Why aren't we seeing the troops returning to the US

[malaise]

on TV?

http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2011/11/28/fort-campbell-welcomes-home-102-soldiers-from-the-194th-military-police-company-sunday-night/
<snip>
On a cold rainy night 102 soldiers from the 194th Military Police Company, 101st Sustainment Brigade (Lifeliners), returned to Fort Campbell after a 9 month deployment to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Family and friends of the returning soldiers had gathered together to give their loved ones a proper welcome home. We arrived right as the announcement that the flight was 15 minutes out was made over the PA system. So as we entered the family members were getting themselves weather ready. Normally when the family members are allowed to head outdoors it’s a mad dash to get outside so they can claim the best spots, but due to the rain most of the family members waited inside until the plane had actually touched down.

[The Straight Story]

1. My son and the team he was with came back this year and are not re-deploying

And thankfully he is out of the military come Feb. and coming home for good (though he will be in the active reserves).

[sarcasmo]

2. Maybe the media was told not to show them like they were told not to show the coffins.

[hack89]

6. I think there is lots of local coverage.

don't see why it would be national news since it happens nearly every week.

[MADem]

9. There's no shortage of coverage in New England--when troops come home, there is

plenty of TV and newspaper reports.

[malaise]

13. Good to hear

:hi:

[quinnox]

3. out of sight out of mind

I think Obama has endorsed some of Bush's policies regarding no showing of military coffins coming home and this might be another aspect of that. If people aren't reminded of the wars going on they won't be upset about them.

[SidDithers]

12. If by "endorsing" you mean "completely changing" then you'd be right...

U.S. lifts photo ban on military coffins

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/world/americas/27iht-photos.1.20479953.html

Sid

[malaise]

14. Not true n/t

[opihimoimoi]

a Whole Bunch of US MARINES came home to KANEOHE BAY from the ME last week

Welcome Home Marines....(salute)

[hack89]

4. Every deployment and return of RI Air National Guard troops is heavily televised. nt

[spanone]

5. we see it here in nashville, the local newsers cover it, clarksville is just up the road

[shanti]

7. maybe they've been transferred to other locations

instead of coming stateside? :shrug:

[Taverner]

8. Maybe I'm nit picking, but what's up with the bad P-shopping of the banners?

[ThomWV]

10. I think it is a myth that we have ever welcome the troops home

I know I came back from Viet Nam 3 times and if I hadn't called ahead there would have been no one to pick me up at the airport any of the times. Soldiers do not come home to ticker-tape parades, or news cameras, or even very interested civic groups most of the time. Unless someone decides to put on a show, and it will always come from the military side, then there will be no show.

And that is as it should be too. No man in his right mind will glorify a war or a warrior. There is no higher evil than to glorify evil.

[malaise]

15. Good post - I understand your perspective

And yet it would be nice to see them welcomed home

Glad to see you're recovering bro. :fistbump:

[Cid_B]

21. Maybe then...

... I had an excellent welcome home.

Smoking hot stewardesses on the flight over. We had the USAREUR General to glad hand and a CSM. Buffet of stuff that you just can't get in Afghanistan.

Goody bags and established housing for Joes with fresh bedding and cold beer.

Beyond that you get to see your loved one after a year of bullshit. What more could a man ask for?

I didn't want a freaking ticker tape parade. I wanted go home with my wife. Minimum ceremony and we were outta there.

[hack89]

24. It is not a myth in Rhode Island

the governor and/or other senior state leaders are there whenever the RI National Guard deploys or returns. And there is plenty of tv coverage.

[dennis4868]

11. so that DUers can bitch...

that Obama is not keeping his promise and bringing home our troops.

[Davis_X_Machina]

22. They can't be coming home.

The oil's still there.

It's illogical. They must all be going to Libya, to get that oil.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. Because they are routine

My husband did a 21 year career. The only time the press ever showed up was for the first time they came home after 911.

No, national press rarely shows that, as in extremely rare.

[Brickbat]

17. This is usually local coverage.

:shrug:

[HughBeaumont]

18. Probably out of shame.

The RNC/Corporation-loving American Media wanted to "win" this "war" like the U.S. "Won" 41's Gulf War . . . with spectacle and a big finish, like a football game.

Unfortunately, they're living in a world where you can win a war on a noun or an idea. The rest of us live in the reality that no such thing can happen. I think this is part of their way of sweeping what they consider a long-standing embarrassment under the rug. Long-standing turkey shoots that end anti-climatically don't bring in ratings.

[Obamanaut]

19. I cannot speak for today's returnees, but during my 28 years in the Navy every time

the carrier I was on returned to home port (Norfolk, Mayport, Yokosuka, etc) the local teevee stations had cameras there.

When the deployed air squadrons flew into their home bases (Cecil Field, Atsugi, etc), the local newspapers/teevee stations had people there for photos.

But I retired in 1988.

Now I live in a small town, with a National Guard unit. They have deployed several times, and both their departures and returns were covered by the local newspapers.

[Ohio Joe]

20. Because MSM is a tool of the right wing

Don't want to show anything that might put President Obama in a good light.

[RebelOne]

23. A whole bunch of them came home

into Dobbind Reserve Base here in Marietta, GA, over the Thanksgiving weekend. Their homecoming was all over the local TV news stations.

[lonestarnot]

25. This way, no one can count how many here and how many there. It's a seeeecret. Sh.

[WillyT]

26. K & R !!!

:kick: