Posted on 08/21/2004 9:52:35 AM PDT by Reagan Man
PITTSBURGH (Reuters) - An American journalist who commanded a boat alongside John Kerry in Vietnam broke a 35-year silence on Saturday and defended the Democratic presidential candidate against Republican critics of his military service.
Weighing in on what has become the most bitterly divisive issue of the 2004 campaign for the White House, William Rood of the Chicago Tribune said the tales told by Kerry's detractors are untrue.
"There were three swift boats on the river that day in Vietnam more than 35 years ago -- three officers and 15 crew members. Only two of those officers remain to talk about what happened on February 28, 1969," he wrote in a story that appeared on the newspaper's Web site on Saturday.
"One is John Kerry, the Democratic presidential candidate who won a Silver Star for what happened on that date. I am the other."
Before now, wanting to put memories of war and killing behind him, Rood had refused all requests for interviews on the subject, including from his own newspaper. "But Kerry's critics, armed with stories I know to be untrue, have charged that the accounts of what happened were overblown." he wrote.
"The critics have taken pains to say they're not trying to cast doubts on the merit of what others did, but their version of events has splashed doubt on all of us.
"It's gotten harder and harder for those of us who were there to listen to accounts we know to be untrue, especially when they come from people who were not there," he added.
Kerry, a former Navy lieutenant, is a highly decorated Vietnam veteran, and his war service is essential to his ability to challenge President Bush on issues of national security and leadership in the face of the Iraq war and terrorism threats.
Increasingly, veterans opposed to Kerry and allied with Bush -- led by a group called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth -- have tried to undermine Kerry's service record and credibility and the justification for his medals.
In the face of a new CBS poll showing Kerry's support among veterans has slipped since the Democratic convention, the Massachusetts senator has launched an aggressive counterattack.
On Friday, Kerry accused the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth of collaborating with the Bush campaign and asked the Federal Election Commission to force the group to withdraw ads challenging his Vietnam service.
Bush spent the war in the United States serving in the Texas Air National Guard. Some Democrats have accused Bush of going absent without leave from the guard, citing gaps in his attendance record.
The pretentious title, "Journalist", says it all.
I don't know, nor have I read, any journalists from a mainstream rag that does NOT support Kerry, no matter what.
By my reckoning, this "Journalist" is about as trustworthy as Kambodia Kerry.
Oh darn! A "journalist" working for the Chicago Tribune. Well that settles it.
I thought that only the people who served under Kerry were credible.
Can this guy vouch for Kerry being in Cambodia on Christmas?
Yep. More pro-Kerry spin. He doesn't offer anything that really helps the media's Golden Boy. TM And why wait 35 years to speak up? Rood and the rest of the mainstream media flunkies must think we're stupid and that we can't see what they're up to.
He didn't come out during any of Kerry's other campaigns or any time else during this campaign or during the first three weeks of the swifties but now he comes out then goes back into hiding with no interviews?
How could we have ever doubted Kerry
William Rood
WRood@tribune.com
His handlers:
George de Lama
gdelama@tribune.com
Tim Jones
TXJones@tribune.com
His being a jounalist makes me think that he is a liar.
The Great Oz Has Spoken!
* * * * *
Cooks in kitchens must be able to take heat. Either you are in the kitchen or not, Mr. Rood.
Notice how all critics are bunched into 'Republican' critics.
No interviews allowed. I wonder why. If Kerry was so darned wronged and Rood wants to set the record straight, he should welcome interviews til people get sick and tired of hearing from him. Instead, he issues a hit and run statement and ducks back in for cover. It doesn't pass the "smell test."
Yeah - and they overlook the fact most of Kerry's veteran critics are Democrats and independents. But blame it on those eevil Republicans. That's a straw man argument that by golly seems to work every time.
Yeah what the heck is this journalist afraid of? It can't be the truth. <sarcasm
Swift boat skipper: Kerry critics wrong <-- Link
Chicago Tribune Editor and Former Swift Boat Commander Breaks Silence <-- Link
Rood's facts contradict the SBVT and Kerry. How many boats were on the water that day?
One of the creepiest people that I've ever met calls himself a "journalist". I'm not impressed.
I can smell a guy fishing for a post in the White House.
You are right. Rood's is not the truth. No cross-examination -- no truth.
E-mail the staff of the Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagotribune.com/services/site/chi-newspaperemail.htmlstory
Handlers ????
Bush spent the war in the United States serving in the Texas Air National Guard. Some Democrats have accused Bush of going absent without leave from the guard, citing gaps in his attendance record.
This is what passes for objectivity in what is supposed to be a free press in the United States.
They're trying to discredit the Swift Boat Vets so they don't actually have to address what they've compiled about Kerry. If they can do that, they can save his tottering candidacy.
"who commanded a boat alongside John Kerry "
Alongside? So he wasn't on Kerry's boat? Well, then, by the very definition Kerry himself is using, the man didn't serve with Kerry.
Next.
Yes - yet another litmus test as to the veracity of these people. At least John O'Neill has been making himself available on radio and television talk shows. This Rood guy is just trying to blow steam.
Wonder if he got a check, or CASH!???
Too late, too late...LOL!
More like BS. But its pretty consistent with the M.O of liars who fear public scrutiny like vampires fear sunlight.
Exactly what charge is Rood refuting? I don't think the SBV's are challenging the silver medal, just the fact that he inflated the number of VC's. Nothing in this article refutes that.
Notice how there are no specifics of what he says is incorrect?
http://slate.msn.com/id/2096936
Page 302: Bill Rood, another officer, called Kerry "Ichabod," as in Crane.
Let me see if I get this straight
The swifties didnt serve with Kerry because they were on other boats but Rood did serve with Kerry even though he was on another boat
If so, according to democrats, Rood can't say anything because he wasn't a member of the crew :o)
"The critics have taken pains to say they're not trying to cast doubts on the merit of what others did, but their version of events has splashed doubt on all of us.
"It's gotten harder and harder for those of us who were there to listen to accounts we know to be untrue, especially when they come from people who were not there," he added."
Uh---this joker is KIDDING right?
Where was this 'guy who was there' when Kerry came home after four whole months and called him a baby killer?
This couldn't pass the smell test in Antarticta!
I thought there were five. One got disabled by a mine. One cut and ran, but came back a few minutes later; and three remained to assist the disabled craft and its crew.
ML/NJ
Oh, QUIT being LOGICAL! ROFL.
bookmark
I believe that several of the Swift Boat Vets WERE there on that day. Seems like there are more people who are telling the Swift Boat Vets story than John Kerry's.
I'll be curious to hear what the SBVs have to say about this guy.
Yes, this is a seperate incident from the bronze star which happened March 12, '69.
The problem is that the media will create a double standard, If the Swift Boat Vets can be shown to be false in one they will be irrevocably false in all. That does not apply to Kerry who was demonstrably false about Cambodia.
No, the Democrats/MSM journalists use a constantly evolving standard like the Broward County canvassing board. It amounts to, "whatever helps the Democrat get elected."
If someone criticises Kerry but was not on his exact boat, then only people who served on Kerry's boat should be believed. If someone supports Kerry but served on a different boat, then he is the highest authority (after Kerry) on what happened.
You see, it is all quite consistent. Whatever helps the Democrat get elected is the only standard that matters.
Bush has admirably led America as Commander-In-Chief in the War on Terror for Three years.
I'll take that over 4 months from Kerry 36 years ago.
Kerry wants to fight the Vietnam War all over again - a bad memory that was put to bed with our victory in the 1991 Gulf War.
If Kerry wants to resurrect the Vietnam years with all the turmoil it brought, I can only say........
BRING IT ONNNNNNN!!!
March 13.
Page 81: Kerry was OIC of PCF 94 and OITC of a three boat mission. PCF 23 was the other boat that went "Further up river to suppress enemy sniper fire" No mention of Rood in UFC and he is not in the famous iowapresidentialwatch.com picture.
The Beatles sang "Money can't buy me love"
But it can buy a "Journalist"
It isn't about Vietnam it is about Vietnam Veterans Against the War!
His story is inconsistent with everyone's, including the official reports, Rassman, and Kerry.
They're trying to muddy the waters so they can say no one remembers, it was so long ago, etc...
This article dosn't even say how he thinks the Swiftees are wrong.
Calling him a "Navy Commander" is also a bit pretentious.
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