Imagine if he had been taken out of that position (in which he served with commitment for over 30 years) because of his accent.
Kapaun inspired those with whom he served with his commitment to his principles amid the darkness of a North Korean prisoner of war camp, several Korean War vets said in recent interview.
A National Security Council spokeswoman, Caitlin Hayden, said Mr. Obama "thanks all intelligence and counterterrorism professionals involved for their outstanding work and for serving with the extraordinary skill and commitment that their enormous responsibilities demand".
"The president thanks all intelligence and counterterrorism professionals involved for their outstanding work and for serving with the extraordinary skill and commitment that their enormous responsibilities demand," Hayden said.
It was, in many ways, an ungrateful response from a party she had loyally served with a profound commitment to the simple socialist belief of the need to improve the lot of the greatest possible number of people.
In a statement Thursday, Mr. Obama praised Mr. Blair for "a remarkable record of service to the United States," and said he had "served with great integrity, intellect, and commitment to our country and the values that we hold dear".
"Having served with Mel, I know of his commitment to sustainable federal housing programs and am confident he will work hard to protect taxpayers from future exposure to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac," Senator Richard Burr, Republican of North Carolina, said in a statement.
As usual, our intelligence, law enforcement and Homeland Security professionals have served with extraordinary skill and resolve and with the commitment that their enormous responsibilities demand.
His contribution to government was minimal: he served with parliamentarians, such as Canning, Peel and Castlereagh, of great commitment and intellect and he could offer nothing to compete.
