I received a call from Peter “Chris” Cristof, a retired Marine three-striper. The call came in on the morning of Saturday the second of January. Nearly a hundred US Marines were coming into McCarran Airport in Las Vegas. From there they were to be bussed over to 29 Palms for desert training. We’re talking Afghanistan here folks. These kids are being asked by us to face Islamic fanatics on our behalf and the State I represented can’t even be bothered to offer them a place to rest while they sit out an 18 hour wait for a bus.
After Chris called me, I got onto the phone and called the local media. Only one of them showed any interest at all, Fox News of course. It seems every other outlet, CBS, ABC and NBC couldn’t be bothered. ABC actually had the gall to say they would send someone out “if they thought it was worth it”. That is a direct quote. The Las Vegas Review Journal, supposedly a conservative paper, said they only had one reporter active on Saturday and he was checking the police beat. I happen to know that any paper worth being read has active phone lines and the capability of calling people to check out worthy news stories. Apparently our military aren't considered worthy of attention by the Las Vegas Review Journal. Perhaps there is more than one reason why its publisher kept the Las Vegas Sun, more liberal that the Washington Post, from failing when it should have.
After making my discouraging round of calls I drove down to McCarran to check out these Marines. Since I was also making some headway with the USO, I figured some direct input from those it is supposed to benefit might come in handy.
When I got there Chris had just finished treating the Marines to a pizza feed along with some pop and orange juice to wash it down. While I was getting to know these young heroes, Steve Sanson, another retired Marine came down with more food and drink. To say our efforts were appreciated is a vast understatement.
Some have said that a USO isn’t needed at McCarran because it isn’t anything like a hub such as Kansas City or Minneapolis, but what we are seeing shows just how big a lie that statement is. Afghanistan is desert warfare and 29 Palms is the training ground for Obama’s favorite war. More and more young men and women are going to be coming through. Another 40 or so went through today...and we also fed them. What is notable is that not a single one of those politicians who claim to support our troops was even close by. No one from the state, no one from the county, no one from the city and no one from Washington. I was the only one. Tell me, answer me, where was your beloved Shelly Berkely? At yet another fundraiser? I was helping to feed Marines.
Channel 5 in Las Vegas, our Fox outlet, gave a superb report last night. I will be getting a copy of the broadcast for those who want to see it. In the report they showed exactly what is going on at McCarran and how the troops feel about it. They also reported on the complete lack of response they received from Clark County, the administrators of the airport. The county claims it needs a business plan before they can give the nod to a military welcome center. They’ve had nearly 5 years to come up with one and they even have assorted templates that can be adapted. So what’s the problem?
Soldiers coming home at Oakland International Airport not even allowed to use the bathrooms
A couple years ago there was a story about Oakland International Airport where soldiers coming home were not even allowed to use the bathrooms. Of course we are talking about the San Francisco Bay Area so not too many people were surprised. Because of that shame things changed and a few people were fired. I know of several Clark County Commissioners who should suffer the same fate. Only one, Steve Sisolak has shown any backbone at all, and because of the political minefield he is tiptoeing through he cannot take the lead on this effort. I wonder just who has put the word out that anyone attempting this will pay consequences? The name Reid immediately comes to mind. Harry is known as a political bully who isn’t averse to getting his hands dirty if you cross him or disrupt his plans for his boy. Well, I don’t have a reputation for having a good survival instinct.
This is now Clark County’s shame. The commissioners oversee the airport. The manager of the airport works for them. He is an employee of the county, not a power in his own right. A phone call would begin the process and it does not need a vote of the commission to do so...all it needs is courage, something several people in power in Southern Nevada are lacking.
Bob Beers——
Bio and Archives
Bob L. Beers was a member of the Nevada Assembly representing District 21 in Clark County, Nevada. Prior to his election in 2006, he was an author involved in graphic arts and illustration.
Originally from Eureka, California, Beers attended Arcata High School and Humboldt State College. He currently resides in Henderson, Nevada with his wife and son.
