The Virginian-Pilot
Until last week, Lt. Cmdr. John Sharpe was a public affairs officer aboard the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson. Before that, in two decades with the Navy, he held positions with Fleet Forces Command, Joint Forces Command and at the Pentagon.
Much of the time he has been serving his nation in uniform, he has been doing his best, quite openly, to undermine it. Until a reporter for PortFolio Weekly called the Navy, the armed services never seemed to notice.
That's a sickening commentary on security in the United States armed forces. Sharpe's views aren't dangerous because they're openly racist and anti-Semitic, though that would be bad enough. His ideas are dangerous because they're crazy - and when uttered by a commissioned officer, they take on the aura of authority.
According to Sharpe's newsletters published on the Internet, 9/11 was a conspiracy hatched by "the Powers that Be in order to lead us into a further intervention in world events, to ensure that the liberal-democratic order triumphs based upon the force of arms.... The Zionist New-World-Order gang... plan [ned ] to push the entire world into World War III for the glory of Israel."
His views veer from insanely pacifist conspiracy theories to chest-thumping jingoism with barely a speed bump in between. On one page, the United States is at war in the Middle East to control oil at the behest of the "the War Machine [that ] begins to thirst for blood." Just paragraphs later, he argues that the U.S. should "declare war on Islam and beat it back into Arabia and Mongolia, leaving it with a sore and painful reminder of what happens when idolaters take on the Christian West, or finally, better, still,... declare war on Islam and wage at the same time a war of independence on behalf of the U.S. government and the world financial system against international Judeo-Masonry."
The lunacy goes on and on. Pope John Paul II was a Jewish plant. The current pope is a dupe intent on undermining Christianity at the behest of shadowy Jewish conspiracy. Mourning the victims of 9/11 is "silly." The United States is Israel's "puppet." Jews are responsible for "centuries of usury and at least one century's (and two world wars') worth of godless and conscience-less Empire...."
To top it off, Sharpe used his groups to raise money for holocaust revisionist Jim Condit, an Ohio crackpot who claims that Zionist Jews engineered Adolf Hitler's rise to power. The plan, Condit explains, launched with the participation of President Franklin Roosevelt and the queen of England, was to set up concentration camps and kill millions so the rest of Europe's Jews would move to Palestine and found Israel.
Reacting to all this, a Navy spokesman says the service has launched an investigation into whether Sharpe violated rules that prevent service members from participating in "supremacist causes." Assuming the Navy investigators are literate, the result of that investigation is a foregone conclusion.
What the Navy should investigate is how Sharpe was able to publicly espouse sickeningly anti-American and anti-Semitic views on the Internet for more than five years without anyone noticing.
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Careful what you wish for.
The anti-semitic positions of the Legion of St. Louis and IHS Press are hateful and absurd. Your editorial implies that Sharpe expressed such views in an official capacity (otherwise, they could not take on an "air of authority," as you allege). However, Sharpe's name is impossible to find on either organization's website, and no reference is made to the author's military status on either. There is no news report indicating that Sharpe ever espoused any offensive views while on duty, or in uniform. On 3/20, your own editorial page says the above editorial makes "no comment on Lt. Cmdr. Sharpe's conduct while on duty."
Still, you appear to urge his dismissal for expression of his admittedly ridiculous views, even though done in his private capacity. The test of truth is that it can withstand the absurd. Demanding government action against those with whom we disagree is advocating censorship. A newspaper editor, of all people, should know better.
Are you wearing tin foil on your head?
It's too bad the anti-semitic conspiracy nuts who are visiting this board to assault a free press in defense of a soon-to-be-former Naval officer don't provide addresses. That way the "The Zionist New-World-Order gang" could pay them a visit and discuss their differences. Really boys and girls, get back on your meds.
Two legs bad. Four legs good!
Here are listed some of your own rules for posting comments on this website. Why do they not apply to your own editorials? No personal attacks, insults or threats against other users. No inflammatory, libelous, obscene, explicit or racist language. No off-topic messages. Please provide source when quoting material.It appears from your editorial that, like George Orwell has stated, "some animals are more equal than others". Lt. Comdr. John Sharpe is as fine a gentleman and an officer as I have met in many years. Your outrageous commentary stands as public testimony to the untrustworthiness and duplicity of your editorial staff. I am sure that your publicaion's legal staff inserted those rules for a good reason. Did you check with them before publishing your own remarks which clearly violate those rules? Perhaps a thorough housecleaning is in order for your publication. Please, stick to the facts and keep character assassination for the yellow press
Slander wrong for Virginian-Pilot
Your "8 simple rules" for posting a comment include prohibitions against making "personal attacks, insults," although you have done precisely this against an honorable U.S. Naval Officer. You have already tried Lt. Cmdr. Sharpe and found him guilty. Is that your way of administering American justice? Yes or no? What will you say when he is entirely exonerated after the Navy's investigation brought on by the hate mongering anti-Christ SPLC? Will you print an editorial admitting your wrong or simply ask for a pitcher of water for your hands? Sharpe has never hidden in the darkness of anonymity like your reporter. Your "8 simple rules" prohibit hyperllinks (do they also prohibit the truth?) so I will merely name the website that your anonymous reporter draws, from out of context and not even accurately, so heavily from, but which he apparently doesn't want his readers to access for themselves. Sharpe's articles in questions can be found at his website: legionofstlouis. Truth!
Practice What You Preach?
Maybe the Port Folio Weekly should practice what they preach: Editor's comment: While I appreciate Mr. Zetlin's comments - especially the important point that Ivins' critics rarely addressed the substance of her commentaries head on - we are not about to deny anyone their right to express their opinion. Our policy is not rooted in a desire to "appear fair" but rather in a belief that forums like this should be open to everyone and that ideas, ultimately, will stand or fall on their own merits. Anyone else care to weigh in? Had the Port Folio followed their own supposed rules of engagement, then there wouldn't have been a story to begin with. Why? Because even our own government calls certain people Freedom fighters, where others call them terrorists. So one man's opinion on the world is called one thing, while another might call it anti-Semitism...leave Cmdr Sharpe alone and let Americans be that..free Americans.
Story Equivalent to National Enquirer
Any one taking the time to read Lt. Cmdr. John Sharpe's writings and books for themselves versus what has been written about him, both here and the SPLC, will quickly begin to wonder if what the Pilot has been purchased by the National Enquirer here lately! If he said what you said he said, then you're doing nothing but proving him right...by writing an article that is both biased and unresearched as this. In fact, you might as well write this article about Jesus Christ himself. It would thus appear that the definition of "anti-Semitic" has truly changed from "one who hates Jews" to "one who Jews hate." Both the SPLC and his detractors have thus redefined this for all Americans it seems...well...at least those that can't think and read and research for themselves...and who don't believe everything they read in the "Press." When I see people, including Hispanics here lately, that don't mind burning the American flag...and you print this? get American! Free Speech for all!
Maybe you should follow Sharpe into the hills
If you have to ask whether what this nut job says is true or not, you are as crazy as he is. You are ill and should seek help. This board reads like the local chapter of Conspiracy Nuts Anonymous.
Good riddance
Just as Fox "News" Channel wouldn't want Bill Maher or Jon Stewart as their spokesman, the Navy is better off without this guy as an official mouthpiece.
John Sharpe
So, is what he says true or not? How about refuting what he says, instead of pre-judging him on a subject that is obviously very subjective to the writer.
And if...?
Bottom line, as I read it: In order to become or remain a member in good standing with the U.S. military, one must never criticize Zionism or question the Holocaust.
Poorly Written, Poorly Researched Opinion
As disgusted as I am with the conduct of the Naval Officer above, I am incensed at the poorly researched and even more poorly written opinion above. Have the editors read the First Amendment? Have they read the Navy policy on participation in extremist causes? Clearly not.
My favorite quote: "[a]ssuming the Navy investigators are literate, the result of that investigation is a foregone conclusion." Is the Pilot now responsible for judging people before they've even been investigated? Thank you, but I prefer relying on the judicial system to evaluate the alleged wrong-doing of others.
Shame on Lt. Cmdr. Sharpe. But also, shame on the Virginia Pilot editors. You are nothing more than yellow-journalists pedaling a unintelligent rag.