'Human shield' faces $10,000 fine

[sujan]

SARASOTA -- A Sarasota woman who served as a "human shield" during the war in Iraq faces thousands of dollars in civil penalties.

According to a letter dated March 20 from the federal Department of the Treasury, Faith Fippinger broke the law by crossing the Iraqi border -- a violation of U.S. sanctions that prohibit American citizens from engaging in "virtually all direct or indirect commercial, financial or trade transactions with Iraq."

Fippinger, who returned home on May 4, learned of the letter from her brother, who kept track of her mail while she was overseas. Once she arrived in the United States, she had 20 days to respond, which she did.



Now, Fippinger, 62, owes the United States at least $10,000, which is $10,000 more than she says she will pay.

http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20030809/NEWS/308090382/1060

[Jack The Tab]

1. These petty vindictive little shits....

Oh yeah, the adults are back in charge.

[acmavm]

2. That's okay, they have plenty of human targets that they'll send over

there for nothing.

[Dob Bole]

3. She may go to prison

I posted an article on this on my site yesterday. If she doesn't pay, she may face a prison sentence of up to 12 years and a social security loss.

[Pastiche423]

4. When this story 1st

came out in May, I wrote Faith's brother (she doesn't have a computer). He sent a very sweet email back.

Faith and her brother are not wealthy people, nor are they young. What our government is doing to these people that were only trying help other human beings is beyond disgusting and immoral.

I am going to write him again and see if anyone can help.

This hurts my heart.

[sistersofmercy]

6. Only good can prevail

I hope that dems everywhere can rally to the cause. It's important, this is an obvious rw "traitor" thing. I wish we could all just go back to having "difference of opinions." Bushists worst thing that happened to US ever.

[sistersofmercy]

5. Witch Hunt

further more she states "I'll go to jail" before contributing to a weapons fund. I posted this Friday, nobody responded. Interesting, what the gov claims is infraction doesn't really hold up.

[Forkboy]

7. Whaaaaaaaaa

...indirect commercial, financial or trade transactions with Iraq."

How does being a human shield fit any of these criteria?

What,do these bastards think that being willing to "trade" her life counts? :mad:

[sistersofmercy]

8. Thank You! Let's Ask Them!

Total intimidation. Making an example of what they see is anti-americanism.