Did this news item ever make the MSM? (Rummy and racists in the military)

[theHandpuppet]

Perhaps I just missed it, but was this request by Senator Shelby ever publicized by the MSM? The request was made on July 21 but this is the first I'd heard about Shelby's letter to Rumsfeld.

http://www.splcenter.org/news/item.jsp?aid=203

Sen. Shelby asks Rumsfeld to oust racist extremists from military

July 21, 2006 -- U.S. Senator Richard Shelby has written to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld expressing concern about racist extremists serving in the military and urging him to adopt a zero tolerance policy.

Shelby cited a recent Center investigation that found the Department of Defense, in order to meet wartime manpower goals, has relaxed standards designed to weed out radical white supremacists.

"I am concerned that efforts to take action against extremists serving in our armed forces appear to be hindered by ambiguous Department of Defense guidelines and regulations on the issue," Shelby wrote in the July 20 letter (PDF)... MORE


Then on July 25th there was this news item which ties in with Shelby's request:

http://www.splcenter.org/news/item.jsp?aid=200

Forty members of Congress ask Rumsfeld to investigate racist extremists in military

July 25, 2006 - Forty members of Congress today asked Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld (PDF) to investigate racist extremism in the military and discharge soldiers who participate in white supremacist activities.
In a letter citing a recent Center report, they urged Rumsfeld "to implement the recommendations of the Southern Poverty Law Center to adopt a zero tolerance policy when it comes to white supremacy and other forms of racial or religious extremism in the military."

The Center released its report, A Few Bad Men, on July 7. The letter to Rumsfeld was initiated by U.S. Reps. Eliot Engel of New York and Artur Davis of Alabama.

"It has . . . come as a shock to learn from the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) that there has been a growth of racist extremism in our military," the representatives wrote Rumsfeld. "According to the SPLC, military recruiters and commanders have apparently relaxed certain recruitment standards, and the result is that racist extremists are now serving in the armed forces.

"While there are no firm statistics on this growing phenomenon, we write to ask you to investigate the matter and to take forceful action to remove extremists from the military. We owe our courageous men and women in uniform nothing less." MORE

I'm curious whether or not Rumsfeld has responded to these requests.

[BOSSHOG]

1. Incredible strategy

Recruit to and maintain ignorance even if its racist or religiously insane fundamentalists but kick out gays who can speak the language of the "enemey". Hell, rumsfeld's raiders can hardly master english. I doubt this problem is on rummy's radar. He has more important things to do like ask himself questions at press conferences. Should we recruit racists? Absolutely not. Are we recruiting racists? We have to. Do we need translators? Fucking-A dittybag. But the racists must feel comfortable with them in the shower.

[theHandpuppet]

2. I'm with you, BOSSHOG

What is puzzling me is why this didn't even make the media's radar. Did I just miss all this news about this request to Rumsfeld by Shelby and Congress or is it being delberately supressed? Very disturbing, I must say.

[BOSSHOG]

3. I recall the initial story

and Shelby's involvement, but there has yet to be any followup (publicly anyway.) DOD is hoping it will just go away. Can you imagine rummy telling the Army to discharge those identified when the Army is huffing and puffing to make goal now. I'd say its a fine mess they've gotten themselves (and us) into. Republican leadership at its finest.

GOP Motto: Government does not work, put us in charge and we will prove it.

[theHandpuppet]

4. My thoughts as well

I also happen to believe they're hoping this story will just fade away, which is why I decided to post this thread. We can't let the Bushreich get away with this and unless we demand some follow-up to this story they will have succeeded in suppressing this news, which is at least as important than 24/7 coverage of Jon-Benet, don't you think?

[theHandpuppet]

5. Hmmm.... I guess Rummy and Co will win out after all

The endless coverage of Jon Benet is apparently much more important right now. Little wonder the media bombards us with "distraction news" like this 24/7 to boost ratings -- it WORKS, doesn't it, even here on DU.

[NC_Nurse]

6. Yep.

Heard a former Skinhead interviewed on "The Story" on NPR the other day. He said we're training these guys in guerilla combat and forgetting about the DOMESTIC terror threat they represent later down the road. Fabulous. :eyes:
Could these people BE any stoopider?

[malaise]

7. Maybe that's deliberate

You see it as a domestic terror threat. Maybe Bushco knows which side they will support when things get real ugly at home and it will get real ugly at home.

Add.

[theHandpuppet]

8. Yes, I'm giving this a kick

:kick: