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Washington, June 16, 2005 - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) drew the fury of the 2.4 million members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and its Auxiliaries when he likened the alleged actions of a few U.S. military personnel to Soviets, Nazis and Khmer Rouge.
The senator made his comment on the Senate floor this week after reading part of a report filed by an FBI agent who visited the U.S. military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The agent wrote about loud music, varying temperatures and physical restraints being used on the suspected Al Qaeda terrorists.
"[If I] did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what Americans had done to prisoners in their control," said the senator, "you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime -- Pol Pot or others -- that had no concern for human beings."
"The senator was totally out of line for even thinking such thoughts, and we demand he apologize to every man and woman who has ever worn the uniform of our country, and to their families," said John Furgess, the VFW's commander-in-chief.
"Our soldiers put the needs of others first, just like generations of Americans before them," said Furgess, a Vietnam veteran who retired as a colonel in the Tennessee Army National Guard.
"They answered the call to create our country, to save our Union, and to help free the world from tyranny. And in return, all they ever asked for was to be appreciated for who they are and what they do, and for the country to care for their minds and bodies if broken or care for their families should they die," he said
"To link such selflessness to three of world's worst regimes is reprehensible," said Furgess, "and I call on every member of Congress and all 900,000 veterans in the State of Illinois to make their displeasure known to Senator Durbin."
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