Michael, re your post on the contempt for returning servicemen shown by Oakland and other airports, a while back something similar happened at Shannon, on the west coast of Ireland. The US military’s use of the airport is not popular with an Irish public extremely hostile to the Iraq war. So on this occasion the plane landed and a charming colleen came on board and explained that a special separate area had been set up with food and drink but that uniformed servicemen would not be permitted in the main terminal. The very senior Pentagon official on board politely explained why this was grossly insulting and not acceptable, and, after consultations with her superior, the colleen escorted the passengers into the public terminal to enjoy the life-shortening pleasures of the full Irish breakfast.

So why are Oakland and other domestic airports treating their country’s military worse than foreign airports do?

[CLARIFICATION: Mr P O’Neill wonders about the above incident. I should have explained that, as I understand it, it was three years ago, and the no-troops-in-the-terminal policy was supposed to be instituted permanently because of protests such as this. As a result of the above intercession, the policy was changed – which is why US troops are now seen in the duty-free shop. Indeed, the last time I was at Shannon, a couple of them were being very warmly greeted by the locals.]