FT HOOD - Not only did Homeland Security czar Janet Napolitano apologize, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs U.S. Navy Admiral Mike Mullens flew into Ft. Hood today for a special meeting, along with the Texas Congressman Chet Edwards to tell the 4th Infantry brass how much the President and America appreciates their soldiers' service in Iraq, sources tell us.
The U.S. Army's 4th Infantry is just returning from 15 months deployment, and it's rather a coincidence that for the first time in military history such a visit has taken place, and how convenient -- just when the heat is turned up for the outrageous accusation against our returning troops found in the Homeland Security's report made public yesterday..
Outrage over the Homeland Security Dept's report blasting veterans returning from Iraq as potential domestic terrorists and right wing extremists cause Napolitano to backtrack on Fox News this am:
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano apologized to veterans after a report issued by her department said troops returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were at risk for being recruited by right-wing extremists.
"To the extent veterans read it as an accusation ... an apology is owed," she said during an on-air interview on FOX News Thursday, a day after veterans' groups and members of Congress blasted her for the report, which they said libeled members of the armed forces.
"This was an assessment, not an accusation," Napolitano continued. "It was limited to extremists those who seek to commit violence within the United States. And all this was meant to do was to give law enforcement what we call 'situational awareness.'"
"The last thing I want to do is offend or castigate all veterans. To the contrary, let's meet and clear the air," she said.
