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VFW WASHINGTON WEEKLY, April 17, 2009
Posted at 02:15 PM on Friday, April 17, 2009 by Missouri
NATIONAL SECURITY & FOREIGN AFFAIRS1. DHS Assessment Report
2. Korean War MIA Identified
3. Reserve Component Mobilization
NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE SERVICE
1. Congress in Recess
NATIONAL SECURITY & FOREIGN AFFAIRS
1. DHS Assessment Report: A Department of Homeland Security intelligence
assessment about rightwing extremism in America created an emotional
firestorm this week. One section of the nine-page, Unclassified/For
Official Use Only report, said extremist groups "will attempt to recruit
and radicalize returning veterans" in order to learn military skills to
carry out violence, either as lone wolves or in small terrorist cells.
Many veterans misinterpreted that real world assessment as a blanket
accusation that every servicemember or veteran should be placed on a
terrorist watch list, or worse, are threats to the United States.
Although the DHS assessment report could have been better written, and
should have also mentioned law enforcement professionals with
paramilitary training, it did not question the service or patriotism of
any veteran. It just said rightwing extremist groups want to recruit
veterans and learn military tactics. Intelligence assessments are meant
to address possible threats based on historical facts, current trends
and potential scenarios. Such assessments cannot be restricted by
political correctness or fear that someone's feelings may be hurt. In a
press release, VFW National Commander Glen Gardner said the report
proves that DHS is doing its job, which is to protect America and
Americans. "A government that does not assess internal and external
security threats would be negligent of a critical public
responsibility," he said. A link to the DHS report is at the bottom of
the VFW press release at
http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=4992.
2. Korean War MIA Identified: The Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office
announced that the remains of Army PFC David Woodruff of Poplar Bluff,
MO, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial
with full military honors. Woodruff was assigned to Company K, 3rd
Battalion, 9th Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. In early 1951, the 2nd
ID, augmented by Republic of Korea forces, and was occupying positions
near Hoengsong in South Korea. On Feb. 11, the Chinese Army launched a
massive attack on the U.S. line, overwhelming ROK forces and exposing
the American flank. The 2nd ID was forced to withdraw to the south and
Woodruff was captured by enemy forces. He died in or near one of the
North Korean prison camps in Suan County, North Hwanghae Province.
Between 1991-94, North Korea turned over to the United States 208 boxes
of remains, believed to contain the remains of 200-400 U.S. servicemen.
One box turned over in 1991 contained Woodruff's military identification
tag, and a box turned over in 1992 contained remains recovered from Suan
County.
3. Reserve Component Mobilization: The total number currently on active
duty in support of the partial mobilization for the Army National Guard
and Army Reserve is 99,239; Navy Reserve, 6,653; Air National Guard and
Air Force Reserve, 14,496; Marine Corps Reserve, 7,470; and the Coast
Guard Reserve, 678. This brings the total number of mobilized Guard and
Reserve personnel to 128,536, an increase of 121 from last week. These
figures include the totals of voluntary and involuntary activated
Reserve Component members. Of this total, 94,034 personnel have been
involuntarily mobilized, while 34,502 are voluntarily serving on active
duty. Total activated since 9/11 is 706,004.
NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE SERVICE
1. Congress in Recess: Although Congress is expected to return from
recess next week, there is still time to visit them in their home
offices to urge their support of VFW legislative goals. Ask them to
co-sponsor Advanced Funding for the VA (HR 1016 and S. 423), the Women
Veterans' Health Care Improvement Act (S. 597 and HR 1211), and support
expansion of the Veteran Business Development Centers and funding for
the Small Business Administration.
For a full list of VFW legislative priority goals, go to:
http://www.vfw.org/legislative/2009prioritygoals.pdf.
To contact your congressional members, enter your Zip Code at:
http://capwiz.com/vfw/dbq/officials/.
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