"Editorial: Marines' airport mixup misreported by media"

Friday, October 5, 2007

EDITORIAL
Marines' airport mixup misreported by media
The Contra Costa (CA) Times


ON the surface, it seemed to resemble one of those infamous "Left Coast"
incidents from the Vietnam era when the Bay Area was equated with the
rejection and spurning of U.S. troops returning from an unpopular war. 

Indications are, however, that the incident at Oakland International Airport
on Sept. 27 involving a charter plane of 200 Marines returning from Iraq,
who were confined to a remote location and not allowed into the main
terminals, was more a misjudgment or faux pas -- a case of bad or
nonexistent communication -- than malice or meanness. 

But, as often happens in this age of instantaneous communication and news
coverage, the incident was blown out of proportion by some pundits who
dressed it up as a case of the war-weary Bay Area shunning members of our
nation's military. 

Fox News commentator Josh Gibson told those who partake of his postings that
Oakland is "not far from San Francisco," said the Marines were "quarantined
from civilians," and that "this smacks of the bad old days in the Bay Area
when returning Vietnam vets were spat upon." 

If that were so, we'd be as indignant as Gibson, perhaps even more so,
because this is where we live. What appears to have happened, however, is
much different. 

North American Airlines Flight 1777 en route from Iraq to the troops' base
at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, had a two-hour layover here before the last leg of
its long flight. While in Oakland, the troops, with their equipment and
weapons, were reportedly confined to a remote part of the airport, where
services were supplied. But they were not permitted to enter the main
terminals at the airport. 

Although some say the soldiers had been screened for security during earlier
stopovers in Kuwait and New York, Oakland airport officials said they were
not told that by Hilltop Aviation, which coordinated ground services. Troops
aboard another flight earlier in the day, however, were allowed in the main
terminal, and airport officials were briefed on how to screen the second
flight, if it was needed. 

Oakland airport officials also said they were not aware that some of the
Marines aboard had expected to meet with friends and family during the
layover. All of which prompted at least one e-mail to a member of the news
media initiating the "Left Coast" analysis. 

Officials at the Port of Oakland, which runs Oakland International, have
been apologetic about what happened. Port Executive Director Omar Benjamin
said, "There was no disrespect intended." 

But, "there was confusion. There were mistakes that were made," he said,
adding, "we apologize, I apologize to any members of the military that were
on this flight and may have experienced some discomfort or perception of
disrespect." 

Mayor Ron Dellums, an ex-Marine himself, said "Oakland does not condone"
mistreatment of troops serving in Iraq, who "deserve only the utmost
respect." He asked Port officials to "ensure this type of situation never
happens again." Improving communications between such ground handlers as
Hilltop Aviation and airport officials is a place to start. 

We hope and trust there will be no repeat. One lesson seemingly learned from
the Vietnam era is that citizens may disagree with a war without
disrespecting the soldiers who risk their lives to fight it. They are, after
all, representatives of our nation doing a dirty, deadly task others won't,
or are reluctant to, do. They deserve our gratitude and respect. 

Now we need to get pundits and others on this side of the information age to
check their facts before peddling rumor as gospel.

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