Rep. Cole says military didn't have to use 'Geronimo' name

Thursday, May 5, 2011  

Rep. Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma), the only Native American in Congress, doesn't think the use of "Geronimo" as a codename for the military mission against Osama bin Laden was "appropriate."

"I'm certain no offense was intended by the use of the name.'' Cole, a member of the Chickasaw Nation, told The Tulsa World. "However, Geronimo is one of the most iconic figures in Native American history, so perhaps a different choice would have been more appropriate."

Members of the Fort Sill Apache Tribe were certainly offended. Chairman Jeff Houser said one of Geronimo's grandsons was upset by the connection to the terrorist.

"I felt like - as the leader of the tribe he was a member of - it was my responsibility to speak for the tribal members," Houser told the paper.

Houser wrote a letter to President Barack Obama yesterday, demanding an apology for the use of Geronimo's name.

Get the Story:
Tribe resents code name 'Geronimo' (The Tulsa World 5/5)

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