Posted on Saturday, 5th January 2008 by Patrick Dorwin
Days before Christmas, a group of British troops flying back from service in Afghanistan were told by airport officials that they would not be allowed to enter the terminal to continue on their way home. They were forced to change out of their uniforms and into civilian clothes on the runway, before being allowed in the airport. This story makes me physically sick!!!
Afghan heroes home for Christmas forced to change out of uniforms on freezing runway before using airport terminal
Scores of soldiers flying home from Afghanistan on Christmas leave were ordered to change out of their uniforms on a freezing runway before being allowed into a civilian airport terminal.Troops were told not to be seen in public in their uniforms – which they had worn with pride while risking their lives during months of intense fighting against the Taliban.
Last night the Ministry of Defence and bosses at Birmingham International Airport blamed each other for the indignity suffered by the soldiers – which comes amid mounting anger over the treatment of British troops returning from war.
One soldier, who was ordered to undress for “security reasons”, said: “It is an insult to the entire Army to force guys who’ve been fighting in Afghanistan to obey some jobsworth rule when all they want to do is get home to their families.
“So much for a nation proud of its servicemen. The temperature was Baltic on the runway but most of just wanted to get home so we cracked on.”
I know this happened in England, but I could just imagine some petty bureaucrat in America, some place like Madison, or San Francisco, totally disrespecting our service men and women like this… If it ever happened here, I hope they try to do it in front of some REAL Americans, because WE wouldn’t allow that to stand, would we? This is insane!
h/t: Michelle Malkin
Posted in Home | Comments (13)
13 Responses to “Oh My God! This is INFURIATING!”
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January 5th, 2008 at 11:35 am
It did happen in Oakland not too long ago. A group of soldiers and Marines wasn’t allowed into the passenger terminal at Oakland International Airport.
January 5th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
The US military always told us in the 80s and 90s not to travel overseas on commercial airlines in uniform. Not a good idea to draw attention to yourself.
January 5th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
John, the big difference here is that these guys were coming back from Afganistan on a chartered airline. I also remember being told not to travel overseas in Uniform. The problem was, because of haircut regs we still stood out in a crowd no matter where we were.
January 5th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
The Kinks were ahead of their time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t00PAko1KBU
All the stories have been told
Of kings and days of old,
But there’s no England now.
All the wars that were won and lost
Somehow don’t seem to matter very much anymore.
January 5th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
I think we ought to change the name from Washington D.C. to Pelosi-ville. I mean George Washington was a war mongering violent revolutionary.
This is liberalism folks. This is Michael Mathias, John Foust and Paul Soglin in action.
January 5th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Mathias will be heartened to know he’s had such an influence on British airport policy.
January 5th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
The Brits are 5-10 years ahead of us on the rocket-sled to guilt obsessed PC hell.
January 5th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
You are correct Ron, but Jay Bullock is peddling fast as he can to catch up to Britain.
January 6th, 2008 at 12:08 am
Mickey, please look at comment #2.
January 6th, 2008 at 12:36 am
Thanks John. I’ve got a nephew who is 24 and has numerous combat medals, including a purple heart. He left for re-deployment to Iraq a couple days ago. My youngest brother is currently a body guard for the Secretary of State. Until August 06, he was a USAF Capt, then Major, including a 10 month stint just over 3 years ago, as Military attache to the U.S Embassy in Islamabad Pakistan. My brother served 70 days in Iraq this year. As a State Dept.Civilian, in charge of the “shuttle” from the Green Zone in Baghdad to the Airport.
John, I completely understand requisites as decided by military or other Govt. agency superiors as to the safety and well being of travelling Military or even Diplomatic officials. Again John, Thank you for caring.
What happened in Britain. My mothers home country until she defected to the U.S.A. at age 65, 5 years ago.
What happened there, was not about the SOLDIERS SAFETY, not SECURITY at the AIRPORT. It was about certain powers that be having NO RESPECT, and even DISRESPECT for the military, because the rules such as there were, are or were interpreted, were devised by those who are LIBERAL and have an anti-U.K. agenda. These brave British soldiers…(my Grandfather was Scots Black Watch and CRIPPLED at El Alemein, and my namesake Great Grandfather, also Scots Black Watch was KILLED 10/23/1918 at Damascus and he rests eternally in Damascus having died EXACTLY 3 WEEKS to the day before ARMISTICE, and having died at 44, because ALL ABLE BODIED BRITISH MEN HAD TO SERVE!!!!!!!! Both the aforementioned men HAD TO SERVE beyond 40, both had families and Britain was in GRAVE GRAVE danger.
Anyway. The treatment given these British soldiers CANNOT be explained away. These BRAVE MEN (and women) are the ones who give us the rights we use freely.
Nothing personal John. Thanks for your input.
Bottom line friend, and God Bless you for your service, sincerely, This wasn’t about the Soldiers safety, this was about POLICY and POLITICAL CORRECTNESS.
SECURITY???
The AIRPORT should have shit their pants in joy, that these heroes were on site. Their airport is safe EXACTLY because of such men. (and women)
January 6th, 2008 at 2:43 am
John, Many military wear their uniforms in the airports and are proud to do so. Maybe in the 80′s and 90′s some were told that, but when I was in the Air Force in the 80′s, we were never told that and I wore my uniform in the airports and had no problems.
January 6th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Looks like my trackback thingy didn’t work. Poo!
January 7th, 2008 at 11:58 am
The difference is flying overseas and flying domestically.