So when did a lie become a misstatement?

[Trekbike]

It gets old when I keep hearing about the latest "misstatement" in the news by someone.     Yet again, we have another one.  

"VA secretary apologizes for misstating military record"

Sounds like a lie to me...I know we live in a world that has developed euphemisms for just about everything, but this one bothers me more than most.   

 

Rant off...

 

[VERO1]

He didn't lie, he misremembered. Apparently it's contagious.

[atlas3025]

He may have just conflated his actual memories with someone's else.  That was the word for Brian Williams.

[E4 No More]

I'm sorry, but I consider someone who earns the Ranger's Tab to be special forces. You should also note that the Marine Corps states that they are the largest special forces unit in the US.

[Ugly]

That term is very heavy in one party!

[DWARREN123]

He knew what he did. Question is how he thought he could get away with it.

[DaveTN]

It says be completed Rangers school, did he not become a Ranger? Is a Ranger not SF?

Sorry, I don’t know about the Army. But I just read a story that said Seals aren’t SF.

[btq96r]

It says be completed Rangers school, did he not become a Ranger? Is a Ranger not SF?

Sorry, I don’t know about the Army. But I just read a story that said Seals aren’t SF.

 

The term 'Ranger' is generally reserved for someone who served in the 75th Ranger Regiment, or one of the units the Regiment claims their lineage from (ie: LRP's in Vietnam).  Just going to the school only makes you 'Ranger qualified.'  The difference between the school and the unit is pretty vast.  Being in a Ranger unit makes someone a part of Special Operations Forces.  The term 'Special Forces' are Army units commonly known as Green Beret's.  Completely different capabilities and mission sets between the two.

[Grunt67]

Just another black eye for the VA & Obama, who appointed him to fix another mess. You're either in Special Forces

or you're not. He isn't! That's a lie in most dictionaries.

[Randall53]

It only works for Democrats.

[frankmako]

democrats can lie and get away with it.  all others can not.  that is the way it is and will be that way for a long time.  

[DaveTN]

It’s disgusting that Veterans can’t get the medical care they need, but now it’s a big deal because he lied about being Special Forces. Man our priorities are screwed up.

[E4 No More]

The term 'Ranger' is generally reserved for someone who served in the 75th Ranger Regiment, or one of the units the Regiment claims their lineage from (ie: LRP's in Vietnam).  Just going to the school only makes you 'Ranger qualified.'  The difference between the school and the unit is pretty vast.  Being in a Ranger unit makes someone a part of Special Operations Forces.  The term 'Special Forces' are Army units commonly known as Green Beret's.  Completely different capabilities and mission sets between the two.

So the Army is the definitive authority of the term? Their definition:

 

U.S. Army personnel trained to organize, instruct, supply, and supervise indigenous forces engaged in guerrilla warfare and counterinsurgency operations, and to themselves conduct unconventional warfare.

 

Also called Green Berets.

 

So if you accept the premise that the Army is the authority then that rules out Delta Force, Navy SeALs, Force Recon, Spesnaz, etc.

[LagerHead]

I'm sorry, but I consider someone who earns the Ranger's Tab to be special forces. You should also note that the Marine Corps states that they are the largest special forces unit in the US.

 

Not everyone who earns the Ranger tab works in a Special Ops unit. I've met leg tankers with a Ranger tab. Though they have the tab, they don't perform the missions daily, so there is quite a bit of difference. 

[Patton]

This is the first I have heard of this incident, but I have never met a Ranger that claimed to be SF. Now, it is not that uncommon for someone in the Army to refer to the Rangers as Special Forces. The appropriate term for all years ago would have been Black Ops.

[btq96r]

So if you accept the premise that the Army is the authority then that rules out Delta Force, Navy SeALs, Force Recon, Spesnaz, etc.

 

Delta, SEALs, Force Recon (or all of MARSOC) Air Force Pararescue, 75th Ranger Regiment, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment...are all Special Operations Forces (SOF), not Special Forces.  Special Forces fall under SOF, however.

 

Small grammatical term, but it means a good bit.

 

This is the org chart for all of United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM), the joint command for all of SOF.

Edited February 25, 2015 by btq96r

[btq96r]

It only works for Democrats.

democrats can lie and get away with it.  all others can not.  that is the way it is and will be that way for a long time.  

 

Not for nothing, but the VA Secretary is recognized as a Republican, and is reported to donate exclusively to them.  He and his wife certainly gave money to that party.  Once again, we see lying is bipartisan. 

 

 

It's sad.  Mr. McDonald served for five years on active duty with the 82d Airborne.  That alone, should be enough for anybody to be proud of.  There is no reason for him to try and embellish things, yet here we are.

Edited February 25, 2015 by btq96r

[E4 No More]

Delta, SEALs, Force Recon (or all of MARSOC) Air Force Pararescue, 75th Ranger Regiment, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment...are all Special Operations Forces (SOF), not Special Forces.  Special Forces fall under SOF, however.

 

Small grammatical term, but it means a good bit.

 

This is the org chart for all of United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM), the joint command for all of SOF.

I get that that's the Army's viewpoint, but the Marines beg to differ. They term special forces as ones whose skillset differs from the normal combat operations like sea assaults.

[Caster]

He puts the SPECIAL in Special Forces.

I think this was his team.

[Grand Torino]

Politicians make misstatements......the rest of us get labeled as a liar. Go figure.

[maroonandwhite]

Politicians make misstatements......the rest of us get labeled as a liar. Go figure.

Don't forget Brian Williams.

[Grand Torino]

Don't forget Brian Williams.

[TrickyNicky]

He puts the SPECIAL in Special Forces.
I think this was his team.

:ugh: Where'd you get a pic of me and the boys training?! We got a mole! :panic:




On topic, I'm not sure I can be much more discusted. As mentioned above we have veterans who have been waiting MONTHS to get what we promised them from the VA and this is the current scandal? I'm sure I'm the minority and the words are easier for me to say having never served, but who gives a shit?

Either the guy can fix problems or he can't.

If he can improve the situation for the vets then whatever, news flash; some people are loose moraled liars.

If he can't, toss him on his butt and don't look back.

I think we all here know or have met that kid, 23-25, just got back, all he wants from the VA is a an appointment to talk with a Dr. The fact that we can't give him one in a timely fashion is sick.


Easiest solution I can think of, change whatever needs to be changed and do whatever needs doing to ensure our elected officials have to use the same health services as our returning Heros with absolutely ZERO preferential treatment. I can't help but think that things would be cleared up in months and it surely wouldn't bother me as a tax payer.

[E4 No More]

On topic, I'm not sure I can be much more discusted. As mentioned above we have veterans who have been waiting MONTHS to get what we promised them from the VA and this is the current scandal? I'm sure I'm the minority and the words are easier for me to say having never served, but who gives a ####?

Years. I have been waiting over 4 years myself after being lied to for 24.