LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR LORD BLACK

You have an intelligence and presence which is rare in society today.

Charles Barrett

The viciousness of the American prosecution attacks on Lord Black would send most of us to our knees. Their plan is obvious - force Black to pled guilty to a small charge and then shout to the public about his guilt and how well they defeated him.

Conrad Black's strength in this matter has been amazing. In time, I believe, public opinion will change and his struggle will be recognized for what it is: One man's fight against a government with great power and no conscience.

I know Conrad Black to be a writer equal to the best in today's world. His work on F D Roosevelt was superior and I am eagerly looking forward to his biography on Richard Nixon.

Good luck, Lord Black.

Michael Brophy, FCA, Callander, ON

I don't know the 'ins and outs' of his case, but Conrad Black has provided Canadians with fresh voices and insights that were for far too long unavailable in our country, both in media entities he has fostered and in his own articles and books. He is an intellectual tonic, a wholly engaging personality even at second and third hand, and reports in the media of what's going on in the matter of his forthcoming trial have left the stink of personal agendas and 'out-to-get-him' attitudes being scandalously in play.

Stay strong.

Robert Fournier

Conrad Black is an inspiration to any thoughtful individual

He has redefined persistence and pressed on to success.. as he will in the Chicago legal "event" in March.

I expect Lord Black will, by then, have a close appreciation of who his true friends and supporters are.

Jim Cassel, Cambridge, ON

I have been watching the media with disgust at how a most excellent person and role model for us all has been discredited by a bunch of "do-gooders".

I hope Conrad Black and Barbara Amiel are strongly vindicated in the end. I wish them well.

Lucien Potvin, Kanata, ON

Conrad Black deserves the gratitude of every Canadian for having used his resources and influence to break up some of the servile and tepid debate liberals have long held between themselves as to whether we should, as a society, drink the Kool Aid now or a few hours from now. Without knowing him at all, or anything about the intricate details of his financial dealings, I'm inclined to think him brought low by persons dedicated to the long standing Stalinist practice of taking out the strong-men in a horrifying spectacle before subjecting the rest to unending and complete subservience. Our window of opportunity to resist was wrenched open by one man, more or less alone amongst our social, economic, and political elite; we are now witnessing that window being slammed shut, and any other person contemplating a similar bucking at the traces had best consider Black's fate.

I wish Lord Black well, I cannot but hope he goes scot free, and returns to his work of recalling Canadian society to at least a minimal level of common sense. No one is perfect: whatever his other defects may be, Lord Black gave hope to a Canada that is silent, and impotent, but still hopeful.

Martin G. Stannus

Canadians should be vocal in their support for Lord Black, one of our most successful, intelligent and generous men Also, the Federal should return his Canadian Citizenship as a show of support.

Richard Duncan, Vancouver

Conrad Black and I have corresponded on occasion on various issues, and I have found him to be a congenial and highly intelligent individual. I believe he has become the victim of a witch hunt. I will keep my fingers crossed for him and wish him all the best.

Werner Patels, Calgary

I have never met Lord Black but I continue to read every word he writes looking to absorb his erudite wisdom. "The Establishment Man" was my first entry into the positive world of free enterprise. For a young man in Dauphin, Man., it was an epiphany. One reading changed my life. I am forever greatful.

Dr. Roger Watson

My family has informed themselves of Conrad Black's life and business career. We like his individualistic character, and admire his chutzpah. We hope he escapes the Chicago show trial, unscathed.

Donald Treilhard

It's not so much a question of support for Lord Black as a question of what if anything can be done to provide redress for the pre trial conviction in the court of public opinion that has rendered the term US Justice system into an oxymoron.

The whole trial smells of perversion of justice, and persecution in the courts. Malicious and fraudulent prosecution is the issue. By having a jury trial, there can be no assurance at all that the trial will not be about vacations, jewels and shoes, to cast a stench on the defendant's persona. Throwing mud and seeing if it sticks is a sure-fire technique that will work in the U.S. courts where nobody who knows anything gets to serve on juries. Witness the OJ (If I did it) Trial.

[I]f Lord Black receives justice in the Chicago court, this will be a miracle equivalent to the second coming of Christ. Note too that Jesus himself was persecuted by the high court of the Sanhedrin and the fix was already in.

To take on the U.S. Government, deep pockets are required and evidently Mr. Radler's were insufficiently deep, so he did a deal. The process is nothing more than state sponsored blackmail, bribery in short. It's immoral.

As for the business of non compete agreements, under Canadian tax law it's not income but rather classed in much the same way in Canada as lottery winnings, i.e. tax exempt, it's not Conrad's fault that this ridiculous gap in Canadian tax law exists, and the U.S. courts have no business at all in characterizing this as tax evasion and/or fraud. If it is, then the enormous settlements given on retirement to senior executives, as in Home Depot, ought to justify throwing the beneficiaries in jail, seizing their homes, etc.

I am writing as one who has no financial interest in the matters under consideration at law, such as holding shares or interests in any of the companies involved.
So I am rooting for Conrad Black and his legal team.

Howard Stollery CA

The extravagant and trumped up charges against Lord Black by the contemptuous U.S. Prosecutor Fitzpatrick bring the U.S. justice system into disrepute. The ever shifting and escalating charges and bail requirements in the case are a travesty. Prosecutors Fitzpatrick and, the equally despicable Nifong, of the Duke University lacrosse team fiasco, surely will go down in the annals of American legal infamy.

Wes Peaker, Toronto

He is a great gentleman a very fine writer and I wish him strength to defend himself when facing the bastards in court.
It is sad to see a masquerade when seeking justice.
What's wrong with the system?

Dan Burlacu, Toronto

Go Conrad! Beat the lousy politicians again!
I have always admired you for your work, and for your ability to capture a beautiful, talented woman like Barbara.

Victor Brunka, Toronto

I hereby wholeheartedly (re)assure Lord Black of my prayers and support in this matter.

Philip John Cortens

In my lifetime, Conrad Black has been the most interesting Canadian I ever met. I had the honour of meeting him in person but once, and the impression he made on me was to be an indelible one. Conrad Black did more for the newspaper industry than any other living legend. Legions of people admire Conrad Black and many would like to be Conrad Black.

Judi McLeod, by email

I'm interested in making a pledge to the fund. I'm not exactly rich, but I'd be happy to send $25 along, even if just to defray the costs of maintaing the website.

Adam Yoshida

I supported you from the very beginning of this charade!

S. Kramer

I believe that Lord Black is a great Canadian,writer,historian, and entrepreneur, of whom we should all be proud.

T. Kay

Not only is Conrad Black presumptively innocent, but the actions of his nervous prosecutors are consistent with their knowing that Lord Black is legally innocent.

A confident prosecutor does not parade his case before the media at every opportunity. When you are weak before a jury, go before the press.

A confident prosecutor does not pile on one charge after another, no matter how tenuous, in the hope that an overwhelmed defendant will, out of desperation, plead guilty to something just to end the onslaught.

A confident prosecutor does not deny a defendant access to his own resources to defend against the near-limitless resources of the state. If the state is in possession of compelling evidence, then why hobble the defence?

A confident prosecutor does not seize the assets of an innocent third party, Barbara Black, against whom no charges have ever been laid.

And a confident Ontario Securities Commission does not need a guilty verdict to cover up the fact that, despite being responsible for protection of shareholder value, the OSC actually destroyed shareholder value when it denied the defendant's privatization proposal in March 2005.

One could suggest that prosecution has become persecution..

Alastair Gordon, President,
Canadian Coalition for Democracies, Toronto

The way the man has been treated by the US prosecutors office is disgraceful; Fitzgerald's agenda is vicious. That he is able to get away with it is unconscionable. There but for the luck-of-the-draw go any of us who achieve 'visibility'. I trust Lord Black will be vindicated!

Peter Overing

Conrad.. From a career soldier...You've got "balls", and you have my admiration...

George Sillery

Dear Lord Black,
We don't know all the details of your case, but everyone is entitled to a fair trial, to be considered innocent till proven guilty and not to be scapegoated and have their name blackened, as is frequently done in the Canadian newsmedia. Your success and your achievements seem to have simply made people jealous, rather than celebrate them. This is unfortunate. We wish you well in the trial.
Regards,

Simon Rook and Heather Horne

A single voice of impartiality among a sea of hate filled and insecure critics polluting the worlds press.

Charles Jaskel