No rules broken in leaving troops on tarmac

No rules broken in leaving troops on tarmac
The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Jan 30, 2008 18:09:06 EST

OAKLAND, Calif. — Oakland International Airport officials broke no rules or laws when they directed to a remote corner of the airfield a charter plane ferrying military personnel from Iraq, a U.S. Transportation Department inquiry found.

The diversion, which airport authorities said was based on security concerns, caused the more than 200 soldiers and Marines to spend a two-hour layover Sept. 27 between Iraq and Hawaii on the tarmac rather than inside a passenger terminal.

The incident troubled two influential congressmen and some conservative commentators, including Fox News Channel’s John Gibson, who called it an “appalling reception of our men and women from the U.S. military.”

Florida Rep. John Mica, the top Republican on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, told Fox the incident was “a real slap in the face to our troops,” and asked the Transportation Department’s inspector general to investigate.

In a report released Wednesday, inspector general Calvin L. Scovel III said security was in fact a principal issue in the airport’s decision, which he declined to criticize.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/01/ap_troopsontarmac_080130/



uhc comment: Congratulations Oakland International Airport. You have made the shit list for a lot of folks.

Barroom sign circa 1900's. It's nice of the OIA officials to keep the traditions.