FR EXCLUSIVE: INTERVIEW WITH HIGH LEVEL NAVY COMMANDER REGARDING PRESIDENT BUSH'S TAILHOOK LANDING

After listening to the rantings and ravings of the DemocRATS who are both jealous and livid after seeing a beloved commander in chief do a tailhook landing on the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, I wanted to get the real story.

After about 5 calls and transfers and return calls, I just spoke with a Navy commander who deals with public relations. He is very high level, but because this issue is so sensitive, I agreed that I would not use his name.

When asked whether the visit of the president delayed the arrival of the Lincoln, the answer was a resounding "Absolutely not!" The Lincoln arrived when it was scheduled to arrive. Ships slow down and speed up all the time.

The Navy does not have its ships land early. No. It is just not done. It is a logistical nightmare. Tugs and other port services have to be arranged. In 1991, the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT arrived 20 hours early off the coast of Virginia. It sat out there looking at land for 20 hours. And they never come to port at night.

There were 20-25,000 families and friends expecting to watch the return of the ship and greet their loved ones.

"Psychologically," said the commander, "it would have been a nightmare. People made plane reservations, hotel reservations, long trips by car. Imagine what it would have been like for them to arrive to meet there loved ones, but it turned out that they came a day late for the event. We would have had 20-25,000 people really angry with the U.S. Navy."

The commander gave me his worst scenario for a public relations nightmare. It would be a grandma who drove all the way from Des Moines to see her grandson arrive, only to be told that she didn't make it in time; that they decided to come to port early. What do they say to her?

The commander is amazed at this flap, which has been totally invented by the media. This should be a non-issue with them. Some in the media were sworn to silence, and they were given the May 2 date about 3-4 weeks ago. They knew it would be coming to port at that time. At the appropriate time, the crew and families were notified. You just do not change the date.

As to the landing on a Viking rather than Marine One. The costs are roughly the same. Fuel and other costs for that Viking were already allocated and spent. If the President was not aboard that plane, it would have made a landing on the ship anyway. It would have done so sooner or later because it was in the budget to do it.

What has been lost in all of this, according to the commander, is that it was the Navy's idea for the President to come aboard and make a tailhook landing. They opted for an F-18. Because of security, however, the White House opted for the Viking, a 4-seater which could accommodate Secret Service.

"We would do this again," said the commander. "Ever since President Franklin Roosevelt, every president has landed aboard a Navy ship."

We finished with a laugh at the media. Members of congress and journalists are flown in and not charged. And these are the people creating an issue where none should exist.

The following is a letter from CWO Jim Wright, who lives in Huntington, WV to his Senator. Jim doesn't pull any punches and his letter reflects the way many of us feel.

Senator Robert Byrd,

I am a Retired, U. S. Navy, Chief Warrant Officer, W-4, who served Honorably on active duty for thirty-two years, from 1955 to 1987. I challenge your public criticizing and slandering our Commander in Chief and his visit to a major Iraqi War participant, the USS Abraham Lincoln, CVN-72, May 2-3, 2003. The President's visit to that fine ship was a representative symbol of our Nation's "hand shake, well done, and welcome home" salutation to every member of our armed forces who served, and continues to serve, in the Middle East War, not just for personnel of the Abraham Lincoln!

I was aboard a ship off Onslow Beach, North Carolina, when President John F. Kennedy paid us a visit during a major Joint Task Force military exercise in the spring of 1962. There was much elation and joy throughout the entire fleet of some 40 ships participating in that exercise; everyone was grateful and thankful that OUR Commander in Chief thought enough of what we were doing to come witness one of the largest and most complex joint exercises ever conducted by our military. That visit by President Kennedy is not one bit different from the visit of President Bush to the USS Abraham Lincoln last week. Later, in October 1962, I was serving aboard the Navy's first nuclear powered Aircraft Carrier, the USS Enterprise, CVAN-65, which was a part of the activated Joint Task Force, while U. S. Marines from Camp LeJeune were again backloading on amphibious ships at Onslow Beach; we were preparing for an invasion of Cuba. I remembered President Kennedy's visit there the previous spring and the significance of his visit and concern for what we were about to do, if necessary.

I watched your diatribe on the floor of the U. S. Senate yesterday, May 6, 2003. I initially hesitated to correspond with you because of heartfelt, intense disgust with your denigration of our President, and commensurately, our military forces. After much thought, I consider your conduct on the Senate floor abhorring and shameful, and deserving of any criticisms directed your way by any veteran or member of our armed forces. Your party leadership position on the Senate Armed Services Committee is dubious. Your conduct on that committee is now tainted because your defamation of our Commander in Chief will be considered in all your committee decisions and will be viewed by our military forces as being guided by a purely partisan, edifying, and self serving agenda, rather than that which is best for our military.

I believe that you owe an apology to President Bush and to every crew member of the USS Abraham Lincoln because your tirade on the Senate Floor on May 6, 2003, did much to malign the faith of many members of this Nation's military forces in our government. Our military's conduct in this crisis has been gallant, heroic, and exemplary and deserves the highest praise and respect. Your degradation of our Commander in Chief certainly does not show any praise or respect, but sadly places your partisan agenda at a higher level.

Many of my Navy and civilian friends and relatives have corresponded with me about your conduct on the Senate floor yesterday and have voiced great displeasure with your obvious pure, personal partisanship. I am being ridiculed and shamed by them because you are my representative in the Senate. I have lost much respect for you as an individual because your conduct does not reflect the dignity of your constituency, especially those of veterans and the armed forces. You have certainly made a lasting impression on many of my Navy associates and civilian friends, and relatives, especially those who do not live in our state.

I am ashamed of your representation on my behalf. Your actions demonstrate a personal, blatant, and obvious HATE for our President. Your partisanship has been fomenting since President Bush was ELECTED to office and your conduct in the Senate and public statements of defiance about every thing he has attempted to do for the past two plus years is nothing short of shameful.

Be assured that I will work feverishly to end your tenure in the U. S. Senate and to elect a more deserving representative to the office you presently hold.

Sincerely,

James H. Wright
CWO4, U. S. Navy Retired
128 Elwood Avenue
Huntington, WV 25705-2711

Excellent report, DFU. And thanks for the ping, OWF.

I couldn't believe my ears when I first heard the dems' attacks. How could anyone in his/her right mind be so ridiculous, I thought. Well, perhaps Byrd is approaching senility. And Maxine loves to holler just to hear her own voice. And Waxman? Don't know. I suspect some desperate dem (McAuliffe, maybe?) faxed these talking points around, per usual. But after our President looked so perfect in the leadership role? And the young men and women were so obviously thrilled, appreciative and had such respect for their CIC? And the country is so solidly behind him? What was wrong with the dem picture?

I talked to the mother of a returned sailor this week. The whole family is totally wired and sleepless with excitement. I asked if her son was on deck and able to see the President. She glowed when she said he was five people away from him. It has been an amazing and wonderful event. Flamboyant indeed............just more POTUS envy (I borrowed that phrase because I like it!).

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