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Why is there so much corruption and fraud at the Pentagon? This money could be used to help our soldiers including Cindy McCain’s and Joe Biden’s sons. Source: Yahoo News "In a recent report, the Pentagon and the Defense Department inspector general estimates that nearly half of the military’s $316 billion weapons budget went unchecked last year because the IG’s office lacked the manpower. Whereas 10 years ago when a single auditor would have reviewed some $642 million in defense contracts, individual investigators are now charged with auditing more than $2 billion in spending.

The IG also has been stretching its staff to investigate corruption and fraud cases overseas, primarily in Iraq and Afghanistan where the military is hiring contractors to help run operations."

How safe is America if we cannot account for the money the Pentagon is entrusted with? I hope and pray this money that taxpayers give to the USA and our weapons are not in the hands of terrorists. Our election news and advanced US computer technology are definitely in the hands of terrorists, specifically Osama bin Laden who has plenty of time on his hands to plot another terrorist attack.

THE BOTTOM LINE: TAXPAYERS DO NOT CARE HOW MUCH MONEY IS SPENT WASTEFULLY AT THE PENTAGON. THIS INFORMATION DOES NOT MAKE FRONT PAGE NEWS AT THE NEW YORK TIMES. WHY WOULD CONGRESS WANT TO OK MORE MONEY FOR THE WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN IF THEY KNEW THAT MONEY WAS BEING MISAPPROPRIATED AND WASTED BY INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS WORKING FOR THE US GOVERNMENT. THE MONEY WASTED AT THE PENTAGON COULD BE PUT TO GOOD USE TO HELP DEFRAY THE COST OF TAKING CARE OF OVER 20,000 CRITICALLY WOUNDED SOLDIERS WHO HAVE FOUGHT FOR THE USA IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN. GENERAL PETRAEUS WOULD HAVE BEEN A BETTER GOP CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT THAN MC CAIN.

I think a lot of that money goes to the so-called ‘black budget’. That’s where defense agencies such as DARPA ,DIA(Defense Intelligence Agency) & the NSA get all their money,1 reason where all the secret military programs are being used on.

I have a child&reside in a nice apt. community in a safe family neighborhood–safety is a priority to me.I found out this summer that my neighbor once started&failed at having a non-profit to counsel&shelter women in recovery –drugs+alcohol+ domestic abuse.She blew 40K in grant money (it seems she spent it on herself -the story is +shaky!).She’s decided to try her hand at it again.. but out of her own apt. instead of a commercial property !!! She now has 1 woman living with her. I know about all the details because my neighbor told me about it herself this summer… as she moved in extra beds, etc! The woman who is living there now looks like an ex-prostitute real trashy. I am truly a kind person who believes in helping others BUT I’m worried that trouble will follow one of her "inpatients"… whether it be addict behavior or an ex who tries to stalk her out. I’m torn on what to do.I don’t want to blow someone’s fresh start.But I don’t want some whack job putting my family at risk.

You have no moral obligation to keep your mouth shut. This is your home (as well as the home of many other people) and you should have a reasonable expectation of what goes on around there. What this woman is doing is surely against the rules for your apartment community. The rules are there to protect the residents and try to ensure that everyone can live together in peace (same reason there are probably rules about not hanging your laundry out on the balcony, or playing loud music, or leaving derelict cars in the parking lot…).

If you/your property management company were to turn a blind eye to this, what about when the guy two doors down wants to open a food bank, and the woman over in the next building wants to start up an animal rescue center?

Noble causes? Yes. But none of them are appropriate for a residential community, and you are not a "bad" person for not wanting services such as these operating our of your apartment complex.

There are plenty of facilities where people who are looking for a fresh start can get help–places that are licensed and have certified professionals available. Even if your neighbor has good intentions (and is not being greedy or opportunistic), I can’t imagine she or her home are equipped to offer these women the best chance at recovery.

Best of luck to you!

Today in the morning, I got on the bus as usual, and was trying to take a vacant seat opposite from two African American girls. But one put her foot on the seat I was trying to sit on. It didn’t bother much, I just walked away and found another seat on the opposite side of them, which was near the exit. There was a lady next to me, started to argue with them, because she thinks what those two girls did to me was not right. They basically argued for more than 5 bus stops, and threaten to beat us up. I didn’t say anything, until one of them tried to touch my personally belonging. I only spoke to them for two sentences "Don’t touch my stuff. I don’t want to talk to you." Before they got off the bus, one of them hit hard on my head and face. I think she also hitted the lady next to me. I also got off on the same stop as them, then saw a police car a block away, and filed a police report with a case number handy.

The police also asked the Deputy to come, see if he can find the bus #, so they can find the video record on that bus. However, based on what the Shieff told me, they’re expericing budget cut, and there are only two Shieff monitoring the buses. If they really found the girls, I’d need to go to the court and justisfy, in order to put charge against them. He asked me if I really want to go through all these trouble….And he also told me the city does not have enough funds for all these juvenilles…..

One of the girl was wearing a P.E pants, with some wording on it. I told this description to the police, but he thinks it’s just a brand name, not the school name. When I got home, I did a search on the logo, and found a Middle School, with the same name as the logo that I saw. So does reporting to the school works? Or nothing they can do about it?

I really need some suggestions, and still feel frighten since this was the first time it ever happened to me, since I move to this area a little more than a year ago.

I also feel very upset about it. Someone hitted me when I didn’t do anything wrong to them, and I was trying to file a police report, then he kept asking me "what’s your intention." I still feel hurt on my right ear, but I didn’t want any medical attention at time, because was worrying about the big bills.

With such economic crisis, everything, everywhere, is about money. I just feel super upset, when they told me there is very little they can do about it, because the city is lack of money…blah blah…

my intention was trying to file a police report and tell them what I know. They already asked me what time I got on and off the bus, and the description of the girls. But what I feel upset is that the Shieff sounds like if I am not going to justify on the court, he’ll not try to look after them. I am just an ordinary girl, trying to go to work, school and back home safe.

It makes me wonder this question "since the city has no money to build a juvinille hall, that means whatever those kids did, they can always get away? Or get away easily?"

I just want to express some feelings, and hope everyone have a safe ride.

Hazel, Sorry to hear all this. You are in the USof A I guess. Well, my suggestion is: Learn martial arts! Dont be a herbivore and let the Tiranosaurus Rexes bully you. I suggest Taekwondo for open space, aikido for close quarters. Either way dont be traumatized. I wont advise you to carry a deadly weapon. That might be used against you. Lemme tell you it happened to me a mere teenager when I was in college. A group of 3 men who look like holduppers, one of them elbowed my ribs and it was painful. I accosted him and snarled why did you do that? To which they responded by going down where I did and one put his arm around my neck and asked-no challenged me- why do you want to fight? wherefore I backed down because I got scared. 3 vs 1. I already knew judo then. But aikido gave me the confidence because it trains for such situations, and multiple opponents. Not that I tell you to fight! No! Just to hold your own calmly and not get hit next time. Take care! God send you an angel to guard you.

Today in the morning, I got on the bus as usual, and was trying to take a vacant seat opposite from two African American girls. But one put her foot on the seat I was trying to sit on. It didn’t bother much, I just walked away and found another seat on the opposite side of them, which was near the exit. There was a lady next to me, started to argue with them, because she thinks what those two girls did to me was not right. They basically argued for more than 5 bus stops, and threaten to beat us up. I didn’t say anything, until one of them tried to touch my personally belonging. I only spoke to them for two sentences "Don’t touch my stuff. I don’t want to talk to you." Before they got off the bus, one of them hit hard on my head and face. I think she also hitted the lady next to me. I also got off on the same stop as them, then saw a police car a block away, and filed a police report with a case number handy.

The police also asked the Deputy to come, see if he can find the bus #, so they can find the video record on that bus. However, based on what the Shieff told me, they’re expericing budget cut, and there are only two Shieff monitoring the buses. If they really found the girls, I’d need to go to the court and justisfy, in order to put charge against them. He asked me if I really want to go through all these trouble….And he also told me the city does not have enough funds for all these juvenilles…..

One of the girl was wearing a P.E pants, with some wording on it. I told this description to the police, but he thinks it’s just a brand name, not the school name. When I got home, I did a search on the logo, and found a Middle School, with the same name as the logo that I saw. So does reporting to the school works? Or nothing they can do about it?

I really need some suggestions, and still feel frighten since this was the first time it ever happened to me, since I move to this area a little more than a year ago.

I also feel very upset about it. Someone hitted me when I didn’t do anything wrong to them, and I was trying to file a police report, then he kept asking me "what’s your intention." I still feel hurt on my right ear, but I didn’t want any medical attention at time, because was worrying about the big bills.

With such economic crisis, everything, everywhere, is about money. I just feel super upset, when they told me there is very little they can do about it, because the city is lack of money…blah blah…

my intention was trying to file a police report and tell them what I know. They already asked me what time I got on and off the bus, and the description of the girls. But what I feel upset is that the Shieff sounds like if I am not going to justify on the court, he’ll not try to look after them. I am just an ordinary girl, trying to go to work, school and back home safe.

It makes me wonder this question "since the city has no money to build a juvinille hall, that means whatever those kids did, they can always get away? Or get away easily?"

I just want to express some feelings, and hope everyone have a safe ride.

Hazel, Sorry to hear all this. You are in the USof A I guess. Well, my suggestion is: Learn martial arts! Dont be a herbivore and let the Tiranosaurus Rexes bully you. I suggest Taekwondo for open space, aikido for close quarters. Either way dont be traumatized. I wont advise you to carry a deadly weapon. That might be used against you. Lemme tell you it happened to me a mere teenager when I was in college. A group of 3 men who look like holduppers, one of them elbowed my ribs and it was painful. I accosted him and snarled why did you do that? To which they responded by going down where I did and one put his arm around my neck and asked-no challenged me- why do you want to fight? wherefore I backed down because I got scared. 3 vs 1. I already knew judo then. But aikido gave me the confidence because it trains for such situations, and multiple opponents. Not that I tell you to fight! No! Just to hold your own calmly and not get hit next time. Take care! God send you an angel to guard you.

hello
i ordered credit report from transunion and i gave them my routing and accounts number and my id to depit money from my account , so do you think this site is safe .

and does order form transunion better than Annual Credit Report ?
and what diffrent between them ?
I GAVE THEM MY ROUTUING AND ACCOUNT NUMBER BECOUSE THEY TOLD ME THAT I CAN BUY ONLINE CHECK .
DO YOU THINK THAT I HAVE TO CANCEL MY ACCOUNTS?
I ORDERED ALL OF THEM IN THE SAME TIME AND IT COSTS ME FOR ABOUT 29 $ , i ordered it from transunion .

I WOULD CALL YOUR BANK FOR AN "ALERT" AND CANCEL!!! NEVER GIVE ROUTING OR ACCOUNT NUMBERS OUT–YOU COULD BE "CLEANED OUT" BY NOW!!
YOU CAN GET FREE CREDIT REPORTS FROM ALL THREE AGENCIES, EQUIFAX, TRANSUNION, EXPERIAN, ONCE PER YEAR. DON’T GET THEM ALL AT THE SAME TIME–SPREAD THEM OUT–4 MONTHS APART–THAT WAY YOU CAN CHECK IT OUT 3 TIMES IN A YEAR INSTEAD OF JUST ONCE.

See below details:
From: "Williams Kamara" <wkama7@hotmail.fr> Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Subject: From:Williams Kamara,
Date: Sat, 05 Aug 2006 03:25:57 +0200

From:Williams Kamara,
Abidjan Ivory Coast,
Cote D’Ivoire,
West Africa.

Dearest One ,

With due respect and humility I write you this letter which I believe
you
would be of great assistance to me and my sister .

Please I am Williams Kamara, the only son of late chief Joseph Kamara
from
Sierra Leone.My sources of your contact gave me the courage and
confidence
to rely on you.I am writing you in absolute confidence primarily to
seek
your assistance to transfer our cash of Fourteen million,Five hundred
thousand dollars ( $14,500,000 ) now in the custody of a Bank here in
Abidjan to your private account pending our arrival to your country.

SOURCE OF THE MONEY

My late father, chief Joseph Kamara , a native of mende district in the
Northern province of Sierra Leone, was the general Manager of Sierra
Leone
mining co-operation (S.L.M.C.) Freetown. According to my father.This
money
was the income accrued from mining co operation’s over draft and minor
sales.

Before the peak of the civil war between the rebels forces of major
Paul
Koroma and the combined forces of ECOMOG peace keeping operation that
almost
destroyed my country, following the forceful removal from power of the
Civilian Elected President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah by the rebels. My father
had
already made arrangement for his family, my mother, my little sister
and
myself to be evacuated to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire with our personal
effects
and the box containing team. My father deposited the fund for the safe
custody until after the war when he will join us.

During the war in my country, and following the indiscriminate looting
of
public and Government properties by the rebel forces, the sierra Leone
mining coop. Was one of the targets looted and destroyed. My father
including other top Government functionaries were attacked and killed
by the
rebels in November 1999 because of his relationship with the civilian
Government of Ahmed Tejan Kabbah. As a result of my father death, and
with
the news of my uncles involvement in air crash in January, dashed our
hope
of survival.

The untimely deaths caused my mothers heart failure and other related
complications of which she later died in the hospital After we must
have
spent a lot of money on her. Now my 16-year-old sister and myself are
alone
in this strange country suffering without any care or help. Without any
relation, we are now like refugees and orphans. Our only hope now is in
fund
our father deposited in the bank To this effect,

I humbly solicit your assistance in the followings ways.To assist me
claim
this fund from the bank as co-beneficiary.

To transfer this money in your name to your country.

To make a good arrangement for a joint business investment on our
behalf in
your country and you, thecaretaker.

To secure a college for my little sister and my self in your country to
further our education. And to make arrangement for our travel with you
to
your country after you have transferred this fund.

For your assistance, I beg to concede 20 % of this money to you for
your
efforts assistance .

Best regards
Williams and Roselinda Kamara.

First report this to the BANK, second report this to your ISP. Lastly I would also report the solitation to the Legal system of the country that your in. Maybed no one will do anything but you should feel better about not letting them scam you.

See below details:
From: "Williams Kamara" <wkama7@hotmail.fr> Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
Subject: From:Williams Kamara,
Date: Sat, 05 Aug 2006 03:25:57 +0200

From:Williams Kamara,
Abidjan Ivory Coast,
Cote D’Ivoire,
West Africa.

Dearest One ,

With due respect and humility I write you this letter which I believe
you
would be of great assistance to me and my sister .

Please I am Williams Kamara, the only son of late chief Joseph Kamara
from
Sierra Leone.My sources of your contact gave me the courage and
confidence
to rely on you.I am writing you in absolute confidence primarily to
seek
your assistance to transfer our cash of Fourteen million,Five hundred
thousand dollars ( $14,500,000 ) now in the custody of a Bank here in
Abidjan to your private account pending our arrival to your country.

SOURCE OF THE MONEY

My late father, chief Joseph Kamara , a native of mende district in the
Northern province of Sierra Leone, was the general Manager of Sierra
Leone
mining co-operation (S.L.M.C.) Freetown. According to my father.This
money
was the income accrued from mining co operation’s over draft and minor
sales.

Before the peak of the civil war between the rebels forces of major
Paul
Koroma and the combined forces of ECOMOG peace keeping operation that
almost
destroyed my country, following the forceful removal from power of the
Civilian Elected President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah by the rebels. My father
had
already made arrangement for his family, my mother, my little sister
and
myself to be evacuated to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire with our personal
effects
and the box containing team. My father deposited the fund for the safe
custody until after the war when he will join us.

During the war in my country, and following the indiscriminate looting
of
public and Government properties by the rebel forces, the sierra Leone
mining coop. Was one of the targets looted and destroyed. My father
including other top Government functionaries were attacked and killed
by the
rebels in November 1999 because of his relationship with the civilian
Government of Ahmed Tejan Kabbah. As a result of my father death, and
with
the news of my uncles involvement in air crash in January, dashed our
hope
of survival.

The untimely deaths caused my mothers heart failure and other related
complications of which she later died in the hospital After we must
have
spent a lot of money on her. Now my 16-year-old sister and myself are
alone
in this strange country suffering without any care or help. Without any
relation, we are now like refugees and orphans. Our only hope now is in
fund
our father deposited in the bank To this effect,

I humbly solicit your assistance in the followings ways.To assist me
claim
this fund from the bank as co-beneficiary.

To transfer this money in your name to your country.

To make a good arrangement for a joint business investment on our
behalf in
your country and you, thecaretaker.

To secure a college for my little sister and my self in your country to
further our education. And to make arrangement for our travel with you
to
your country after you have transferred this fund.

For your assistance, I beg to concede 20 % of this money to you for
your
efforts assistance .

Best regards
Williams and Roselinda Kamara.

First report this to the BANK, second report this to your ISP. Lastly I would also report the solitation to the Legal system of the country that your in. Maybed no one will do anything but you should feel better about not letting them scam you.

I have been reading som e of the posts about Madonna and the baby she is in the process of "adopting." I’ll be honest, I personally think she bought that baby….much like one buys an outfit….I think many famous do this……but anyway.

Many people have gone on to say "Look at all Madonna can give her."

I my job as a foster care/adoption specialist, we are rightfully not allowed to consider if the foster home, or another home is "better" because 7 out of ten times it is…..it is can the biological parent provide a safe and suitable life for the child.

I’ve been thinking about this, my husband and I are both college educated people, we were in our 30s when we had children, we live in a lovely suburb..I’m primarily home with our children….our income is most likely considered medium to upper, we have great health insurance and an awesome family on both sides…..

That said, there are families who could provide more and better than we can…..so if the criteria is more money is better…should we lose our children….seriously, most of us on this board know people who have better resources and could most likely provide more material things than we can for our kids no matter how good we have it.

This is not a rant, so please don’t report and move on….seriously…is more money better? What equals being rich enough that you deserve your kids?

In my position, I had to take a class entitled neglect vs poverty, another was culture values and ethnocentrism. I think many many Americans think living here is better than living anywhere else (I’m not talking about having pride in our country…I’m talking about thinking that our way best for everyone and valuing our way of life above other cultures…to the point that we’re willing to commit cultural genocide and devalue other cultures.

I’m not a biological family is always best, because I’ve seen millions of cases where it wasn’t. I’m not anti-adoption…I have no agenda here.

I’m professionally curious….what are the thoughts out there?
Not sure that I live in an Ivory Tower, but I’ll let it go as I don’t want to lose this dialog due to chatting. I know I am blessed beyond measure for all that I have…..but some of what I have is due to hard work and good choices on my part too…..but I am blessed and I’m grateful for it every day.

There are people with a lot more than I have though….are they better parents for it?

The legal question I must always answer on all adoption home studies is can the family live within their means…are they making the bills….not do they live in $500,000 homes, but is the home they have being paid for and is it clean and a nice place to live…can it fit the amount of people they have living in it?

Well since they cut my husband’s hours and we had another baby are income is now considered poverty level. Does that mean we are poor and broke? Well no it doesn’t I save our money that we get from our income tax refunds and money family sends me for christmas and birthdays. Do I know how to stick to a budget, while yes I do. Are my kids fed, while yes they are, are they bathed, while yes, do they live in a middle class surrounding, while yes again. Do they have toy I say yes 100s way to many do they have clothes yes do they each have their own bed to sleep in while yes.

Should I relinquish them because the government says my income is poverty level? No, I shouldn’t because we are good parents that care about our kids.

I been told I should be an account because I am great with numbers. My bills are paid and my house is stocked with food, clothes, toys, and love.

People chose to live poorly. If you are poor you can still keep a clean house. If you have a job you can keep your bills paid. Stop buying unnessary things and buy only the things you need. Living, learning, and loving the life I have.

The campaign fund stands at nearly £600,000. Its purpose is to secure the safe return of Madeleine, it can also be used to support the McCann family. Originally donations were sought for sniffer dogs to be taken to Portugal, then for private investigators. Next, a legal team was flown out to advise on the setting up of the campaign fund and to ‘liaise’. This team has nothing to do with the investigation in the child’s disappearance.

Nothing much wrong with any of this. BUT , as far as I know, the legal team are still there, along with others including members of the McCann extended family, who are devoting themselves to this campaign full time. Legal teams don’t come cheap. So my point is, is most of the money being used to protect the McCann parents rather than do anything to find their child? Is one of their jobs to comb through forums and report on adverse publicity - perhaps threatening legal action?
nicola h. I’ve read that the Warner Holiday village is not charging them for their extended stay - don’t know if this applies to the aunts and uncles and others in the team though. Also they are both of fully paid leave from their jobs - he is full time and Mrs McCann part-time and as doctors that must add up to enough to keep things ticking over. They have the use of a private jet and other transport paid for too.

I certainly don’t think they should have to worry about money at a time like this and they need some support, but a legal team? and one of them a QC?
Teh Beauty Spot: Warner are paying for them to stay at the complex. They are on full pay from their jobs. private jet and cars provided and it seems accommodation etc for trip to Rome was provided. I’m sure they will have some personal expenses and the publicity etc will cost money but I think the expenses of keeping a legal team must be huge.

Anyway, I’m sure it will all have to be accounted for , then we’ll know.

You’re speculating about them being on full-time pay for six months because this is the NHS norm. But I get the impression that the McCanns are settling permanently in Portugal, which would mean this is not just a leave of absence but a retirement.

Also, I imagine the goodwill is running out. If I was Mark Warner I would not let the McCanns stay for free indefinitely (just for them they have two apartments; one to live in and another is being used as an office for fan mail, donations and Team McCann Portugal branch meetings). However, Mark Warner has said that they will let the McCanns and their family members not only stay at the resort for free "for as long as they need to", they’re also paying for all their flights back and forth.

It is generally agreed that at least one member of the McCann family has quit his job to be a full-time campaign manager (Gerry’s brother). So it would not surprise me if other McCann family members were on the payroll.

Other than that, they have in their employ two solicitors, one barrister, the PR firm Bell Pottinger, two "trauma consultantS" and a firm of accountants. Someone from the Foreign Office who devotes themselves to the McCanns full-time is there, courtesy of the British taxpayer, as are two "Crackers", 3 officers of the Leicestershire police.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=454949&in_page_id=1770

Although I’m pretty sure they’ve got someone in their employ trying to counter negative publicity, so far I have seen no evidence of them mounting legal actions against people who post on internet forums/message boards. It would be impossible for them to take civil actions against the anti-McCann camp for several reasons, the primary reason being most of it is speculation and not outright defamation.

The campaign fund stands at nearly £600,000. Its purpose is to secure the safe return of Madeleine, it can also be used to support the McCann family. Originally donations were sought for sniffer dogs to be taken to Portugal, then for private investigators. Next, a legal team was flown out to advise on the setting up of the campaign fund and to ‘liaise’. This team has nothing to do with the investigation in the child’s disappearance.

Nothing much wrong with any of this. BUT , as far as I know, the legal team are still there, along with others including members of the McCann extended family, who are devoting themselves to this campaign full time. Legal teams don’t come cheap. So my point is, is most of the money being used to protect the McCann parents rather than do anything to find their child? Is one of their jobs to comb through forums and report on adverse publicity - perhaps threatening legal action?
nicola h. I’ve read that the Warner Holiday village is not charging them for their extended stay - don’t know if this applies to the aunts and uncles and others in the team though. Also they are both of fully paid leave from their jobs - he is full time and Mrs McCann part-time and as doctors that must add up to enough to keep things ticking over. They have the use of a private jet and other transport paid for too.

I certainly don’t think they should have to worry about money at a time like this and they need some support, but a legal team? and one of them a QC?
Teh Beauty Spot: Warner are paying for them to stay at the complex. They are on full pay from their jobs. private jet and cars provided and it seems accommodation etc for trip to Rome was provided. I’m sure they will have some personal expenses and the publicity etc will cost money but I think the expenses of keeping a legal team must be huge.

Anyway, I’m sure it will all have to be accounted for , then we’ll know.

You’re speculating about them being on full-time pay for six months because this is the NHS norm. But I get the impression that the McCanns are settling permanently in Portugal, which would mean this is not just a leave of absence but a retirement.

Also, I imagine the goodwill is running out. If I was Mark Warner I would not let the McCanns stay for free indefinitely (just for them they have two apartments; one to live in and another is being used as an office for fan mail, donations and Team McCann Portugal branch meetings). However, Mark Warner has said that they will let the McCanns and their family members not only stay at the resort for free "for as long as they need to", they’re also paying for all their flights back and forth.

It is generally agreed that at least one member of the McCann family has quit his job to be a full-time campaign manager (Gerry’s brother). So it would not surprise me if other McCann family members were on the payroll.

Other than that, they have in their employ two solicitors, one barrister, the PR firm Bell Pottinger, two "trauma consultantS" and a firm of accountants. Someone from the Foreign Office who devotes themselves to the McCanns full-time is there, courtesy of the British taxpayer, as are two "Crackers", 3 officers of the Leicestershire police.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=454949&in_page_id=1770

Although I’m pretty sure they’ve got someone in their employ trying to counter negative publicity, so far I have seen no evidence of them mounting legal actions against people who post on internet forums/message boards. It would be impossible for them to take civil actions against the anti-McCann camp for several reasons, the primary reason being most of it is speculation and not outright defamation.