Dover: Tell me, Mr Gates « Knee Deep in the Hooah!

Sometimes, the ignorance coming out of Washington DC is so stunning, I am rendered almost speechless. From Thunder Run comes the following:

Tell Me Mr. Gates….How Can You Lift the Ban After This?

Please Mr. Gates, tell me how you can continue forward with your plan to lift the ban after visiting Dover and having, as your press release notes: “…. very moving experience …”?

Gates Pays Respects to Fallen Servicemembers at Dover
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 17, 2009 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates traveled to Dover Air Force Base, Del., last night to pay his respects to four servicemembers killed recently in Afghanistan, a senior Pentagon official said here today.

Gates “wanted to personally honor the sacrifice” of the three soldiers and one airman who died last weekend in a roadside bomb attack near Jalalabad, Afghanistan, Press Secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters.

Jalalabad is located between the Afghan capital of Kabul and the Pakistani city of Peshawar.

The secretary’s visit to Dover last night “was a very moving experience for him,” Morrell said….

There is more, of course. Go here and read the rest, and be SURE to read the comments. David, and two Gold Star Families, goes beyond my “ignorance” comment.

The insanity continues.

11 Comments

aimee
March 20, 2009

Claire,
I am at a loss of words about these people; it’s no wonder I am having chest pain today.
Is Mr Gates going to be present each time the Media turns the ‘final’ supposed solemn homecoming of our fallen into a circus event like they’ve been shown to do in the past? I mean they have proven they are true supporters of the Military; I know we can trust them to do it justice. NOT.
Will they (the media) be giving commentary throughout their ‘edit’ of the ‘event’? Perhaps follow up with a ’round table discussion’ to discuss the war, the deaths, the family, etc, etc.
Is this ‘working group’ made up of real Army families or just Administration puppets or those with an OBVIOUS agenda? I trust them–like I trust no one in power right now.
This policy protected the families and the fallen. If families wanted to invite the media to their private funeral services they could–nothing prevented that; wonder how many did? Maybe not enough for the media and liberals to ‘push’ their agendas — even if it is at the cost of a grieving family.
A ha, I see. Let’s fly the grieving family out there so we can videotape them too or make sure we can pressure them, in person, for permission to photograph their loved one’s coffin—-that will surely add to the drama of the event. Let’s catch everything with our cameras.
What’s WRONG with these people??? They do NOT think or feel as the average American does–they only think their political bent.
What’s next on the liberals agenda for us and our Soldiers? I knew bad stuff was coming after Jan 20 but I had no idea just how bad it would be.
I guess I wasn’t at a loss for words.

aimee
March 20, 2009

I have an idea–let’s invite the Patriot Guard Riders to ‘guard’ our fallen and their families from the media which will be at Dover when this policy is put into place. Both the supposed “Christian” church which picketed many Military funerals and the media have a lot in common–they both want to push their agenda at the cost of a grieving family and they use (abuse) the law to do so.

Claire
March 20, 2009

Aimee, I am with you on all of your sentiments. I don’t think that a day goes by that I am not totally and utterly ashamed of our Government and their lack of integrity, their lack of love for the law and their hypocrisy. To think that Pelosi spouted out that she was going to get rid of the corruption in Congress… yeah, well she would need to start with herself — crook, blame thyself!

I had the exact same idea about using the PGRs. They could put a barrier in between the families and the media. Nobody tends to argue with a 6foot 4, Vietnam Veteran wearing leather.

joyce
March 21, 2009

http://knottiesniche.blogspot.com/ A gold star mom weighs in on this. Please go read what she says. Wow

aimee
April 2, 2009

Here is the news release on the policy — it leaves out SO much..I want to see the actual policy. There are too many unanswered questions on this release.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=53741

aimee
April 2, 2009

Oh no!! Claire, I’m sorry — I didn’t stop to review your linking policy again. If the above link is not OK with you please feel free to remove it.
The Gold Star mom’s blog post says everything. Sad that politics and so called ‘freedom of information’ take priority over a grieving family.

Claire
April 2, 2009

Aimee, don’t you worry about it at all! I am more than happy to leave the link and I am going to visit it. I haven’t been able to do much on this lately, but maybe this weekend I can try and figure out where to find the policy. I am sure it is available via FOIA.

The linking policy is just a warning to spammers. You are a friend, so please always feel free to leave a link if you think it’s a good one for people to know about!! Thank you for the added info, Aimee!

aimee
April 2, 2009

Oh good–you are very kind:)
Regarding the full wording in the policy–someone we both “know” suggested contacting a State Representative to get a hold of it. I am hoping to find it on the Internet but may have to resort to that. I still feel strongly this is not a good change…too many things can go wrong and I still don’t trust the motives of most media to have ‘honorable’ intentions.
On a more positive note—hope you are enjoying some nice spring weather now:)
Blessings, aimee

Claire
April 2, 2009

Aimee, I just “twittered” Senator Jim DeMint (he’s not my Rep, but I think if anyone would know he would and he might be willing to accommodate).

I really hate that families have to answer this dreaded question at all, but even worse… when they are in shock and in disbelief. They are vulnerable. Why can’t this decision be made ahead of time? Ticks me off.

aimee
April 2, 2009

Thank you. I hope he will be able to help–families at least need to know ALL the details of this policy before making this kind of decision which, IMO, could come back later to haunt them. Most of the national media (and sadly others in power) don’tt understand the concept “rest in peace’ or ”honoring’ the Soldiers and — I’ve still heard nothing of any penalties or sanctions that would take affect if the media doesn’t follow policy.
Ahhh! As if we didn’t have stress enough

Claire
April 2, 2009

I know Aimee. I am also wondering if the family has the right to change their mind on a second’s notice. Like seconds before the event… can they say “get the media out of here, I changed my mind?”

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aimee
March 20, 2009

Claire,
I am at a loss of words about these people; it’s no wonder I am having chest pain today.
Is Mr Gates going to be present each time the Media turns the ‘final’ supposed solemn homecoming of our fallen into a circus event like they’ve been shown to do in the past? I mean they have proven they are true supporters of the Military; I know we can trust them to do it justice. NOT.
Will they (the media) be giving commentary throughout their ‘edit’ of the ‘event’? Perhaps follow up with a ’round table discussion’ to discuss the war, the deaths, the family, etc, etc.
Is this ‘working group’ made up of real Army families or just Administration puppets or those with an OBVIOUS agenda? I trust them–like I trust no one in power right now.
This policy protected the families and the fallen. If families wanted to invite the media to their private funeral services they could–nothing prevented that; wonder how many did? Maybe not enough for the media and liberals to ‘push’ their agendas — even if it is at the cost of a grieving family.
A ha, I see. Let’s fly the grieving family out there so we can videotape them too or make sure we can pressure them, in person, for permission to photograph their loved one’s coffin—-that will surely add to the drama of the event. Let’s catch everything with our cameras.
What’s WRONG with these people??? They do NOT think or feel as the average American does–they only think their political bent.
What’s next on the liberals agenda for us and our Soldiers? I knew bad stuff was coming after Jan 20 but I had no idea just how bad it would be.
I guess I wasn’t at a loss for words.
aimee
March 20, 2009

I have an idea–let’s invite the Patriot Guard Riders to ‘guard’ our fallen and their families from the media which will be at Dover when this policy is put into place. Both the supposed “Christian” church which picketed many Military funerals and the media have a lot in common–they both want to push their agenda at the cost of a grieving family and they use (abuse) the law to do so.
Claire
March 20, 2009

Aimee, I am with you on all of your sentiments. I don’t think that a day goes by that I am not totally and utterly ashamed of our Government and their lack of integrity, their lack of love for the law and their hypocrisy. To think that Pelosi spouted out that she was going to get rid of the corruption in Congress… yeah, well she would need to start with herself — crook, blame thyself!

I had the exact same idea about using the PGRs. They could put a barrier in between the families and the media. Nobody tends to argue with a 6foot 4, Vietnam Veteran wearing leather.
joyce
March 21, 2009

http://knottiesniche.blogspot.com/ A gold star mom weighs in on this. Please go read what she says. Wow
aimee
April 2, 2009

Here is the news release on the policy — it leaves out SO much..I want to see the actual policy. There are too many unanswered questions on this release.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=53741
aimee
April 2, 2009

Oh no!! Claire, I’m sorry — I didn’t stop to review your linking policy again. If the above link is not OK with you please feel free to remove it.
The Gold Star mom’s blog post says everything. Sad that politics and so called ‘freedom of information’ take priority over a grieving family.
Claire
April 2, 2009

Aimee, don’t you worry about it at all! I am more than happy to leave the link and I am going to visit it. I haven’t been able to do much on this lately, but maybe this weekend I can try and figure out where to find the policy. I am sure it is available via FOIA.

The linking policy is just a warning to spammers. You are a friend, so please always feel free to leave a link if you think it’s a good one for people to know about!! Thank you for the added info, Aimee!
aimee
April 2, 2009

Oh good–you are very kind:)
Regarding the full wording in the policy–someone we both “know” suggested contacting a State Representative to get a hold of it. I am hoping to find it on the Internet but may have to resort to that. I still feel strongly this is not a good change…too many things can go wrong and I still don’t trust the motives of most media to have ‘honorable’ intentions.
On a more positive note—hope you are enjoying some nice spring weather now:)
Blessings, aimee
Claire
April 2, 2009

Aimee, I just “twittered” Senator Jim DeMint (he’s not my Rep, but I think if anyone would know he would and he might be willing to accommodate).

I really hate that families have to answer this dreaded question at all, but even worse… when they are in shock and in disbelief. They are vulnerable. Why can’t this decision be made ahead of time? Ticks me off.
aimee
April 2, 2009

Thank you. I hope he will be able to help–families at least need to know ALL the details of this policy before making this kind of decision which, IMO, could come back later to haunt them. Most of the national media (and sadly others in power) don’tt understand the concept “rest in peace’ or ”honoring’ the Soldiers and — I’ve still heard nothing of any penalties or sanctions that would take affect if the media doesn’t follow policy.
Ahhh! As if we didn’t have stress enough
Claire
April 2, 2009

I know Aimee. I am also wondering if the family has the right to change their mind on a second’s notice. Like seconds before the event… can they say “get the media out of here, I changed my mind?”