Posted on 07/22/2005 6:58:57 PM PDT by WmShirerAdmirer
Soldiers from Massachusetts and Hawaii who work at the U.S. military detention facility at U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, gave visiting home-state senators a piece of their mind last week.
Sens. Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat, and Daniel K. Akaka, Hawaii Democrat, met with several soldiers during a visit led by Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. John W. Warner, Virginia Republican.
Pentagon officials said soldiers criticized the harsh comments made recently by Senate Democrats.
Sen. Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, the Senate's No. 2 Democrat, last month invoked widespread military outrage when he compared Guantanamo to the prison labor systems used by communist tyrant Josef Stalin, Cambodia's Pol Pot and Adolf Hitler.
"They got stiff reactions from those home-state soldiers," one official told us. "The troops down there expressed their disdain for that kind of commentary, especially comparisons to the gulag."
A spokesman for Mr. Kennedy had no comment. A spokeswoman for Mr. Akaka confirmed that the senator met with soldiers from Hawaii but did not recall receiving any complaints during the meeting.
Both senators made no mention of the incident in press statements after the visit. Mr. Kennedy, in his statement, said that he is "impressed with the courtesies and professionalism of the men and women in our armed forces."
Mr. Kennedy has been a leading advocate for closing the prison facility. Mr. Akaka in April voted for an amendment that would have cut funds for the prison.
London's lessons
Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney, an author and terrorism analyst, says al Qaeda could execute a London-type train bombing "within 24" hours ...
..."But why attack here," Gen. McInerney said in an interview, "when you have leftists in America who have aided and abetted the enemy more...
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
This Kennedy Family Dynasty is a bunch of CRAP!! Dems usually bitch and complain about things like this yet they keep sending the same old A$$ hole to the Senate, year after year. Time to throw this Trash with no ideas out into the trash heap
Splash and KaKa could care less about the fine troops that we are blessed to have serving the nation.
Wish I had more details of what was actually said to them.
Kennedy was most likely to drunk to remember his name let alone what was told to him.
Should have spit right in Ted's face!
That would have made news, even in the Slimes.
I bet if they had gone into Havana they could have found an old 73 Oldsmobile and given Ted a ride around the Bay and its bridges.
bttt
I would have loved one of the GIs to collar Kennedy and tell him, "We may treat these guys roughly, but at least none of them have drowned."
There is no kennedeee dynasty. Never has been and never will be. The kennedeee myth is over. Believe me...we fell for it too.
That's damn good news!!
you bet. Just a lot of hype from the media.
bump
Ping
I doubt Kennedy's SS would've allowed a well-deserved punch (they must have great fortitude to keep from decking him themselves), but I certainly wish someone had taped the conversations.
There has not been nearly enough response regarding Akaka. I live in Hawaii, and proudly provide this description:
Akaka....a timid, meek, unassuming, tongue-tied, jellyfish wimp cipher. 1000% liberal and doesn't know why.
Kennedy spokesman at least made no comment. Akaka said he "didn't recall" any such critical remarks. Add "liar" to the list.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.