Friday, Dec. 17, 2004 10:41 a.m. EST
Iraq Vet: McCain Snubbed the Troops

An Iraq war veteran who was part of the original invasion force went public yesterday with allegations that Sen. John McCain snubbed the troops when he visited the front lines during the early days of the occupation - while noting that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld routinely met with GIs during repeated visits to the war zone.

Identified only by his first name, Iraq GI Dan described the McCain visit during an unsolicited call to Sean Hannity's ABC Radio Network broadcast - saying he was upset that the Arizona Republican was accusing Rumsfeld of being oblivious to the concerns of troops on the ground.
"I had to let you know about this because I really don't think too many people know," the GI caller told Hannity. "McCain comes over and we do this whole big reception thing. It's 140-something degrees out. Soldiers are standing at attention outside, waiting for this guy to come."
The Iraq vet said that when McCain finally arrived, he "[didn't] say a single word to any of the soldiers."

Instead, said GI Dan, McCain spent "about five minutes at our safehouse there. And then he leaves - he didn't talk to a single soldier that was actually there . . . He didn't ask a single one of us anything."

The Iraq GI said it's much different when Rumsfeld visits Iraq.

"Every time [he] has gone over there - whether it's Afghanistan, Iraq, wherever - he's always made a point of talking to as many soldiers as he can; from a private, a low-ranking soldier, all the way up [the chain of command]."

Here's a full transcript of GI Dan's eye-opening comments to Sean Hannity:

I had to let you know about this because I really don't think too many people know about this.

I just got out of the army a little while ago. I was in Northern Iraq when we first jumped in, in March of 2003. Northern Iraq is probably a third of Iraq's oil.

John McCain comes over - and this is the thing that's killing me with him right now - McCain comes over and we do this whole big reception thing. It's 140-something degrees out. Soldiers are standing at attention outside, waiting for this guy to come.

He comes in - doesn't say a single word to any of the soldiers. He spends about five minutes at our safehouse there. And then he leaves - he didn't talk to a single soldier that was actually there.

All he wanted to see were the reports from the Northern Oil company there and how the company was going to deal with terrorist attacks on the pipeline leaving there . . .

Every time Rumsfeld has gone over there - whether it's Afghanistan, Iraq, wherever - he's always made a point of talking to as many soldiers as he can; from a private, a low-ranking soldier all the way up. McCain goes over there and he didn't find out anything from my soldiers, which were in a completely unique position.

We held the area that the Northern Oil Company was located in. We dealt with all the problems with terrorist attacks there. And he didn't ask a single one of us anything.

Macain snubs troops

You've got to give McCain his due, surviving 7 years at the Hanoi Hilton. But sometimes this guy is all over the place, like his political flirtation with Kerry and his criticism of Rumsfeld. He's not a true team player, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, but it could be.

In re Rumsfeld....

So GI Dan says this ""Every time [he] has gone over there - whether it's Afghanistan, Iraq, wherever - he's always made a point of talking to as many soldiers as he can; from a private, a low-ranking soldier, all the way up [the chain of command]."

Wow - how does he know?? Does he shadow Rumsfeld??

Sounds like BS to me... And consider the source...

quote:

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Originally posted by RIML:
In re Rumsfeld....

So GI Dan says this ""Every time [he] has gone over there - whether it's Afghanistan, Iraq, wherever - he's always made a point of talking to as many soldiers as he can; from a private, a low-ranking soldier, all the way up [the chain of command]."

Wow - how does he know?? Does he shadow Rumsfeld??

Sounds like BS to me... And consider the source...

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Yes Ron, let's consider the source. He was actually IN Iraq and probably met and talked to Rumsfeld. If he was THERE when McCain visited and witnessed it, who are WE to question whether it happened the way he said it did?

Whether it sounds like BS or not, if he was there...he was there! And whether McCain was in the Hanoi Hilton has no bearing on how he treats the troops now. Reports show that he told the North Viet Namese whatever he thought would keep him alive longer.

There are things I don't like about John McCain, and some of them have to do with his political associations. McCain and Feingold were the ones to introduce Campaign Finance Reform, which goes as far as infringing on our right to free speech, by limiting the voice of the people within ninety days of an election. Needless to say, but he's not one of my favorite people!

WHOA PUPPIES !!
thgis clown said he and his buddies where out in 140 degree heat in MARCH!!
this must be the same clown who alledgedly wrote a letter to mommy from afghanstan .. talking about the frozen ground .. and how he he to shoe away the scorpions and snakes ..
some ding-dong calls sean hannity and you take him as solemn word ..
at least get the facts about weather right ..if he can't do that .. then he's off the table with me ..
anyway .. this guy says he knows that Rumfled sees everyone and McCain doesn't see anyone .. hate to tell you but the SoD can go any damn place he wants .. he's the top daddy .. senators are told where they can go and who they can talk to .. and secretaries of defense see that that happens .. and by th way .. i think it falls more to the commanding officer to havw te men atattention .. rather than the visitor ..soemhow I don't see Mcain demanding the troops stand at attention .. unlike Anne Coulter .. John has seen combat .. and has walked the walk..talked the talk ..
as for the "reports" about John McCain's actions as a prisoner ..I put them in the category as the smearing of Max Cleland .... I've seen interviews with people who were there and medic that saved Cleland's life .. I take the word of people who were there over annie coulter's blatherings

HFB, I never said I believed every word he wrote. If, however, he WAS there and DID see the things he reported, that's one thing. If this is the same clown who wrote the other letter, it is another matter altogether.

Holton,
Some of the reports I read have excerpts of McCain's own words acknowledging that he told them whatever they wanted to hear. I can't hold that against him, though, because I don't know that I wouldn't have done the same thing.

I still stand behind my other statement about the McCain-Feingold bill that basically gags the ability of the people to bring forth facts that may have been undiscovered until the last 90 days prior to an election. With that one bill they managed to chip off just a little of our right to free speech. I do hold that against him!

quote:

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Originally posted by Holton F. Brown:
WHOA PUPPIES !!
thgis clown said he and his buddies where out in 140 degree heat in MARCH!!
this must be the same clown who alledgedly wrote a letter to mommy from afghanstan .. talking about the frozen ground .. and how he he to shoe away the scorpions and snakes ..
some ding-dong calls sean hannity and you take him as solemn word ..
at least get the facts about weather right ..if he can't do that .. then he's off the table with me ..
anyway .. this guy says he knows that Rumfled sees everyone and McCain doesn't see anyone .. hate to tell you but the SoD can go any damn place he wants .. he's the top daddy .. senators are told where they can go and who they can talk to .. and secretaries of defense see that that happens .. and by th way .. i think it falls more to the commanding officer to havw te men atattention .. rather than the visitor ..soemhow I don't see Mcain demanding the troops stand at attention .. unlike Anne Coulter .. John has seen combat .. and has walked the walk..talked the talk ..
as for the "reports" about John McCain's actions as a prisoner ..I put them in the category as the smearing of Max Cleland .... I've seen interviews with people who were there and medic that saved Cleland's life .. I take the word of people who were there over annie coulter's blatherings

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it's not hard to not take ANYONE'S word over ann's blatherings.

quote:

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Originally posted by GraeWolphe:
I still stand behind my other statement about the McCain-Feingold bill that basically gags the ability of the people to bring forth facts that may have been undiscovered until the last 90 days prior to an election. With that one bill they managed to chip off just a little of our right to free speech. I do hold that against him!

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McCain-Feingold takes the pen out of your hand, and won't let you write a letter to the editor 90 days before an election???

It won't let you put a sign up in your yard??

It won't ley you put a bumpersticker on your car??

It won't let you call in to talk radio to give your opinion??

It won't let you buy an ad somewhere?

It won't let you distribute informational pamphlets?

Wow!! I didn't know it muzzled you like that!!??

No Ron, it doesn't go that far, but it does step on the right to free press during that time, which in effect does gag the populace to some degree. It may not take away our voice altogether, but wouldn't you agree that any amount of gagging is too much. It only begins the process of stepping on our rights, what comes next?

Ron I will go along with McCain spending 7.5 years in the Hanoi Hilton but the way he badmouthed other POW's when he came home erased almost all Vietnam Veterans feelings for him most are aware or feel that he got better treatment than others because of his Father's position I don't know I was not there but I will never forgive or forget the memeriol embrace that we saw this for our selves.

Sully...

Maybe you can expand upon what you say regarding McCain.

He was offered an early out from POW camp, and refused to take it knowing it was a political ruse. Shipmate of mine knew him in camp - was ordered to take the early out as he had memorized names of 260 fellow POW's... Many only known as MIA prior to his return. Came back with intelligence goldmine..

What is there that we "Vietnam Vets" are not supposed to be forgiving him for?? I must have missed something on the Plan of the Day....

quote:

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Originally posted by GraeWolphe:
No Ron, it doesn't go that far, but it does step on the right to free press during that time, which in effect does gag the populace to some degree. It may not take away our voice altogether, but wouldn't you agree that any amount of gagging is too much. It only begins the process of stepping on our rights, what comes next?

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Judging by what we saw go on in the last election, there was certasinly no shortage of special interest money and press at any level.

You would be much better served by writing a decent, thoughtful letter to the editor, spelling out the reasons you would ask your friends and neighbors to vote for a particular candidate - than to rely on another massive infusion of faceless, nameless money slinging dirt and further confusion at an already numbed electorate. You - and your message - will actually get quite a bit of attention when folks see your name signed to that letter.

And by the way...your rights have already began to have been stepped on long ago. This 90 day period is quite inconsequential when you consider the many other avenues - and their effectiveness - that you already have opened to you.

RIML I will have to find some links but I remember when I was still on active duty I sat in the messdeck and John S McCain accused other POW's of collabrating with the enemy.I remember the embrace with that RVN General.

quote:

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Originally posted by Sully:
RIML I will have to find some links but I remember when I was still on active duty I sat in the messdeck and John S McCain accused other POW's of collabrating with the enemy.I remember the embrace with that RVN General.

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I don't remember any accusations of actual collaboration, though it was a given that many had either signed phony confessions, or had given up some bits of information. It was judged that the standards of giving only "Name, Rank & Serial Number" were in actuality quite unrealistic.

The shipmate, I mentioned, who had been unlucky enough to fall overboard and spend three years in the Hanoi Hilton (a seaman deuce) has been a SERE instructor in San Diego for years - damn few people he can't break from what I've been told.

As far as McCain embracing the former enemy? No problem. Warriors who have fought honorably for their countries realize their battles are not personal with each other.

I didn't hear about the SN where was he when he fell overboard. About the Warrior thing I know a lot of people that would disagree with you.