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McHenry violates security in Green Zone, possibly endangering troops

NEWTON- Rep. Patrick McHenry's public relations problems are escalating- beginning with a speech that opponents say insulted the military, and continuing yesterday with a self-narrated video of a Green Zone rocket attack that was part of his "apology."

VetVoice.com, a well-known internet site promoting veterans' issues, took the congressman to task Monday for what it said was a "major breach of operational security."

By the end of the day Monday, the news of McHenry's second gaffe in a week had spread like wildfire over the internet, turning his two-day trip to Iraq over Easter into a public relations nightmare.

McHenry's latest controversy began last Friday when he tried to defuse an earlier blunder over his reference to a "two-bit security guard" in a March 29 Lincoln County speech which gained national attention on MSNBC.

First, he offered a pseudo-apology for his "poor choice of words" in an article in the military publication Army Times. Later, he gave a lengthy interview on a satellite-radio talk show, referring to his own video of the Easter morning events which was then posted on his congressional website.

In the video, which has since been removed from his website, McHenry is shown in the Green Zone in Baghdad, describing the recent rocket attack and even referring to a gym which had been hit in an area behind him - the same gym he was trying to enter when he met the guard who he referred to in his speech as "two-bit".

VetVoice writer and veteran Brandon Friedman picked up the story, stating that just two days after the McHenry Green Zone video was posted, the area was again targeted- this time killing two U.S soldiers and wounding 17 others.

Friedman goes on to assert, "The bottom line is that whoever launched that strike could take the information McHenry provided and use it to kill Americans in the Green Zone. This is why professionals operating in a combat zone are trained not to reveal any battle damage after an attack. You never want the enemy to know whether or not he's been successful."

McHenry's Republican challenger for the 10th District congressional nomination in the May 6 primary, Air Force veteran Lance Sigmon, called McHenry's actions "absolutely reprehensible."

Sigmon stated that McHenry's "apology" in the Friday Army Times article was "inadequate, because it still doesn't address his fundamental lack of respect to people who are following orders - orders that are in place to protect him and other American's serving in Iraq."

"When McHenry publicly belittles others and attempts to enhance his own image, his lack of maturity and good judgment are obvious." said Sigmon.

Sigmon added that his opponent's "two-day trip to Iraq at taxpayer's expense cannot even begin to give McHenry an understanding of the sacrifices that our troops and their families make for our country."

In contrast to McHenry's lack of military acumen, Sigmon enlisted in the Air Force after graduating from high school and served as a combat crew member on a B-52 bomber. After completing college and law school, Sigmon reentered the Air Force and served as an officer in the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps for 17 years.

In 2005, Sigmon retired from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel and moved with his family back to Catawba County.

References:

MSNBC: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/23962726#23962726)

Army Times: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/04/military_congressman_guardinsult_040408w/).

Vet Voice.com: http://www.vetvoice.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=947