This was supposed to be a two-phased assault (Phase I: get us to accept the memos; Phase II: claim memos are proof Bush was coked up). Phase I is still blowing up in CBS's face, which prevents them from getting to Phase II. However, they didn't want to drop Phase I it was the only way they can get to Phase II.
Now they are going to claim "the docs are forgeries, but the information in them is correct." They want to drop the docs, forget the whole forgery scandal, and jump straight into Phase II. They may have coached Killian's secretary because what she says is exactly what they want right now.
However, the public is not going to forget about the forgery scandal. CBS will not get to move on to Phase II until the forgery kerfuffle is resolved (and CBS doesn't want to resolve it because that means admitting major culpability)
What is behind each of the memos:
| Fake Memo | What is says | Why was it created |
| February 1,1972 | Asks for an update of flight status for Bush and another officer, Bath | To create a paper trail leading to the May 4 memo. Also, Bath also missed his physical within a month of the time Bush missed his, and many leftwing conspiracy sites beleive that they both got caught doing cocaine in the Guard, but that the records were scrubbed. Also, Bush was later involved in a company with Bath, and they attempt to link Bush and Bath with the Bin Laden's based on this company. |
| May 4,1972 | Orders Bush to get his annual physical within 10 days | To change the timeline for Bush getting his annual physical, which wasn't actually due until the end of July. Create the impression that Bush left in a hurried panic for Alabama to avoid drug testing |
| May 19, 1972 | Phone call from Bush asking about getting transfered to Alabama because he wants to run a campaign. Followed by discussion of getting the physical later if he decided to keep flying | Show that Bush left town on May 15, called his commander after the fact to see if he could transfer to Alabama. Also, create a confirmation that Killian was aware and ok with the fact that Bush missed the physical. If the order from May 4 was disobeyed, you would expect some sort of official reprimand or follow-up. Since there is nothing in the record, the May 19 memo provides an answer. |
| August 1,1972 | Bush suspended from flight status due to failure to perform to USAF/TexANG standards and failute to meet annual physical examination as ordered. Plus order of the creation of a flight review board IAW AFM35-13. | Make it look like there was something more to the suspension of flight status than just missing the physical. Create the impression that a flight review board was ordered, so that they can then ask why Bush has not released this document (ie, there must be a cover-up). It must show that Bush was suspended for using drugs |
| June 24, 1973 | Memo concerning a request for evaluation of Bush and a statement about not being able to evaluate Bush since he had been off of the base from May 1972 to May 1973. | To provide a basis for the August 18, 1973 memo, which complains of being pressured by superiors. |
| August 18, 1973 | CYA Memo about being pressured to sugar-coat the Bush review. Mentions something about backdating information | Perhaps to show that there was some pressure from higher up for a coverup. However, I wonder what record would need to be "backdated" in order to fit in with the subsequent conspiracy theory that they plan to release. Perhaps we will find out, or perhaps they will abandon the next phase of the plan now that the forgeries have been uncovered |
This has been very carefully orchestrated.
The "Operation Fortunate Son" was all ready to go.
Kitty Kelly planting the "meme" that Bush is a coke head.
This goes far beyond some flunky in Texas, or a "throw-away" producer at CBS
Maybe this fiasco was set up for two reasons:
1. To get the media coverage off of the Swiftees because they will be coming forward to the Kerry-Viet Cong conferences while Kerry was still in the reserve and the country was in a war. Consorting with the enemy during a war and being a member of the American armed forces at the time seems to be grounds for court martial.
2. To lay the ground work for the rumored "take Bush down if he does slip through and wins the election" plot. Maybe the groundwork for some obscene claim (what I have no idea).