In 2000 Lindis Percy (Co-ordinator of the CAMPAIGN FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF AMERICAN BASES - CAAB) lowered and removed a fluttering US flag from the American base at Croughton (USAF) to protest at the presence of the US Visiting Forces in this country. She did it openly and honestly and told the US personnel at Croughton that she had done it and that she had no intention to permanently deprive the owner of his property etc etc.......

Lindis wrote to the US Ambassador at the time asking for an appointment with him (he is the official 'Keeper of the Flag' in this country) so that she could return his flag but also so that she could discuss with him our concerns about what the United States Visiting Forces were doing in the UK and world wide - especially because of the planned crazy and dangerous American Missile Defense System (Menwith Hill and Fylingdales being crucial).

Every year Lindis has written to the Ambassador of the time to say that she had his property in her possession, that she will keep the flag safely and return it to him in person. Over the years Lindis has been accused of stealing it etc etc but no........what she did in removing it does not fulfill the criteria of theft.

One year the Ministry of Defence Police Agency suggested that Lindis returned the flag to them - but certainly not - they cannot be trusted as they are paid for and under the operational control of the US authorities (Memorandum of Understanding between the US government and the MDP 1989 - we have a copy) - it was not theft and the flag does not belong to the MDPA anyway.

Recently Lindis was involved in a court case at USAF Croughton (we were successful - see CAAB Report no 199) and was accused of 'stealing' the flag in a 'bad character' application - (but she gives blood regularly and has worked in the NHS for 36 years.....).

Lindis wrote the annual letter recently asking for an appointment with Robert Holmes Tuttle (US Ambassador) to say that she was concerned that she had still not received an appointment etc etc. She has just received a letter from Jeffery A Hosken Col.USAF Air Attache (dated 4 December 2006) which says..............

From the Embassy of the United States of America

Dear Ms Percy

Thank you for your letter of 24 November in which you expressed your concern about the U.S. flag you have been keeping. The Ambassador has asked me to respond on this behalf.

As Americans, we keenly value freedom of speech and the right to petition our government of the redress of grievances - indeed, they are among the rights enumerated in the very first Amendment to the U.S Constitution. You certainly share our veneration of those rights. By your safekeeping of our flag, you appear to understand that it is a symbol of those rights, shared by 300 million Americans and guaranteed by the sacrifices, past, present, and future, of U.S. serviceman and women around the globe.

In the light of the above, we would like you to acept the flag you have in your possession as a gift from the United States Government. Please continue to care for it with the respect it so richly deserves.

Sincerely

JEFFERY A.HOSKEN, Col, USAF Air Attache

Robert Holmes Tuttle of course totally misses the point! And there is a further twist to this........as you know and clearly he is not aware that CAAB uses the US flag as a symbol of protest - upside down and with different political statements written on it - never rude words. We also took a case to the High Court in 2000 for the right to use the US flag in protest - the Judgment is on our website under JUDGMENTS.

So that's very kind of the Ambassador to give Lindis a Christmas present ........but FREEDOM for ..........the people in Guantanamo Bay?......if they have done terrible things they must be taken down the legal process - the illegal war in Iraq, violation of human rights, undermining of democratically elected governments and abuse and violation of international laws etc etc - the hyprocracy is deafening........so what does she do with the genuine US flag now - she has some ideas. But anyway Lindis will be writing to Robert Holmes Tuttle to say thank you so much for the flag and one or two other things......