want us there by the way.
Short version
WMDs
SCUDS
Bases (which are not mentioned)
Attacks on Western Interests including diplomats
And we went looking because of the nature of the post.
This is where we go into yet another, not adressed in the story, question. What is the nature of operational security or corporate security in the 21st century?
Robb
(39,665 posts)No one has confirmation.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)YOU ARE NOT GETTING THAT EMAIL... you got the PAO, that is all you are getting.
Sorry.
If that is not enough for you, that is fine... I can live with it...
Trust me, I can. But why not read the whole article and try to see what we connected, after all the State Department's warning is CURIOUS, wouldn't you say? Especially given the very recent history.
Then there are the WMDs, and SCUDS.
So why not look at the big picture here. We went to work because of a post. It raised all kinds of questions. You are looking at the tree, we are looking at the forest. So how about we adress THE BODY OF THE ARTICLE? Did you bother reading it?
Robb
(39,665 posts)Here's the sentence you could've written in your article, were it true:
"So and so, public information officer for such and such army base, confirmed a soldier from his command had been killed but would not release the name pending notification of family."
You didn't write that. Here's another:
"Family members contacted directed inquiries to such-and-such, and requested privacy."
You didn't write that. Or this:
"Funeral arrangements are under the direction of such-and-such funeral home; in lieu of flowers the family asks a donation be made to blah-blah-blah."
You didn't write that.
I'm beginning to wonder what part of what you've said is real, and what part simply something you read on a discussion board somewhere.
Explain please.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)i am done answering. You will simply not read the article, and I have no reason to know why, or for that matter give a shit.
What is amusing is that if this was posted on the WAPO... you would take it as gospel.
Oh and I am sure you would not be asking these questions. You got more actually than you would normally get.
Bye
Robb
(39,665 posts)Extraordinary claims etc. Not one thing you've said leads me to believe you picked up a telephone on this at all.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)but I did...
Have a good day...
And you have YET to adress the NATURE of the post.
By the way... you are telling me that Foreign Policy Magazine and the US Department of State are also off? Read the choice quote from the US department of state at the end of the article, or don't.. I really don't care.
Robb
(39,665 posts)Hell of an oversight, wouldn't you think?
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)choice quote is at the END OF THE ARTICLE, very near the end.
Thanks for proving to me that you were unserious in this discussion.
Robb
(39,665 posts)Next you claim to have contacted the base commander. Then suddenly it's USSOC's public affairs officer. Or maybe not.
Your article ends stating you contacted the "State Department and Department of Defense," but never heard back.
Did you talk to anyone in particular? Or did you stand on your back porch and yell?
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)you are making that up, I said the PAO for that particular command, for the record NOT USSOC. THere is more to the SOF community you know.
I contacted both State Department Press Office, to know why their curious Travel Warning (Actual meat to the story) read the way it did, and DoD... neither ever returned calls... yes that is the way it works in the real world. They rarely have a PIO or a PAO just standing by ok.
Now let's get one thing clear... the story, while leading with the post from a soldier, is about SYRIA and POSSIBLE presence of US Troops, as in SOF component in the field. You have yet to read the full article, or the links to it. That so far is clear. You are stuck in the tree, not looking at the forest.
have a good day Robb...
And no, I will not turn to you my scrivener file with all info ok. It would not be kosher for multiple reasons that you seem unable to comprehend or wrap your head around.
I really do not give a shit what you think. Is that clear? If I posted it is sunny and the sky is blue with a few clouds you would doubt that. We have such a history going back almost a decade. I am sure you will also question my physical presence at the physical stories I have also covered in the recent past. So I think we are done. Aren't we?
Now if you want to learn something, read the article and chiefly hit on links. If you don't, save yourself some time.
Robb
(39,665 posts)So now you say you contacted State and DoD to ask about their travel warning, but not about Polk shipping out to Syria?
I'm "stuck in your tree" because if there was anything to it, it would be a huge story on its own. Your astute analysis of other people's work is great and whatever, but there's an actual story here that you've "reported" without anything to back it up.
It's frustrating to watch you play reporter and not do any of the work.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)from now on robb, no comment
Robb
(39,665 posts)You're continuing to evade the fact you've done no actual reporting work here. You don't have to speak to real people, you can just call them on the telephone. Is there a reason you can't use the telephone I'm not aware of?
ProdigalJunkMail
(12,017 posts)extreme claims...smoke and mirrors...feigned knowledge of the unknowable...no actual facts...it is SOP.
sP
pecwae
(8,021 posts)"read the article", "read War & Peace", "you are uniformed", blah, blah infinity. You must believe me, you must believe me, you must believe me, I am infallible, infallible, infallible; all while holding a very shiny object in front of the eyes. Can't say for certain whose eyes those would be.
zappaman
(20,605 posts)this post...not the OP.
Liberty Belle
(9,525 posts)That is SOP for special ops deaths if a mission is still underway. A family member requested privacy, was emailed with questions, did not respond further. Family member's name was not published specifically to respect the privacy requested.
Like Nadin I see no point arguing further with you as you seem not to read the actual story all the way through or the many links documenting the Syrian information, but instead haggle over points we've already agreed on - the soldier's death has not been confirmed on record through official channels.
Hugabear
(10,340 posts)That's what these types of forces are designed for - covert activities, often behind "enemy" lines. These types of "black ops" often attempt to blend in with the local population - many of these forces do not look like your "typical" clean-cut soldier. Their primary goals would be to gather intelligence as well as training local opposition forces.
I'm sure that we have special ops forces in places like Syria, Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, and many other places you wouldn't expect.
Liberty Belle
(9,525 posts)countries including Syria last year. That's from the head of Special Ops, Admiral Olson, see link in story. So not a big stretch to believe we are still there. DOD would not confirm this if it would put Special Ops in harm's way during a mission. Amid the chaos over there i'd be surprised if we didn't have some forces on the ground in case things go south for Americans trying to get out, given all the kidnappings etc. that have occurred in recent months.
ieoeja
(9,748 posts)Early '80s I read of an incident in which Israeli commandos accompanied by a Green Beret trainer staged a raid on Syrian outpost where it so happened a Green Beret trainer was deployed. So we had Green Beret vs Green Beret (by proxy).
I accidentally wandered into a German military outpost at Chicago's O'Hare airport once as well.
We talk. We exchange ideas. And, you know what? That is a good thing.
The Crusades began because Damascus took Jerusalem from Cairo and started persecuting the Christians there. Yet, one of the last Crusades invaded Cairo. Because the two sides refused to talk to one another, the Europeans were completely unaware of this irony.
History is full of wars fought simply because the two sides didn't understand one another.
Enrique
(27,461 posts)Aerows
(39,961 posts)Denying we are there, however smacks of pretending they don't exist, just because it is inconvenient politically that we are there.
Oh, WOOPs, we are in Syria. Oh, Woops, we aren't trying to start an uproar. Oh, Woops, if it happens, and terrorists kill our troops, then we have justification for riding on in. Woops? That started a full-on war with Iran and eventually China? Oh, well, we just thought we'd protect our interests in the Middle East.
ieoeja
(9,748 posts)It wouldn't surprise me the least bit if we have people in there trying to help keep Assad on his throne. Particularly since he and Hezzbolah have been on the brink of violence for decades. He likely only supported them in Lebanon to keep them active OUT of his country.
Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)The inconvenient part that is supposed to keep us out of wars.
Broderick
(4,578 posts)Aerows
(39,961 posts)of a post, look at yours.
Good Lord, who do you think you will ever fool.
Broderick
(4,578 posts)The face palm wasn't for towards the post or poster. Actually it was where the post was directed to. Maybe you took it wrong?
Aerows
(39,961 posts)Is that we are mucking around in countries we claim we aren't mucking around in, for those around here that choose to be devotedly dense. You can only pretend to not know wtf is going on in the face of such stories if you choose to not comment on them. Otherwise, you are commenting and *DO* know wtf is going on and are just choosing to be a mouthpiece/apologist/denier for some reason known to yourself, and ... well, just about everyone with a brain.
Robb
(39,665 posts)But this guy wasn't. And not just because Woodward and Bernstein up there can't report their collective way out of a paper bag.
If we're on the ground, it's good quality spook stuff. Not, bluntly, "u no what u r sayin" type of work.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)Since I think we need to get the hell out of the Middle East. If there are countries that want to stir up Syria and Iran, I say let them, and they can send bodies and treasure. The US has more than paid their share, and it is time to come home. Anyone else whacking the proverbial hornet's nest needs to deal with the stings that will come afterwards, not the US.
Robb
(39,665 posts)If we have people there, and we probably do, they're probably spooks, not OWS-marching master sergeants.
Saving Hawaii
(441 posts)We've been mucking around in countries we claim we aren't mucking around in for a long time.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)For speaking up. There are plenty that like to shade it, but we are mucking around in a lot of places, many of which we don't belong in.
Not to put words in your mouth since that isn't what you said, you just agreed that we are in a lot of damn places.
sarcasmo
(23,968 posts)War in Iran, coming soon to a TEEVEE near you.
JSnuffy
(374 posts)Nuclear Unicorn
(19,497 posts)San Diego is a naval base but ranks is listed as "SGT" and "Master Sergeant" are army designations
Master Sergeants aren't generally young men. I've met a few back when my husband was in and they're all within a few years of retirement.
There are no Special Forces based at Ft Sam Houston. It's a base to train medical personnel. (This is when I contacted hubby as he was a medic and I recognized the name from his stories.)
If he appeared in a parade wearing his uniform it was actionable under UCMJ.
If he blabbed to OSD it was actionable.
Special Forces don't blab.
If he had any reservations about going he could have told his commanders and he would have been off the team instantly.
It's odd that he would blab to so many people but not the people he lives, trains and works beside. Cameraderie is the #1 attribute in Special Forces.
Being a "former" soldier in mid-October being able to re-enlist, re-train, re-assigned and deployed
Several other reasons too hubby is calling this guy a fraud.
uppityperson
(115,674 posts)Autumn
(44,686 posts)not in Cambodia, yeah it would not surprise me in the least to find out we have Special Forces in Syria. I'm sorry he died. He should have faced a Court Marshall.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)by that.
lonestarnot
(77,097 posts)or destination on a public message board.
Liberty Belle
(9,525 posts)Why might he do that? Who knows. Maybe he was drinking, or depressed, or wanted someone to know where he was bound. We know he was deeply troubled about going, spoke with a chaplain, seemed to have a premonition of the danger.
tammywammy
(26,582 posts)That one of the photos Jay Polk has on facebook and uploaded on 25 Nov 2011
Is the exact same photo from the Special Operations Recruiting Battalion facebook page that was uploaded on 4 Nov 2009
He also posted the Dec 2010 Torch about the 160th New Recruiter Academy held. Was he in the Army a year ago? You said he was in and then out and then reenlisted. When did he reenlist?
So was he in the 160th out of Fort Campbell? Why was he at Fort Sam Houston?
Interesting.
Robb
(39,665 posts)Occupy San Diego email blast:
tammywammy
(26,582 posts)This story gets curiouser and curiouser.
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Sid
MineralMan
(146,116 posts)That's why only professionals do journalism properly. There is so much about this story that is questionable. I'm afraid mistakes were made that should not have been made in the story. Big ones.
I'll start with the fact that not everyone who claims to be "special forces" is actually involved in special forces. It all unravels from that point.
Robb
(39,665 posts)MineralMan
(146,116 posts)your fantastic stories.
On the other hand, I got to go to the Nevada Test Site and do a story about the MX Missile Transporter for a house organ of the company that made the tires for the thing. It was a great assignment, since it got me a couple of nights in Las Vegas, a flight on a vintage DC-3 to the site, and a ride in the Transporter. I was still a beginner at journalism, and only got $250 for the article, complete with photography, but my expenses in Vegas were covered.
I tried to sell a second article from the MX Transporter trip to Road & Track Magazine for one of their weird annual road tests, but they decided that all of those needed to be written by their staff writers, so no sale. Still, I got to chat with the editor of that magazine about the article.
Another fun assignment was an article on the seismology of the offshore drilling sites on the California Coast, done for another house organ...this time, an oil drilling equipment company publication. I got a complete tour of the Cal Tech seismology labs, a couple of hours with the chief seismologist, and combined it with research on some unique outdoor furniture for another magazine, on the same day, where I got to talk about furniture design with a famous artist. All in the same trip to L.A. You just never knew what you were going to do next. Later in my career, I specialized more and had fewer and fewer adventurous assignments. But, the early days were a blast.
Being a freelance journalist is a great job, but it's not an easy job and certainly not a lucrative job. Still, it was fun for many years, and did keep food on the table and bought a small house. I wouldn't trade it for anything.
MineralMan
(146,116 posts)the firearms they own in the Gungeon? Lots of the same photos from the manufacturers seem to show up again and again.
Yes, there are some real inconsistencies in the information in that story, and none of them are being clarified by the people who wrote and published it.
zappaman
(20,605 posts)The "reporting" that is.
Response to nadinbrzezinski (Original post)
nadinbrzezinski This message was self-deleted by its author.
Renew Deal
(81,774 posts)They do not talk about them. This soldier did a very dumb thing. Hopefully he's safe.
MineralMan
(146,116 posts)at all. As near as I can tell, that has not even been established.
It is my opinion, as a retired journalist, that this story is poorly researched and written. At the time of its publication, it was still unclear whether this person was alive or dead and no confirmation that he is even in the military. The Facebook post was just a launching platform for a bunch of speculation about our supposed special forces operations in Syria. There's no evidence presented of that, either. The only thing that led to all this speculation was some guy's post on Facebook, which may or may not even be a true statement by someone who may or may not actually be in the military.
Weak sauce, journalistically, all around. No editor of a responsible publication would approve such a poorly-supported article.
MineralMan
(146,116 posts)Check it out:
http://www.copswiki.org/Occupy/OccupySanDiegoEmailBlast2012Jan12
It seems your "special forces" soldier may not actually be dead. If that is true, then perhaps other things that you took as factual may also not be factual. Perhaps you were a little premature in your reporting and didn't check all the facts adequately. It happens, and is always embarrassing. If it it is true that this person did not die in combat, or isn't even an actual "Special Forces" soldier, perhaps a self-delete of your OP is in order. Your call, I think.
zappaman
(20,605 posts)Please don't hold your breath.
MineralMan
(146,116 posts)the person who is supposed to have died:
http://obrag.org/?p=52313
It's worth a read, I think.
tammywammy
(26,582 posts)MineralMan
(146,116 posts)some classified material? There's no SUPER DUPER CLASSIFIED stamp on thousands of desks in the military? Hard to believe...
tammywammy
(26,582 posts)for both the US and NATO they left off the "super duper" classification.
MineralMan
(146,116 posts)on it when I was in the USAF in Turkey. I still can't repeat the five-letter-word, even after all the decades that have passed, without wondering if some nice men in suits might drop by.
I never saw anything with the SUPER DUPER TOP SECRET stamp. I guess that was beyond my clearance level.
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)which makes it even funnier.
Sid
MineralMan
(146,116 posts)You're not supposed to know about those secret suppers, you know.
pecwae
(8,021 posts)terrifying bad chow in the DFs, but for the most part I'd say they were all declassified.
MineralMan
(146,116 posts)I ate in the mess hall was unclassifiable. I mean...what was that gray meat, anyhow? The only exception was the mess hall at the base in Turkey where I spent 15 months. Run by civilians, it was excellent chow. The base ran three shifts, on a rotating basis, so breakfast offered substantial food for the guys coming off the midnight shift. Wonderful. Pork chops for breakfast. Yumm!
Ikonoklast
(23,973 posts)Totally bogus.
ProdigalJunkMail
(12,017 posts)or so some would believe. just one more hole in the dam of her supposed insights and knowledge...
sad really...
sP
zappaman
(20,605 posts)Yup, folks...it is.
I've read quite a bit more than most.
Yup, if you want to be a reporter I suggest you read...
http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Reporter
and
http://www.forbes.com/sites/susannahbreslin/2011/06/28/how-to-be-a-journalist-in-2011/
and
http://mediacareers.about.com/od/mediajobprofiles/a/Journalist.htm
and
http://www.badlanguage.net/how-to-be-a-freelance-journalist
ETA: helpful links
Ikonoklast
(23,973 posts)Always states 'knowing' something, but gets vague about what, exactly, never backing up anything with nothing but 'say-so' evidence, or appeals to unknown authorities.
Total BS Meister.
ProdigalJunkMail
(12,017 posts)Whisp
(24,096 posts)but the writer's style is jammed with a superiority complex teaching all us dumbasses how the world really works. I think that is the biggest crit I have - the communication style and bad spelling (if you want to be a writer you really should use spellcheck, at least!) , oh, and just making stuff up out of nothing.
MineralMan
(146,116 posts)On that Facebook page, a search for Jay Polk will return a number of discussions, dating back to December. It's all very interesting, I think. It seems that the death of Jay Polk is still not verified. Much confusion there.
great white snark
(2,646 posts)Hope you're enjoying your weekend MineralMan.
MineralMan
(146,116 posts)and Alt-Tabbing between it and DU. I always seem to be doing that these days.
Robb
(39,665 posts)Even if it's on page 99-Z under the tide tables, there will be one, right?
MineralMan
(146,116 posts)Robb
(39,665 posts)zappaman
(20,605 posts)please do NOT hold your breath.
Robb
(39,665 posts)zappaman
(20,605 posts)it shows how good a reporter the OP is.
yup, folks, it is an excellent marker.
I've studied reporting and nope this is a clear example on what not to do.
Leopolds Ghost
(12,875 posts)I am wondering myself. If not then your replies are terribly unhelpful.
Robb
(39,665 posts)OP said man dead. Man not dead. OP vanishes.
bvar22
(39,909 posts)I appreciate this information, and will keep it handy.
As I read this thread, I was reminded of your postings on the seriousness of the disaster at Fukushima, especially during the early days,
and the vicious, serial, coordinated attacks by those whose agenda was to keep the information on THAT disaster from The People.
You were correct then, and stood by your words.
THAT episode lends some credibility to your words here today.
You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.
[font size=5 color=green][center]Solidarity99![/font][font size=2 color=green]
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arely staircase
(12,482 posts)Marengo
(3,477 posts)East County Magazine:
"Update February 4, 2012 -- The Department of Defense still has not listed the death of Jay Polk, nor has any notice of his death been published in New Iberia, Louisiana, where he claimed to live. A source informs ECM further that his name has not been provided for addition to a memorial for special forces soldiers. Thus it now appears he was not killed in service to his country and likely fabricated the "report" of his death and possibly his military service as well. If anyone has conclusive proof of his whereabouts or military records, please contact [email protected]. We are leaving this story posted because the research on special forces in Syria is accurate, even if Polk's tale is a hoax."