Today is June 6, 2012, the 68th Anniversary of the Normandy invasion – D Day. Along with Memorial Day, today is a day to remember veterans and their sacrifice to protect our country. Veterans deserve to be respected by citizens and government officials alike, but the Obama administration’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) seems to take their admiration with a grain of salt. In 2009, a DHS report was uncovered which said returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan could become “lone wolf extremists capable of carrying out violent attacks.” A footnote in the report specified that DHS was most concerned about hate crimes. Even the Democratic chair of the House Homeland Security Committee was “dumbfounded” the report even existed.
However, when pressed, Tim Kaine said he had “no” problem with the report suggesting America’s fighting men and women could resort to racist, domestic terrorism. At the time Kaine was Obama’s #1 political spokesman, but even members of his own party were speaking out. When something as offensive and egregious as this report came out, Kaine continued to tow the Obama line.
Kaine Said He Did Not Have A Problem With DHS’s Policy That Suggested Veterans Coming Back From Afghanistan And Iraq Could Be Terrorists. SCARBOROUGH: “But do you have a growing concern that, culturally, that this White House may be a bit tone deaf? And I speak of, of course, of what’s been going on the past couple days regarding the Department of Homeland Security suggesting that veterans may come back from Iraq and Afghanistan and be potential terrorists… So you’ve got a lot of veterans in Virginia. Overall, you don’t really have any concerns about this DHS report?” KAINE: “No.” (MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” 4/17/09)
The DHS Report Said Veterans Who Had Trouble Reintegrating Could Turn To Extreme Right Wing Groups Or Become “Lone Wolf Extremist” Who Could Commit Terrible Crimes. “In the report, dated April 7 but begun last year, the Department of Homeland Security’s intelligence section stated: ‘The return of military veterans facing significant challenges reintegrating into their communities could lead to the potential emergence of terrorist groups or lone wolf extremists capable of carrying out violent attacks.’ A footnote that defined right-wing extremist groups as primarily hate-oriented or anti-government also stated: ‘It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration.’” (Spencer Hsu, “Napolitano Offers Apology To Veterans,” The Washington Post, 4/17/09)
DHS Secretary Napolitano Apologized To Veterans For The Wording. “Acknowledging criticism by veterans groups, Napolitano said yesterday on CNN: ‘I apologize for that offense. It was certainly not intended.’ She told Fox News, ‘If there’s one part of that report I would rewrite, in the wordsmithing Washingtonese that goes on after the fact, it would be that footnote.’” (Spencer Hsu, “Napolitano Offers Apology To Veterans,” The Washington Post, 4/17/09)
- However, Napolitano Stood By The Report Itself. “Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Wednesday that she was briefed before the release of a controversial intelligence assessment and that she stands by the report, which lists returning veterans among terrorist risks to the U.S.” (Andrey Hudson and Eli Lake, “Napolitano Stands By Risks Report,” The Washington Times, 4/16/09)
The Democratic Chair Of The Homeland Security Committee Was “Dumbfounded” By The Report. “But the top House Democrat with oversight of the Department of Homeland Security said in a letter to Ms. Napolitano that he was ‘dumbfounded’ that such a report would be issued. ‘This report appears to raise significant issues involving the privacy and civil liberties of many Americans – including war veterans,’ said Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, in his letter sent Tuesday night. The letter was representative of a public furor over the nine-page document since its existence was reported in The Washington Times on Tuesday.” (Andrey Hudson and Eli Lake, “Napolitano Stands By Risks Report,” The Washington Times, 4/16/09)
KAINE: “I Want To Promote This President’s Agenda. I Want To Carry The Proud Banner Of A Proud Party.” (“Remarks By President-Elect Barack Obama And Virginia Governor Time Kaine,” Press Release, 1/8/09)
“As National Committee Chair, Kaine Works As The Top Political Messenger For President Barack Obama.” (Fred Clasen-Kelly, “Top Dem Mum On Charlotte As 2012 Site,” Charlotte Observer, 7/31/2010)