Napolitano Apologizes for Offending Veterans After DHS Eyes Them for 'Rightwing Extremism'

FoxNews.com ^ | 04-16-09 | Fox News

[GOP_Lady]

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano apologized to veterans in a FOX News interview after a DHS report labeled returning troops at risk for embracing right-wing extremism.

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.

[mware]

I watched the interview live. She began to tell the folks at Fox & FRiends that if they read the whole thing.....That is when Steve spoke up and said he had and he wanted to know about the post scrip on page two. He told her that according to her list of extreamist pro-lifers were included. He then told her he was Catholic and by their description the entire Catholic Church could be considered terrorist.

She then backtracked saying if she could take back any of it, that would be the part.

[a fool in paradise]

Can she be censured?

[Momto2]

“To the extent veterans read it as an accusation ... an apology is owed,” That’s not an apology.

I agree with you 100%. We taught our children when they were young how to apologize (and what is NOT an apology) Anytime you put *any* disclaimer in your apology such as "IF I offended you" or "I am sorry YOU are offended" etc. - that negates the apology.

You must state what you did "I apologize for issuing this offensive and unwarranted statement about our brave soldiers." Then you state any further words of a positive nature.... "We must all remember we owe our freedoms to these veterans" and THEN you ask "Will you please accept my apology?"... THAT is how you apologize!

[JenB987]

Don’t forget GITMO and dropping charges against terrorists that our brave military are fighting on behalf of us!

[a fool in paradise]

William Ayers has no regrets as to his activities.

[MrB]

At our house we don’t even say “I’m sorry”,

we say “What I did was wrong, will you forgive me?”

[ScottinVA]

“Put this together with Obama telling soldiers to pay for their own medical care...”

...along with his refusal to visit the U.S. military cemetery in Normandy.

The evidence piles on, doesn’t it. zer0 is actually quite clear in his hatred for this nation’s military.

[MrB]

If she doesn’t step down,

I foresee, in the near future, more kids burning to death in a “compound”.

[ScottinVA]

Nappy needs to apologize, then resign. Today.

[Howie]

At our tea party yesterday a vet was walking around with a sign on his back “I am one of those terrorist vets!”.

I was ashamed of my country’s leaders.

[Jim W N]

Janet Reno Napolitano - watch for renewed and more frequent Clintonista-type government slayings of American citizens. The illegitimate ObaMarxist regime in power is currently vilifying Americans - never the like has been seen before in our country. We have what appears to be a foreign agent occupying the White House - by his failure to prove he is not foreign born and his oath-breaking actions since taking the oath of office, he seems illegitimate and should be subject to investigation of treason.

[Momto2]

Yes Mr. B.... we required them to say what they said or did that required an apology.... I used to get so upset at gatherings where I saw parents allow their kids to not look at the person in the eye and just mutter "sorry" under their breath. Then the parent would smile broadly like they had "done good"....

I bet Napolitano's parents let her get away with that type of "apology".

[tiki]

Here’s one person who hopes they continue to alienate our servicemen and women, they’ll be on our side.

[MrB]

Once again, another [old homosexual named] Janet __no taking their eye off the real threat to spike some non-existent political boogeyman.

And on the contrary, they see the right as a more immediate threat to “America” than any external entity. “America” being defined as “liberals in control of government”.

[OneWingedShark]

>Also never trust those who make meaningless semantic distinctions:
>
>”This was an assessment, not an accusation”

LOL - I have a friend who has been called judgmental, so he doesn’t make “judgments” but rather “assessments”... with a bit of humor.

[GnuHere]

LOLOL - best laugh I’ve had all day.