It was a contrite and embattled Janet Napolitano early this afternoon who offered David K. Rehbein an apology for a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) report that many have interpreted as a stinging slap in the face to veterans and active duty military personnel. The DHS assessment, leaked to the press last week, characterized so-called "disgruntled veterans" as being ripe for harvesting by right-wing extremist groups. "The report was not worthy of this department," said the Secretary, "or of veterans. It was very badly written and should never have been released." Secretary Napolitano explained that the controversial document had been issued prematurely and, in its broadcast form, not properly vetted. "An analyst hit the send button when he had no authority to do so," she said. (yeah right)
Secretary Napolitano and National Commander David Rehbein met today at DHS headquarters at the behest of the Commander. Commander Rehbein had been angered by the report's implications and specifically in its use of Oklahoma City terror bomber Timothy McVeigh as an example - the sole example, in fact - of a domestic threat who happened to have served in the military at one time.
Secretary Napolitano admitted that the McVeigh reference, in her words, "probably came from me." Ms. Napolitano had once served on the team that prosecuted McVeigh and, she said, that horrific case had sensitized her to the point that the prejudicial reference to the bomber survived in the context of the report. Secretary Napolitano assured Commander Rehbein that "steps had been taken (to assure that) this will never happen again." She said that additional layers of review had now been added to her department's report dissemination process.
Commander Rehbein accepted the apology
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