For 5 months 'I stayed in the box'
By James H. Warner
June 29, 2005
As a Marine Corps officer, I spent five years and five months in a prisoner of war camp in North Vietnam. I believe this gives me a benchmark against which to measure the treatment which Sen. Richard Durbin, Illinois Democrat, complained of at the Camp of Detention for Islamo-fascists at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The senator's argument is silly. If he believes what he has said his judgment is so poor that his countrymen, assuming, of course, that he considers us his countrymen, have no reason not to dismiss him as a witless boob. On the other hand, if he does not believe what he said, the other members of the Senate may wish to consider censure. [...]
The argument that detainees at Guantanamo are being treated badly is specious and silly. In the eyes of normal Americans, Democrats believe this argument because, as Jeanne Kirkpatrick said 20 years ago, they "always blame America first." This contributes to the increasing suspicion, in red states, a problem that Democrats are aware of and are trying to counter, that Democrats cannot be trusted with our national security. Only the Democrats can change this perception, most recently articulated by White House adviser Karl Rove. The ball is in their court and I am certain there are steps that they can take to change this perception, but making silly arguments about imaginary bad treatment of enemy detainees is not a move in the right direction.
Mr Warner gives examples of his treatment at the hands of the North Vietnamese and compares it to the prisoners at GTMO. Read the whole thing.
I really must say that I was as deeply impressed by Sen. Durbin's emotional apology as I was by the circus act a few weeks ago when Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio), had a zoloft moment.
Too bad that Sen. Durbin didn't actually apologize for 'what' he said. I imagine that, right now, he wishes that he had.
5 comments:
The words of James H. Warner--"Specious and silly"--pretty much sum up the remarks of Durbin-the-Turban. And the far-left side of the Democratic Party.
It’s odd. On the one hand you have the Democrats in an uproar over the Rove remark that pegs them as weak on defense. So what do they do to prove they’re tough? They want to coddle the terrorists in Gitmo! And in the process they slander our nation and fighting men and women.
Note the real story on who is absued in Gitmo. (Hat tip Mustang)
In the past, I've somewhat discounted the various legends surrounding Mr Rove concerning his political genius.
After this Durbin fiasco, I'll never doubt his tactical genius again.
He plays the Democrats like a fly fisherman plays a trout.
Cast it out, wiggle it a little and watch them bite!
Well said, Warren. Perhaps if Durbin's "apology" hadn't sucked so bad, he'd be out of hot water. Alas, it was putrid and fell short of expectations. Gee, doesn't that just sum up the democratic party in general these days?
I like to listen to Sean Hannity's radio program because he has such interesting guests.
I've heard Rep. Rangel many times.
Beak, you're right about the statements he makes and when he is called to account on then he tries to equivocate. But it is unlikely that, (no matter how outrageous), a Representative will get the national coverage that a Senator will.
Last October, Rangel introduced a bill in Congress to reinstate the military draft.
He claims that minority and poor people are unfairly over represented in the Military and thinks it should be "fair".
The bill was defeated 402-2. He even voted against it and he urged other Democrats, not to vote for it.
It made him look utterly foolish.
I think Rangel neutered himself, (politically), with a rusty knife.
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