Herr Dweeb himself. Calvin L. Scovell III
Posted on 01/31/2008 8:14:29 PM PST by LibWhacker
By Audrey Hudson - The Oakland International Airport did not break any laws or regulations when it denied 200 Marines and soldiers access to the passenger terminal during a layover last year from Iraq to the troops' home base in Hawaii, the Transportation Department says.
Calvin L. Scovell III, the department's inspector general, blamed the mix-up on security concerns and a communication failure between the Defense Department and the Homeland Security Department.
The contract to allow military layovers at the California airport "did not require that military personnel have access to the airport terminal; it only required that military personnel be allowed to deplane and stretch their legs on stops lasting over one hour," said a report released yesterday to House lawmakers who requested an investigation into the matter.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Just because it’s legal doesn’t make it right.
And we expected a different outcome?
No.
President Bush's biggest mistake.
It hasn’t taken long for that “we support the troops but not the war” hypocrisy to be exposed. It’s only going to get more blatant now that they think they’re about to own the White House.
Legal Opinion?
Well, whats legal and whats moral are 2 different matters
President Bush's biggest mistake.
With more than a hatfull of big mistakes, it is hard to tell what is the biggest.
Hope more than a few took their frustrations out on the potted plants.
RE: The Contract
Does anybody really think somebody knew about and understood The Contract when security denied the troops? When the House called, airport lawyers scrambled to find the grounds after the fact.
When I was at Dallas/Fort Worth International last month, the host of the TGIFs tried valiantly to persuade several uniformed servicemen into the restaurant. I’ve never seen a host of any restaurant-—inside or outside an airport terminal-—do that before.
Its atrocious behavior to be sure
Are you frigging kidding me?
Snip:
Airport officials were concerned that the flight’s ground staff could not provide “an adequate level of escort and control of such a large group of military personnel in or around the terminal area,” the inspector’s report said.
The report also said the Homeland Security and Defense departments have no coordinated policy to conduct security screenings or a communications process to allow the Marines and soldiers in passenger terminals.
Ok smarty, what would you do. It’s easy playing armchair quarterback when you don’t need to worry about being sacked.
I believe this a blatant slap in the face to our Military personnel by the Leftists of the Bay.
Most unfortunate that someone in the Administration hadn’t the foresight to create protocol for such matters as it is understood the SF/Oak area would be precisely the locale of some form of insult/protest against our Military.
“The contract to allow military layovers at the California airport “did not require that military personnel have access to the airport terminal; it only required that military personnel be allowed to deplane and stretch their legs on stops lasting over one hour,” said a report released yesterday to House lawmakers who requested an investigation into the matter.”
That statement is to be expected from the likes of the Leftist scumbags reasoning their lack of decency, respect, and commonsense through their mucus drowned Leftist brain cells.
Oh, well that’s ok then! Good for Oakland. If taking leak wasn’t in the contract well screw ‘em. /s
*I* will fly into San Jose next time. Oakland can kiss my ass.
“Airport officials were concerned that the flight’s ground staff could not provide “an adequate level of escort and control of such a large group of military personnel in or around the terminal area,” the inspector’s report said.”
Well, I’m not all that smart, but, gee, groups of ten at time, or? would’ve worked, ya’ think?
...getting sacked, yeah, right.
Much easier at San Jose anyway. I will never fly into Oakland.
I'm sure the folks would have liked to spit on the Marines. But I guess they just weren't brave little military loathers.
Last I heard the troops were on OUR side. You can imagine if they had landed at a Military Base and OAK didn’t get its landing and takeoff fees what the stink would have been.
As a Vet, I take umbrage that these GS W2ers question my intentions etc, especially the fractured English ones, Lord knows what my reaction would be if I were on Active Duty....
Time to pull any Federal Funds they receive for anything. NOW
Meanwhile, back here in Maine, there has not been ONE plane of returning/leaving troops arrive at Bangor National Airport since the GULF WAR that has not been met by a welcoming committee..
Here's a story from last summer when they reached the 500,000 milestone...
http://bangornews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=153324&zoneid=500
This is also where a troop plane crossed paths Air Force One - and got a surprise visit.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45682-2004Sep23.html
Un-stinkin'-real. THEY were concerned about the level of over a group of military personnel that has been laying their lives on the line for our freedom?
What the heck did they think these guys were going to do? Slaughter civilians, like the muzzies would?
If we can trust our nation’s life to our military (and I think we can) we can certainly trust them to conduct themselves appropriately going in out of the airport restrooms and the on site Burger King.
It was 200 Marines, right? Like, any normal flight that might be deplaning at any given time. And Oakland Airport can't handle that?
B-U-L-L $#!t
Security: What 200 Marines can't secure themselves?
B-U-L-L $#!t
Oh, they were worried that the Marines were going to take over the airport?
Like the entire staff of TSA and local PD are going to take on 200 battle hardened Marines.
Bwahahahaha
200 people is about the same number that get off a large jet flight, and that happens dozens of times a day at any airport. It's a drop in the bucket compared to the total passengers milling around.
If security was some sort of concern (These are US Marines, so they are highly unlikely to be terrorists, and you can be sure their NCOs would assure that no weapons came off the aircraft anyway.)
Marines are going to take a whole less "escort and control" (well unless you are a Marine NCO or Officer, ya can't control them anyway) than a bunch of college or high school students on spring break or a field trip. I saw almost that many kids getting onto the shuttle to the gates in Orlando on Monday, all girls, and probably a lot more "out of control" than the Marines.
Everyday at the DFW airport there is a Welcome Home Heroes program where folks numbering anywhere from a 50 - 500 greet the troops as they come home for 2 wk. R & R. It has gotten national aclaim...I am a proud part of that program when time permits. If you have any time the next time you are in town go to B-37 and see where this happens..
On a smaller scale, I’ve seen travelers applaud as individual service members have come through the airport in Milwaukee.
The people in Bangor deserve a lot of credit for their kind treatment of the troops who travel through their city.
Surely, you Bush Bashers won't mind a little 'fair and balanced' reminder - not that I give a rat's rump if you do. Keep in mind, this list if from 2004, so not everything is here. I know most wont read it - but it's worth scanning and there may be some who want to copy it - It's an old FR thread - go to post # 6
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1096125/posts There's also this article that came out this month (well, January) - a great read.
THE LEGACY
http://www.opinionjournal.com/forms/printThis.html?id=110011098
I post these links for FR's who can think on more than one cylinder -
Thank you and the good people there for their good work welcoming our soldiers, sailors, and marines.
Thanks for that link about Bush and AF-1, good read.
I think President Bush is a fantastic President.
I also think that Homeland Security was his biggest mistake.
“unless you are a Marine NCO or Officer,”
Better duck! LOL!
I am not a Bush hater. The man has done much right. Not everything he has touched has turned to gold. It is good, for president and citizen alike, that there is an eight year maximum on the presidency.
President Bush's biggest mistake.
Umm. Bush doesn't think so. He has managed to add more chains to Americans, a consequence of success in his mind.
It's also too bad that passing a common sense test is not a requirement for running an airport.
"Put your left hand on your right ear, your right hand on your left ear, and pull. When you hear a large popping sound, that means your head has been removed from your ..."
How the Marines were mistreated was dead wrong. That being said, Oakland is not a large airport by any means I fly in and out of OAK often. Easy parking and you don’t have to walk for miles to your gate or baggage claim. I don’t know what timd of day they landed but they roll up the sidewalks at night. This may not have been an intentional snub—never underestimate simple incompetence.
Who better to do as they please as those who fight for this country? These aren’t your everyday Dick and Jane’s laying over... who do as they please. They too are citizens, and more than citizens.
There’s got to be a military reason from ‘up high’; You know those who came in during the Clinton days still here. I’d hate to think it’s only litigious. Otherwise, Oakland is free to secede and not to expect any military services, nor the bases, posts, contracts, research attached. Terror warning... you’re on your own, attacked, too bad. Maybe if personnel left and hit their pockets... oh, and pull those funds from DC, all of them.
really?
I suppose the city voting this week, telling the Marines (office) to get outta town, that they're not welcomed - while at the same time, making sure Code Pink has the permits, parking spaces, etc that they want - isn't "intentional" either?
Just an oversight - move along.
Littlegreenfootballs.com has been following this story and the commenters did a thorough fisking of this article.
Berkeley is or should be an island unto itself. But guess what, not everyone in Calif is unpatriotic. Have you ever been to the Oakland airport? It’s like hicksville. The possibility should be considered that they are just morons who can’t handle anything out of the ordinary. Don’t paint with so wide a brush unless you have proof. Berkeley, as noted, has zero credibility re the Marines, but believe it or not, even Cal has its Conservatives and evangelial Christians.
you’re beginning to sound like someone who “doth protest too much”
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