Nope. Rood is not even rebutting the central charges in the Swiftees' account. He is just taking issue with a peripheral incident. Then again the passage of time can play tricks on one's memories. I don't know if Rood saw what he saw or if its a DNC talking point he's parroting.
http://slate.msn.com/id/2105245/
kf Alert: Watch out for a big Sunday paper** pro-Kerry eyewitness hit (on the Silver Star incident--that's the one with the beached boat and the fleeing VC) ... Timed to vindicate Kerry right before the Republican convention. ... P.S.: Even more reason to have a press conference! ... **Update: Chicago Tribune, where the eyewitness works. ... 6:13 P.M.
(Unless there are 2 employees at the Chicago Trib who were eyewitnesses, this has gotta be it.)