|
Wednesday 19 March 2003
THE “BANG” THAT WASN’T
HEARD
(Or,
A tree fell in the forest today; but I guess I failed to hear it
fall)
By
Michael Jean Nystrom-Schut
(with J. Duke Mosely)
Initial
excitement was high when it was suggested that secret
information known to JMV had the capacity to totally cripple the
state’s case against our friends Enrique and Osvaldo (a.k.a.
the Brothers).
It
is clear to me, now at least, that this great “scoop” from
them has not been forthcoming, which casts doubt on what the
creditors are really and actually getting for their dollars.
All
the while, it also dawns on me that the friends of Enrique have
been getting nowhere…and getting there fast! In my most recent
state of naiveté, I expected some loud thunder sounds from the
recent UCCR hiring of this new “power hitter.”
To
this point, and thus far, we’ve heard nothing – all trees in
the forest are still standing.
Okay,
but just what should we be able to expect? Initially, the
UCCR-JMV Alliance made promises and insinuations that seemed to
offer the hapless creditors something of the following:
1.
He (they) would expose behind-the-scenes “evildoers,” as
well as enlist inside contacts that would assist in turning
these bastards out.
2.
A media blitz would zoom back into the limelight the plight of
the creditors.
3.
A ride on the inside track of an expedient path would force a
resolution of our 5-month old ordeal.
All
of this made for a tidily wrapped package of hope for us
creditors, but we must now start to ask about what we are
getting in return for those many good faith contributions.
To
an “inner circle,” early promises were made, and remembered;
they included a “media-legal strategy” with plenty of:
1.
Exposure
2.
Lawsuits
3. Pressure
Are
we getting that? Will we be in the coming days?
Consider
the following:
1.
So far, no additional insights have surfaced about who might be
behind all of this, and how they can be clearly exposed.
2.
So far, these have been no post-hiring (March 7) newspaper or
television coverage, in spite of attempts to gain press
exposure.
3.
So far, no investigative leads (large or small) seem to be
getting tracked down.
In fairness, you can say to me, “Shut up and give them
time!” but time is something we don’t have. We see this as
we review the specific contractual arrangements made between
UCCR reps and JMV himself.
What
am I talking about? Let’s do some quick math: Nothing
happening so far in nearly two weeks. As six more weeks go, and
the process churns along in this present “slow-mo” pace, the
creditors will have offered up $35k, and $25k (totaling $60k),
with an impending need to cough up another $20k at that point
(making it $80k).
And
we’re only warming up; there’s lots more that needs to be
collected beyond that point…
Our
own private “F. Lee Bailey” was not given the need to
perform at a “minimum stage in the legal process” in order
to secure a part of his big payday. I mean, for example, he got
so much for winning an appeal, so much for exposing a
“sniper,” and so much for pulling a public relations coop.
That wasn’t in the cards.
Would
an incentive-laden contract have served us better?
Who
can know, now, and remember that, according to the contract,
either party can pull the plug at any time.
Where
does that really leave us?
As
the UCCR-JMV Alliance proceeds along the long and winding road
of legality (as lawyers are always known to do), then at some
point, if we don’t put up, he will simply shut up.
Then
what? It’s simple. Game will terminate. Drama will end.
The
long-term stuff is going to take time. At the rate we are
getting along, JMV’s services will take an enormous amount of
time to complete.
In
this whole thing, I wonder which “players” will score a
victory? Here in flim-flam land, many have their nets dipped in
the water. It really is enough to make you want to leave, and
not come back.
So
I see us in a snafu: If the creditors don’t keep coming up
with money to pay the man, he has already stated that “no
pay” will cause him to simply be forced at some point to walk
away.
…In
the meanwhile, I still maintain confidence in the words and
actions of Enrique and Osvaldo, and in his close friends and
family. I continue to uphold the idea that they are working
towards resolutions that are not so obvious to most of us.
Anything the UCCR-JMV group does will need their help and
cooperation.
On
this much higher note, it’s very pleasing for me to know that
we have more hope than just the UCCR-JMV working for us. Duke
and I have suggested all along that many prongs to a single
attack might make us get lucky somewhere along the way.
The
Hindu’s word it well: Many paths…One Mountain.
You
can be assured that there is an inside movement going on that is
moving along on other courses of action, of which much continues
to transpire as we speak. Will any of this do any good? I
don’t know. But it’s where most of the confidence I maintain
in this whole thing continues to be placed.
Enrique
never had a more viable choice but to follow legal avenues, and
do this until all have been exhausted. Unfortunately, this will
take more time. So I suggest you strap in, and think about other
things while it is all going on.
Your
ultimate peace of mind might depend on it.
If
there is anything you can do, I am sure that you will be
contacted to do so. For now, it must be a personal decision as
to whether to continue to support the UCCR-JMV effort, and for
how long.
Keep
paying out? You decide on an individual basis.
As
for me personally, no, I have not contributed. Like many, I am
willing to do so when it is clear that our money is getting us
something.
I
talk to many people in the street who are creditors with our
friends, the Brothers. They tell me that they are being patient,
and are continuing to maintain an understanding toward all of
the (insane!) processes that have, and are, taking place.
I
see most of them as very wise individuals. And it’s my guess
that 80% of them are still on board with, and in support of (in
one way, shape or form) Enrique and company - four out of five.
For
anyone of us who has chosen to take an active part in this mess,
we should hold them accountable for their actions.
In
this light, I say all of what I have said here, and hold the
UCCR and JMV accountable to do what they initially stated they
were going to do: give the “bang” that our buck should be
buying!
We’ve
suffered enough; it’s the least they now can do.
You asked for this, UCCR. Now show us something and do it soon.
|
