Posted on 02/17/2016 8:37:58 PM PST by pboyington
John McCain has had enough…
John McCain has had enough of the Pentagon’s constant stonewalling and obfuscation on everything from the Marines’ 36 million dollar study of coed Marine units’ fighting capabilities to the Army’s Ranger School cover up to the disgraceful conduct of the US Navy in the Persian Gulf last month.
Senator John McCain said on Sunday he would subpoena 10 U.S. sailors to testify about their brief detention by Iran if the Obama administration does not provide the findings of an investigation into the incident by March 1.
“It’s an option that I do not want to exercise,†McCain, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, told reporters as he was returning to the United States from an international security conference in Germany.
The sailors were detained by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps after their two patrol boats strayed into Iranian waters on Jan. 12. U.S. officials later blamed a navigational problem.
The Americans were freed the next day after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry intervened with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, averting a diplomatic crisis just days before implementation of the Iran nuclear deal and the lifting of international sanctions on Tehran.
Iranian media broadcast videos of the detainees, including scenes in which Revolutionary Guards personnel trained weapons on the sailors as they kneeled in submission.
McCain said he had been told the sailors were still being debriefed, but added that he assumed that administration members were “dragging their feet†in completing an investigation into the incident, which he accused Iran of exploiting for propaganda purposes.
“I guarantee you, if they don’t have a debrief by the first of March like they said, we’ll have a hearing and we’ll subpoena. We’re not going to wait any longer,†McCain said. “We will subpoena the individuals if we have to.â€
Obviously, a myriad of questions remain concerning the incident. One, why did the Pentagon originally state that one of the boats had an engine problem? If so, the other boat could have easily towed it back to international waters.
Two, the story was changed to both Riverine craft had navigational issues. Really? It’s hard to digest that one in 2016, when US Navy boats are equipped with the most sophisticated navigational equipment in the world. Did systems on both boats just go out at once?
Three, the US Navy boats out-gunned the tiny Iranian boats, yet the commander, Lieutenant David Nartker surrendered his men and his boats without a fight, in violation of Article II, of the US Military Code of Conduct. (I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist.) Was Nartker ordered to surrender by higher authority?
Four, when in Iranian captivity, Nartker praised his treatment in the hands of the Iranians and called it, “fantastic.†Nartker’s behavior on video is in violation of Article V of the US Military Code of Conduct. (When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to give name, rank, service number, and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their cause.) Also, one of Nartker’s men is seen openly weeping on camera.
No doubt the Pentagon is stonewalling McCain and McCain darn well knows it. As a former US Navy officer and a former POW who endured horrific torture in the hands of the North Vietnamese, McCain is outraged by the cowardly conduct of US Navy officers and men in the hands of a two-bit country like Iran.
The Pentagon will continue to stall, as they have stalled Congressman Steve Russell on the release of the Ranger School records for the first three female graduates.
McCain will certainly have to subpoena the US Navy personnel and order them to report to the Senate Armed Services Committee and testify under oath about their conduct in the Persian Gulf.
The McCain Mutiny must commence against the incompetent, cowardly bureaucrats in the White House and the Pentagon, the very people who are destroying the fighting spirit and readiness of the US Military.
Nine months until Arizonans may rid themselves of this anal Mcwart, so Juan is doing his usual ¿See how conservative and bold I am?” BS.
I’d like to see that. Really. McPain probably won’t follow through with his tough rhetoric, but we shall see. NOT holding my breath.
Well, John McCain.. let’s see it! Actually see you do it instead of talking about doing it. Talk is very cheap. And while you’re at it... do something with that President for dissing our military like he has done for 7+ years. No one has cared to stand up for the military... a military trained to take orders and not complain... and they’ve had to take way too much from the commander in chief.
That’s exactly right. McCain has a conservative make-over January of every year he is up for election.
The rest of the time he’s all mavericky. Democrat with an R jersey
...zzzzzzzzzzz.... Until demonstrated otherwise.
I don’t think we’ll ever have these questions answered.
McCain has always been the Military’s staunchest supporter and greatest in demanding accountability from the Military his entire tenure in the Senate. In addition to that he has always been a budget hawk.
There is probably not a single person in the Senate that same level of personal responsibility for the well being of Military service members in the entire Senate. If there is ever a problem with how the military is operating or a unit is performing it will be resolved by reaching out to his office, I have actually heard of the members of a squad being re-assigned to different bases based on out reach to his office.
Anything he says about treatment of service members and problems with how the military is operating should be treated as gospel and not subjected to calls of political grandstanding.
Immigration and ‘bipartisanship’ not withstanding.
Ordinarily he’s smooching the Democrats’ butts so their MSM will continue to award him the adjective “moderate”.
I expect the same furious activty demonstrated by and achievement accomplished by Messrs Issa and Gowdy: a lot of sound and fury, and then a tale told by an idiot to protect his hoity toity job, but otherwise signifying nothing but the fraud that is Uniparty.
Why Trump? Here it is ...
Regardless, do us all a favor and finally Lugar this POS, won’t you?
Is this why he teamed up with Kerry to make sure the POWs in SE Asia remained forgotten and abandoned?
Never forgive or forget that.
No? Oh, um ... nevermind.
Actually, these sailors have probably already signed the documents classifying the entire operation OPSEC TOPSECRET, ordering them to remain quiet until their 99 years old. None of the Benghazi operators, CIA Station Chief, or other key witnesses ever testified before Congress, nor ever will. (Well, maybe they will, if we ever have a GOP congress. Ooops, there I go again. Early senility setting in, just forgetting things all the time.)
Yeah, I think ol' McCain will be a regular bulldog on this, right up until his next re-election. /s
I’d like to see the Navy jacket on McCain. He wanted to make Admiral like his father and grandfather. The Navy advised him it would be wise to retire as Captain. So, he went into politics.
He’s had enough huh? Has the old fool finally found something that pisses him off or is he using this to grandstand because he’s up for reelection?
Maybe,he’ll call Al Baghdadi to complain about being double crossed?
McCain was lucky he made it that far with the clouds hanging over his career. Some of it may be rumor, but there’s an awful lot of smoke.
All this because a N. VN SAM Missile mal-functioned.
How much cash were the boats carrying to deliver to Iran?
Shirley you jest. Lord McCain is mindless joke...
Is johnnie learning how to be bad a$$ by watching donnie pretend on TV?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.