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Records Counter a Critic of Kerry
Washington Post ^ | 8/19/04 | Michael Dobbs

Posted on 08/18/2004 8:24:34 PM PDT by Callahan

Newly obtained military records of one of Sen. John F. Kerry's most vocal critics, who has accused the Democratic presidential candidate of lying about his wartime record to win medals, contradict his own version of events.

In newspaper interviews and a best-selling book, Larry Thurlow, who commanded a Navy Swift boat alongside Kerry in Vietnam, has strongly disputed Kerry's claim that the Massachusetts Democrat's boat came under fire during a mission in Viet Cong-controlled territory on March 13, 1969. Kerry won a Bronze Star for his actions that day.

But Thurlow's military records, portions of which were released yesterday to The Washington Post under the Freedom of Information Act, contain several references to "enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire" directed at "all units" of the five-boat flotilla. Thurlow won his own Bronze Star that day, and the citation praises him for providing assistance to a damaged Swift boat "despite enemy bullets flying about him."

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: foia; kerry; larrythurlow; michaeldobbs; militaryrecord; swiftboatveterans; swiftboatvets; thurlow; wp
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To: arasina
I think the POST is twisting this in a funny way. Thurlow swore in his affidavit that Kerry was "not under fire" when he was saving Kerry, not during the ambush attempt. Nice try though POST!

Like to see the POST spin this story: Kerry Bogus Damage Report

201 posted on 08/18/2004 9:39:52 PM PDT by The Bandit
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To: Callahan

"Thurlow's military records, portions of which were released yesterday to The Washington Post under the Freedom of Information Act,"

If this is correct, then WHY cannot Kerry's be sought and gained through the FOIA also?

WHO is lying?


202 posted on 08/18/2004 9:40:32 PM PDT by steplock
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To: Steven W.
Note the Compost is directed to this particular record...

By that, do you mean to suggest that the Post was given a direction to request this particular record of Thurlow's?

I'd like to know how many FOIA's the Post filed. And exactly where they got the list of what to ask for.

Because if this particular FOIA was "suggested" by the Kerry campaign, it would also indicate the campaign knew exactly what it would say. Which would also suggest that Kerry was the original source for the language in the citation, wouldn't it?

203 posted on 08/18/2004 9:40:38 PM PDT by okie01 (The Mainstream Media: IGNORANCE ON PARADE)
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To: I still care
"Well, now we know what they were researching - how to find a way to discredit the SBVs."

That was what we expected from the beginning.

204 posted on 08/18/2004 9:41:16 PM PDT by cake_crumb (UN Resolutions=Very Expensive, Very SCRATCHY Toilet Paper)
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To: kayak

This is the first big test. If any after action reports exist, SBV better have them and be ready to produce them.


205 posted on 08/18/2004 9:42:24 PM PDT by Chaguito
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To: Mo1

DANG ..

right = write


206 posted on 08/18/2004 9:42:36 PM PDT by Mo1 (FR NEWS ALERT .... John Kerry over dosed on Botox and thinks he's Bob KerrEy)
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To: Chaguito
The article says:

and there is no convincing documentary evidence to settle the argument.

This might be another way of saying there are after-action reports, but Dobbs didn't find them "convincing". I bet we might find them "convincing". These reporters sometimes have a hard time being convinced when their liberal guy is in trouble.

207 posted on 08/18/2004 9:42:49 PM PDT by what's up
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To: hotshu
Mr. Dobbs, the "reporter" on this story is listed as "Foreign investigative reporter" on the WaPo contact page.

That is an interesting observation - if you want to play a little game that I've seen play out here on FR before - see what else he's written, other people he's sourced things from before, etc., and see if you find any links or coincidences. You'll probably find either (a) there's no reason whatsoever to indicate why this reporter wrote this story ie not his beat or something; meaning it was dropped in his lap by the Kerry campaign and, being his lap, he's the one tasked to write it or (b) he has links to or in some way connects up with political types or other sourcing that would indicate the feed for the trail.

208 posted on 08/18/2004 9:43:56 PM PDT by Steven W.
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To: Chaguito
"...there is no convincing documentary evidence to settle the argument."

"Depends on what the meaning of 'is' is. Seriously."

Right. There never will be any if the press doesn't FOIA with equal ferver for Kerry's documents as for the those of the men making the accusations.

209 posted on 08/18/2004 9:44:52 PM PDT by cake_crumb (UN Resolutions=Very Expensive, Very SCRATCHY Toilet Paper)
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To: Callahan

Close but no cigar. This article does not refute anything said by the SB folks. It merely muddies up the water a bit and reading the whole article indicates that Kerry is the likely source of the confusion.


210 posted on 08/18/2004 9:45:47 PM PDT by justshutupandtakeit (My Father was 10x the hero John Fraud Kerry is.)
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To: kayak

Thanks for that report. I heard the 8/5 Gardner interview and realized then what the swiftees had in the way of strategy. Gardner was on Kerry's swift and describes how Kerry self inflicted his PH butt wound,


211 posted on 08/18/2004 9:46:21 PM PDT by DaveMSmith (When you think LIAR, TRAITOR, FRAUD or COWARD... think JOHN KERRY!)
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To: okie01

exactly right - that's how their damage control operations work. All this stuff behind the scenes you've been reading about ala getting new advisors in place, bringing in old Clintonista hacks, etc., translates to meetings in a room where all these things are planned out and operationally instituted. Expect to see a stream just like this through other friendly media types (hint - remember that "secret" meeting all the reporters attended in NYC with Kerry after he'd wrapped up the nomination). But as I noted in another post, the SwiftVets have the benefit of the truth on their side so even when the Compost tries to give it their best shot, they include facts which are indisputably consistent with everything the SwiftVets have been saying :)


212 posted on 08/18/2004 9:46:52 PM PDT by Steven W.
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Can someone with military experience help me out?

The scenario is that one boat has been hit by a mine, and there is a man in the water. Wouldn't it be likely that under these circumstances the enemy would have been able to hit what they were shooting at, if indeed there was enemy fire on the scene. Wouldn't they at least have been able to hit the boats? If bullets were flying constantly overhead, how is it that nothing was hit??? As far as I know, none of the accounts report anyone having identified the enemy positions and returning fire. Does the scenario in these citations make any sense at all?

213 posted on 08/18/2004 9:48:11 PM PDT by dano1
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To: Not a 60s Hippy
John Kerry has avoided releasing any of his official documents relating to:

Attendance in private and public intelligence meetings, Attendance when the senate was in session, His and his wife’s IRS returns, His military records.

...and what the heck happened to all those facial wrinkles if he isn't using botox?

214 posted on 08/18/2004 9:50:43 PM PDT by dano1
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To: CedarDave
"...hadn't learned how to play the medals game."

My fullest respect to you but I tend to think you didn't have the political clout that Kerry had. He had, even at that age, enough clout to make the strongest ring knocker blush. This is why I am convinced that Kerry wrote up his own medals and had no problem getting them approved.

Medal turned down? Call the Pershings and express his condolences for the death of their son, mention the big scrap he just got in and Bingo.

Not really a big deal. Medals have helped make many a good men. I would expect many CO's have shined the facts and given medals to men under questionable circumstances. I doubt the men that authorized Kerry's medals had any idea that he would have turned out so dishonorable. Not something you would expect from 99% of officers.
215 posted on 08/18/2004 9:50:56 PM PDT by ohCompGk
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To: dano1

The boats werent hit because there was no enemy fire.


216 posted on 08/18/2004 9:50:57 PM PDT by cake_crumb (UN Resolutions=Very Expensive, Very SCRATCHY Toilet Paper)
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To: NavySEAL F-16
"NONE OF THE BOATS HAD ANY BULLET HOLES!"

Well duh, of course not—the bullets were all deflected by Kerry's magic hat.

217 posted on 08/18/2004 9:51:39 PM PDT by Fabozz
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Comment #218 Removed by Moderator

To: dano1
THERE WERE NO BULLET HOLES TO THE SWIFT BOATS.

They took no enemy fire. The boats were shooting at the shore.

219 posted on 08/18/2004 9:52:10 PM PDT by NavySEAL F-16 (Proud to be a Reagan Republican)
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To: dano1
"...and what the heck happened to all those facial wrinkles if he isn't using botox?"

We should demand Kerry release his wrinkles, too.

220 posted on 08/18/2004 9:52:26 PM PDT by cake_crumb (UN Resolutions=Very Expensive, Very SCRATCHY Toilet Paper)
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