Wonder what he Knew????

Former Socom Commander Was Respected By Troops
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By CHRIS ECHEGARAY The Tampa Tribune

Published: Jul 19, 2007
TAMPA - Gen. Wayne Downing, a revered leader at the forefront of the special operations community and known as the liberator of Panama, died in Peoria, Ill., on Tuesday from complications of bacterial meningitis and myeloma.

He was 67.

Downing, a four-star Army general, was commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base. He served from May 1993 to February 1996.

Downing's sister, Marlianne Fortune, told the Peoria Journal Star that her older brother was fine over the weekend, even going swimming Sunday.

"He died less than 24 hours after he contracted" the bacteria, she said. He collapsed Monday at his home in Peoria and was taken to a hospital, according to news reports.

He graduated from West Point in 1962. He served two combat tours in Vietnam, where he earned a Purple Heart, two Silver Stars and the Soldier's Medal.

Downing was described as a soldier's soldier who trusted his staff, disarming people with his personality and intelligence.

"He was, hands down, the best leader I ever encountered in the Army," John Van Grouw, a retired major, said from his home in Tennessee. "He gave me a lot of advice along the way. He was a change agent always looking for improvement."

Grouw, who served at Socom during Downing's tenure, met him while stationed in Hamburg, Germany, in the early 1980s. Grouw said the general became his mentor, guiding him through his career.

Van Grouw worked for Downing at Socom in strategic planning.

Downing led by example, Van Grouw said. In Germany, Downing would lead a run with the officers, building credibility with the soldiers they commanded.

"He had very high standards," Van Grouw said. "He would run forever, and he would be at the head of the run. It was really intense. He was an incredible leader."

Downing's leadership was noticed.

In 1989, he commanded the joint special operations forces during the liberation of Panama, called Operation Just Cause. A year later, Downing commanded 1,200 special operations personnel during Operation Desert Storm.

After 34 years in the military, he retired from active duty in 1996. He remained highly regarded and was called to lead presidential task forces, including one to implement a global strategy to combat terrorism. He also was an adviser to NBC News.

James Clever, a retired staff sergeant who served under Downing at Socom, said the general was like an older brother. Clever worked in logistics at Socom.

"He made us very comfortable," Clever said. "He never made us feel inferior just because he was a general. He was easygoing. You could talk to him, and he was very straightforward."

After the Sept. 11 attacks, the president appointed Downing as the national director and deputy national security adviser for combating terrorism. He spent less than a year in the post, resigning in June 2002.

Downing also was asked by former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to determine how Socom was handling the war on terrorism and what steps might be taken to make it perform more effectively.

Downing proposed putting the command under Rumsfeld's control in Washington to cut through the bureaucratic infighting, but that recommendation was not accepted.

Reporter Chris Echegaray can be reached at (813) 259-7920 or cechegaray@tampatrib.com.

We're all spying on EACH OTHER. Here's a spot that links the Israelis to Sept. 11, 2001. Found it checking out some stuff about the BNP.




Whoo here's some more. This is kinda heavy when I think about it.

Since this report was first aired, AIPAC has found itself embroiled in yet another espionage case, this time involving an operative inside ... all » the very Pentagon office, from which many of the now discredited claims abut Iraq's WMD emerged. So here it is again for those of you unaware, that on 9-11, the largest foreign spy ring ever uncovered in the US was in the process of being rounded up, and that evidence linking these arrested Israeli spies to 911 has been classified by the US Government! Part I - Evidence linking Israelis to 9/11 is classified. Part II - Israeli phone company in U.S. Part III - Israeli wiretapping potential - back door. Part IV - Conclusion of series and info on some illegal activities of Israelis. All 4 parts are joined in one file




911 - The Israeli Connection
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Also TEXT the word "TODAY" to 30644 to become part of the John Edwards campaign. Do it. He actually had rainbow bumper stickers. Kinda thoughtful.

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if you should ever need
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I don't care what you talk about but keep sending letters until they publish one. They're very selective with WHOM they publish because I see the same names over and over. Don't let a few people speak for ALL of us.

And call your congressman and talk to her of Inherent Contempt. Do it. And hug everyone you can reach.

North Jersey JUST DOIN it.

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Brought to you LIVE from THE TAMPA NAIL HOUSE ... : Proud members of the drive-by media (just like Thomas Paine, father of America)

... located in the midtown desired redevelopment center just one block from the river.
The City of Tampa and it's assorted city-sanctioned gang members need this property because it's in the middle of land they intend to develop for gambling facilities.
LaS VEgas here in Tampa : Ta-Vegas or Tam-Gas.
But it's going to cost YOU a helluva lot of money as they defend their criminal acts in federal court due to what they are doing to my family and I in
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Terrorist,"Cause" and Gang Stalking Perpetrated by Tampa Firemen and other Firemen -- revealed and written about.

Some more threats from Tampa firemen (we'll just drive by your burning house if we know who you are) no kidding? I would NEVER have guessed that !
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More mention of Firefighter and Police participation in gang-stalking
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