McCain demands White House apology

[Richard Tafoya]

CNN:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/04/21/mccain-demands-white-house-apology/

In an interview on FOX News, John McCain, Vietnam veteran and former Republican presidential candidate said the Obama administration owes veterans an apology after releasing a report last week suggesting that members of the military returning from Iraq and Afghanistan could fall victim to "right-wing extremism."

Specifically, the report — "Right-wing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment" — said right-wing extremist groups may be using the recession and the election of the nation's first African-American president to recruit members.

"The last people on earth we need to worry about are our veterans," McCain said. "And by the
way, after the Vietnam War, for years there was this portrayal of the Vietnam veteran as crazed and committing — having committed war crimes. There were all of these problems they were going to have. Studies years later have proven that it's totally false."

...


Appearing on CNN's "State of The Union" on Sunday, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said the report is not meant to paint veterans themselves as "right-wing extremists."

"The report is not saying veterans are extremists, far from it," she told CNN's John King. "What it is saying is returning veterans are targets of right-wing extremist groups that are trying to recruit those to commit violent acts within the country. We want to do all we can to prevent that."

The homeland security secretary also expressed regret that in "the politicization of everything that happens in Washington, D.C.," some have taken offense to the report.

[DoubleEdgeSword]

I'm sorry, Sen. McCain. Have you forgotten Timothy McVeigh, Gulf War veteran?

Tell me McCain isn't thinking of running again.

[Liviagray]

I'm sorry, Sen. McCain. Have you forgotten Timothy McVeigh, Gulf War veteran?

Tell me McCain isn't thinking of running again.

What you said is not right. Just because Timothy McVeigh was a veteran it doesn't mean any Iraq or Afghanistan veteran are potential terrorist. It's like to say, that any white young American lawyer can be a potential serial killer like Ted Bundy, because Ted Bundy was raised in America. Not everyone can became a terrorist and judging thousand people because one of them were terrorist is wrong and very dangerous. Because in the country, where President and Government not respect their own Army everything can happened. It's not smart to antagonise the Army and regular people, because it would make people in Army angry and who knows what would be next? Don't forget American Army is very good trained and equipped, and it would be smarter to leave a soldiers alone. They already paid a big prise with their life's and health. They don't deserve to be treated like criminals , when they already paid their dues to your country. Hatred will never bring you anywhere and judging from antagonism between Republican's a Democrats I already can say your country already is staying on the edge between crisis and collapse. US divided in many ways from the race, colour of skin, religion and political preferences and your country is suffering a major economical crisis. I don't think that anyone in US want to bring your country to Civil War II?

[WannaBreatheYou]

No one's treating them like criminals. What in the world?

All that was said was because of the possibility of PTSD and other disorders from being in combat, they have a risk of being targeted by extremist groups for recruitment. That's it.

[Liviagray]

No one's treating them like criminals. What in the world?

All that was said was because of the possibility of PTSD and other disorders from being in combat, they have a risk of being targeted by extremist groups for recruitment. That's it.

It's a wrong assumption, because every human in this world is different and put all of veterans on the same list of potential terrorists it's like put all Afro -Americans who live in the poor areas as potential gang members or drug drillers, or call every American Muslim a potential Al-Qaeda member. It's wrong generalisation and coming from government it's insult to the people, who put their life's on line for this country. They didn't choose to go to war, your government choose. They are not responsible for your country government wrongs. Your Presidents are responsible. It's not fair to treat this soldiers like they are potential terrorists, just because Democrats hate Republicans and they trying to destroy the Army image. It's a political dirty game to turn away people attention from the major problems your country have to let people to talk about something else, but economic crisis. First they want to publish the CIA secret memos, now they call all soldiers who will came from Iraq and Afghanistan a potential terrorists? What would be next? This kind of games never end good. We are talking about real peoples life and not about some Sci-fi TV serial heroes.

[WannaBreatheYou]

They aren't saying ALL veterans will come back and become extremists. What part of that do you not get? I realize English isn't your first language, and I believe I know you from under a different name that had been banned. No assumptions had been made.

There are veterans, as well as normal people, who could be the target of extremist factions in any shape or form. Yes, there are poor black kids that will get into gangs. That's not assuming anything, that's a fact of life. Yes there are Muslims who are terrorists. Not an assumption, a fact of life. There are also Irish who are terrorists too. And Jews who are terrorists. And Chinese who are terrorists. And there will be U.S. Veterans who will become terrorists. That's not to say ALL of ANY group will become terrorists/gang members/druggies/thiefs/murderers.

Also, none of this has ANYTHING to do with "Democrats hating Republicans". More like Republicans making a big deal out of NOTHING. Out of a study, that isn't partisian.

And no one's trying to destroy anything.

Shoot, some (note SOME) of the military is doing that all on their own. With getting arrested for pimping out underaged girls (Fort Lewis, WA), and robbing business establishments (again, Ft. Lewis, WA), and inattentive driving that kills a civilian (Ft. Lewis, WA). That's not to say that these soldiers are tainting the entire military image. They're just bad spots for the image.

[Richard Tafoya]

The fact is that right-wing white power groups are focusing on recruiting veterans because of their combat training, and the number of vets joining their ranks are increasing, whether as a by-product of PTSD, the economy or any other factors.

So it's a trend that DHS does want to keep an eye on, and saying so in a report doesn't paint the broader population of vets in a bad light. It says that extremist groups will be seeking to exploit them upon their return and we want to keep that from happening.

[WannaBreatheYou]

The fact is that right-wing white power groups are focusing on recruiting veterans because of their combat training, and the number of vets joining their ranks are increasing, whether as a by-product of PTSD, the economy or any other factors.

So it's a trend that DHS does want to keep an eye on, and saying so in a report doesn't paint the broader population of vets in a bad light. It says that extremist groups will be seeking to exploit them upon their return and we want to keep that from happening.

You said that so much more concisely than I could. LOL