Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Buzz Patterson - Troops "Disgusted" by Dems [W. Thomas Smith Jr.]
Nancy Pelosi's not-so-subtle snubbing of General Petraeus's rank and position puts me in the mind of what I read a few years ago in Air Force Lt. Col. Robert "Buzz" Patterson's book,
Dereliction of Duty, a portion of which reads:
The 'buzz' was ... Hillary had banned military uniforms in the White House. The president eventually called the uniform ban 'an abject lie,' once it became apparent that this story didn't play well politically. ... I do know the uniform issue with Mrs. Clinton was real.
So, I phoned Buzz a few minutes ago at his LA office, and here's what he told me:
Hillary did try to ban military uniforms in the White House and we objected for national security reasons [It was important that the Secret Service and staff be able to immediately identify the military aide.]. She relented only on the one point of those who were responsible for carrying the nuclear football [the super-secret black briefcase containing the nuclear launch codes].
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Other than that, military uniforms were not worn in the White House per Hillary's directive issued down through the staff. In fact, the only military personnel who were permitted to wear uniforms at the White House were the Marine Guards (who were positioned outside of the White House) and the social aids — mostly captains and majors, who were there infrequently and only during social events, assisting guests, showing people where the bathrooms were, that kind of thing.
Regarding Pelosi's snubbing of General Petraeus and Harry Reid's "lost war" declaration, Buzz said:
The Democrats continually amaze me in how brazen they can be with our troops in harm's way. I've got several buddies — some on their third and fourth tours in Iraq and Afghanistan — and they are just beside themselves with disgust. I get a barrage of e-mails from friends and peers everyday who are serving over there. They follow my writing and are telling me to get their story out there.
Editor’s note: Please see this note.
04/25 02:12 PM
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