Because They Can …
Posted by: Blue Collar Muse in Blogroll, Individual Responsibility, Law Enforcement, Liberal, Politics, US Military, You'd Be WrongKarl at Leaning Straight Up has an infuriating post up yesterday morning. What’s infuriating is not what Karl said - it’s what he reported on.
Titled ‘San Francisco’s Military Disease Spreads to Oakland’ it chronicles the shabby, disrespectful and outright insulting treatment accorded our troops passing through Oakland’s airport on the way from Iraq to their base in Hawaii. Most disturbing is that this isn’t the first time this sort of thing has happened to troops in this airport.
Karl’s report contains an excerpt from an email making the rounds.
The first stop for fuel/food and crew change was in Leipzig Germany. Troops exited the aircraft and took a bus to a reception area in the terminal, where there was a convenience store, phones, Internet and restrooms. As we exited the bus we were given a re-boarding pass. Three troops remained on the plane with the rifles and pistols. There was no ammunition on the plane and the bolts of the rifles had been removed. After about 2 hours troops re-boarded the plane and flew to JFK in NY.
At JFK the procedure was similar to Germany, 3 troops stayed on the plane to guard weapons while the rest deplaned. At the gate we were each given a re-boarding pass and spent about 1.5 hours in the terminal, at which time we re-boarded and flew to Oakland.
As we came in for the final approach to Oakland a Lieutenant who served in Afghanistan with the same unit in 2006 mentioned how when they landed in Oakland they were not allowed in the terminal. He said, “they made us get out by the FED EX building and we had to sit out there for 3 hours”. He also indicated he was almost arrested by the TSA for getting belligerent about them not letting the Marines into the terminal.
Well, the same thing happened again. This time we did not park by the FED EX building, instead we were offloaded near the grass that separates the active runway from the taxi ramp, about 400 yards from the terminal. When we inquired why they wouldn’t allow us in the airport they gave us some lame excuse that we hadn’t been screened by TSA. While true, the screening which we did have was much more thorough than any TSA search and was done by US Customs. Additionally, JFK didn’t seem to have a problem with our entering their terminal, nor did security in Germany.
But y’know, dissent is the highest form of patriotism and the Left is all about supporting the troops. You’d think it would be safe to trust the Left at least on something so basic as respect for the troops protecting them. But you’d be wrong …
Wondering if I have mentioned recently that Oakland is also a Sanctuary City …
Blue Collar Muse
SEE ALSO:
Oakland Airport to US Marines: You’re Not Worthy at OC Blog
What Happened to Our Troops in Oakland at Michelle Malkin
Spitting on the Marines at National Review
Fake [?] Anti-Troop Email Making RW Rounds at Daily Kos
Official TSA Statement on the Matter at TSA.gov
Can We Question Their Patriotism Yet? at Wake Up Americans
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Entries (RSS)
October 2nd, 2007 at 5:57 am
Don’t see what this has to do with the left. Period.
.
October 2nd, 2007 at 1:10 pm
Jeff -
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
I understand that you don’t see connection. It seems likely, however, that you’re the only one who can’t.
Blue
October 2nd, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Below is our official TSA statement on this issue. Bottom line, no TSA regulation or person prohibited those soldiers from entering the terminal.
TSA STATEMENT ON INCIDENT INVOLVING U.S. TROOPS AT OAKLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
On Thursday, September 27, 2007 North American Airlines flight #1777 carrying soldiers and marines landed at Oakland International Airport from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) where passengers were screened by U.S. Customs upon landing from overseas.
At no time were service men and women prohibited from entering the sterile area of Oakland International Airport by TSA personnel or regulations. Airport officials, the airline and ground handling company coordinated the arrival and all services associated with this flight, including refueling, refreshing supplies on the aircraft, maintenance checks and all passenger services.
TSA personnel across the country have worked closely with airports to ensure the utmost care when handling flights involving our troops and will continue to facilitate their movement to the greatest extent possible while ensuring a high level of security for all travelers.
October 2nd, 2007 at 3:04 pm
Chris -
Thanks for your comment and your inclusion of the TSA’s official statement on the matter.
I’m not sure that the TSA is being blamed for this but I can appreciate some preemptive statements to head off any adverse publicity.
Since, as you say, TSA is not responsible, who is? Who sent the plane to the location it was parked for its stay in Oakland? Is that routine? Are other planes and their passengers sent there? Also, what is the “sterile area” you reference in your comment? Is that the terminal? I’m not sure how many people in the general population understand that term as it applies in your comment. Could you please clarify?
Once again, thanks of coming by and adding to the information being put out there on the matter. Please feel free to comment on anything at any time.
Blue
January 8th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
It is very sad that the TSA people have such little respect for our armed services people. My son, US navy, and looks it with the haircut and his ID has had similar trouble with TSA personnel traveling in civilian clothes but showing his military ID.
How does it go, “authority is corrupting and TSA authority is…”
January 9th, 2008 at 9:13 am
So what was the final verdict on what happend in Oakland? Were troops refused entry to the terminal or not?
January 9th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Troops never got served as far as I know.
Sad.
Blue