06/21/2005: No, Dick, this is not a real apology. The following are excerpts of the Dick Durbin (D-IL) non-apology on the Senate floor (a complete text transcript was unavailable at the time of this posting):
I am sorry if anything I said caused any offense or pain to those who have such bitter memories of the Holocaust, the greatest moral tragedy of our time. Nothing, nothing should ever be said to demean or diminish that moral tragedy.
“I am also sorry if anything I said cast a negative light on our fine men and women in the military … I never ever intended any disrespect for them. Some may believe that my remarks crossed the line to them I extend my heartfelt apology..If this indeed occurred, it does not represent American values. It does not represent what our country stands for, it is not the sort of conduct we would ever condone … and that is the point I was making. Now, sadly, we have a situation here where some in the right-wing media have said that I have been insulting men and women in uniform. Nothing could be further from truth”
“After reading the horrible details in that memo which characterized the treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo, I then, on my own, my own words, made some characterizations about that memo … I have come to understand that was a very poor choice of words.”
Durbin did not apologize for WHAT he DID. He merely apologized for the CONSEQUENCES of WHAT he DID. That has become the standard today for “apologies”. This is how people can live their lives without really owning up to their real actions.
What Durbin said on the Senate floor–comparing Gitmo (which is quite tame) with Pol Pot, Hitler, and Stalin–provided aid and comfort to the enemy. He gave Al Jazeera and al Qaeda greater recruitment ads than bin Laden could provide. He has endangered our troops–and other aid workers in the Middle East.
If we were really serious about fighting this war, we would at least have Durbin expelled from the Senate. That the Democrats stand by him speaks to their lack of regard for America.
Apology NOT accepted!
Brennan Hawkins FOUND ALIVE
06/21/2005: We’ll take the good news when we can get it. Brennan Hawkins, a Boy Scout who disappeared in the wilderness four days ago, has been found alive. Early indications are that he simply got lost, and that there appears to be no foul play involved.
Needless to say, Hawkins will have one heck of a story to tell his children and grandchildren.
If he can handle this, surely he has a future career as an Army Ranger if he wants to go that route. This is an excellent case of wilderness survival.
Hooahh!!!!