Spitting on the Marines [Michael Ledeen]
Here is an e-mail from a Marine chaplain recently returned from Iraq. The story speaks for itself?lousy treatment of our troops at our own airports. He writes about Oakland, and while checking around I find that this is a common experience. I hope that one of our leaders will find a way to put an end to such behavior.
Marines and Soldiers Returning from Iraq not allowed into Oakland terminal
On September 27th 204 Marines and soldiers who were
returning from Iraq were not allowed into the
passenger terminal at Oakland International Airport.
Instead they had to deplane about 400 yards away from
the terminal where the extra baggage trailers were
located.
This was the last scheduled stop for fuel and food
prior to flying to Hawaii where both were based. The
trip started in Kuwait on September 26th with a
rigorous search of checked and carry on baggage by US
Customs. All baggage was x-rayed with a "backscatter"
machine AND each bag was completely emptied and hand
searched. After being searched, checked bags were
marked and immediately placed in a secure container.
Carry on bags were then x rayed again to ensure no
contraband items were taken on the plane. While
waiting for the bus to the airport, all personnel were
in quarantined in a fenced area and were not allowed
to leave.
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 excited 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.
It felt like being spit on. Every Marine and soldier
felt the message loud and clear, "YOU ARE NOT WELCOME
IN OAKLAND!"
Chaplain Brandon Harding
1ST BN 3D MARINES
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=Mjk1NDAxMWZjNDhhODI2Mjc5Nzk1MWMzNWIyYTI0NjY=
