Interview: ex-POW in Kerry flap speaks out (Ken Cordier)

UPI ^ | 8-24-2004 | UPI

[Thanatos]

Interview: ex-POW in Kerry flap speaks out

WASHINGTON, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- The battle of claims and counter-claims over Sen. John Kerry's service in Vietnam and his later anti-war activism remains at a brisk boil. Kerry accuses a veterans' group attacking him -- Swift Boat Veterans for Truth -- of having illicit ties to the Bush-Cheney campaign, something that President George W. Bush denies.

On Friday former POW Ken Cordier, a member of the campaign's veterans advisory committee, was dumped by the campaign when it learned he was appearing in an anti-Kerry ad for the veterans. In an exclusive interview with UPI, Cordier said he never coordinated his actions with the campaign. Here are some excerpts of that interview.

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UPI: "What did you do with the campaign's veterans steering committee?"

Cordier: "Well, I didn't do anything except have my name on the list until June of this year. In June of this year I was asked to give a surrogate speech to a VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) convention in Colorado. I did that and since then I had no contact with them. ... I had no further contact with them until this situation came up here this last weekend."

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Q: "How did you get involved with the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth?"

A: "It was kind of a roundabout way. First I was aware of them through a mutual friend of John O'Neill (a member and author of a book attacking Kerry) this spring. Then around the first of July the other POW who is on this ad you've seen called me and said, 'You might like to get involved in this.' I said, you know, 'I think you're right. Now is the time because speaking out on this issue is the right thing to do. In fact, I consider it an obligation.'"

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Q: "Why did you feel that way?"

A: "I was personally outraged to go back and review the activities of John Kerry in 1971 and 1972 -- his false testimony to the Senate hearing in April of '71 and his activities with the Winter Soldier campaign and Vietnam Veterans Against the War, particularly that unauthorized trip he took to Paris, having discussions with the Viet Cong representative and the North Vietnamese representative (to the Paris peace talks).

"All of those things constituted what I consider betrayal, to betray the guys who were still fighting over there, and he certainly betrayed the guys like myself who were in prison.

"The reason I say that, he willingly of his own free will gave testimony in a hearing spouting the same propaganda and lies that myself and all the POWs who were shot down and captured in the early years -- 1965-1967 -- we were tortured to say essentially the same thing he said in that hearing.

"The propaganda that was generated by John Kerry and all those guys who were working with him ... the propaganda value for the communists was enormous. The proof of that, I would say, is the photograph of him getting a plaque, displayed in the war museum in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City).

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Q: "How did you find out the campaign was unhappy you had taken part in an ad by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth?"

A: "They called me and informed me they had seen the ad, and that, uh, they were going to have to take my name off the list of co-chairs. And I said, 'Well, I think that is right. I think what I am doing with the Swift Boats is really the most important thing I can contribute at this time. ... Fine with me.'"

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Q: "Were you paid in any way by the Bush-Cheney campaign?"

A: "Absolutely not."

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Q: "Were you paid in any way by the Swift Boat vets?"

A: "No. This is strictly a voluntary effort."

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Q: "Any regrets?"

A: "No. I would have to say I'd do the same thing over again, because I believe I am doing what's right. They can polygraph all day long about this, but I have had no contact with the campaign (about the group or the ad)."

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Cordier, an Air Force pilot, spent 2,284 days as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam's "Hanoi Hilton" prison complex.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

These are the type of people (real heroes) that Jane Fonda Kerry can never rape again.

[Just mythoughts]

"A: "I was personally outraged to go back and review the activities of John Kerry in 1971 and 1972 -- his false testimony to the Senate hearing in April of '71 and his activities with the Winter Soldier campaign and Vietnam Veterans Against the War, particularly that unauthorized trip he took to Paris, having discussions with the Viet Cong representative and the North Vietnamese representative (to the Paris peace talks)."


This little trip alone would cause problems for JFKerry citizen to ever obtain a "security" clearance if he were not a senator.

We have hear very little about this trip establishing that coalition JKFerry loves to brag about.

[madprof98]

You can tell that it's obviously a conspiracy. The White House must have put him up to the whole thing. (Otherwise, I'm sure this report would appear on page one of tomorrow's NYTimes!)

[Just mythoughts]

We have HEARD (not hear)

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for posting this great interview with an American Hero. moi Kerri is not worthy to lick the ground that this honorable man walks on.

https://www.swiftvets.com/swift/ccdonation.php?op=donate&site=SwiftVets

[Viet-Boat-Rider]

Lets see the exact same questions asked to the vets that stood on stage with Kerry. The exact same questions. Then lets compare answers.

[Parley Baer]

You will notice that they never asked if he was paid by the Kerry campaign. Parley

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for your service and comments on many of these threads.

How does it feel that finally the truth is being heard and even sought from you guys?!

[rwfromkansas]

UPI is definitely one of the best wire services....pretty fair mostly.

[AmericaUnited]

Cordier, an Air Force pilot, spent 2,284 days as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam's "Hanoi Hilton" prison complex

This my friends is a real hero.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Ken Cordier: The reason I say that, he willingly of his own free will gave testimony in a hearing spouting the same propaganda and lies that myself and all the POWs who were shot down and captured in the early years -- 1965-1967 -- we were tortured to say essentially the same thing he said in that hearing.

The propaganda that was generated by John Kerry and all those guys who were working with him ... the propaganda value for the communists was enormous. The proof of that, I would say, is the photograph of him getting a plaque, displayed in the war museum in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City).

N.Y. Times reporter: So in other words, Mr. Cordier, all the men who served on Mr. Kerry's boat stand by his story that he is a genuine war hero, and his testimony to the Senate afterwards was taken out of context by Bush's rabid Texas supporters in their book of lies? Good that is exactly what my other source says. Print it!

[GretchenM]

That was a pretty decent interview for UPI. I'm surprised but glad they bothered.

Here's an absolutely excellent video of interviews with numerous occupants of the Hanoi Hilton that'll give a sense of what these men had to go through.

Return with Honor DVD

Item no: AMRX604
Price: $19.98 (available to purchase at above link)

"RETURN WITH HONOR, a film by Academy Award-winning filmmakers Freida Lee Mock and Terry Sanders tells the powerful and moving story of American pilots shot down over North Vietnam and the challenge to survive with honor as POW's for up to eight and a half years. The film is a testament to heroism, courage, ingenuity, faith, endurance and brotherhood under extreme duress."

[L.N. Smithee]

A: "No. I would have to say I'd do the same thing over again, because I believe I am doing what's right. They can polygraph all day long about this, but I have had no contact with the campaign (about the group or the ad)."

Let's polygraph Zack Exley and the MoreOn.org crew. See if they pass.

[atomicpossum]

Cordier, an Air Force pilot, spent 2,284 days as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam's "Hanoi Hilton" prison complex.

...versus Kerry's ~120 days in country.

[True Republican Patriot]

Sen.? Kerry should apologize to Ken Cordier IMMEDIATELY!!!!!! and then to each of the Viet Vets!

[sonofatpatcher2]

Print out and wear as a Campaign Button or go HERE to print.

[A Navy Vet]

Thanks for the article.

This is so heartening. I've been waiting years for Kerry and his ilk to get some payback.

BTW, has anyone noticed that Hanoi Jane's silence is DEAFENING? Too bad, I want her in the mix and take her well-deserved hits.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Cordier, an Air Force pilot, spent 2,284 days as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam's "Hanoi Hilton" prison complex."

REAL HERO PING!

[Bob]

You will notice that they never asked if he was paid by the Kerry campaign.

Why in the world would they ask him that? The accusation is that he allegedly worked for the Bush campaign and the Swiftees illegally.

Do you suspect that he was secretively working for the kerry campaign in an attempt to discredit GWB and the Swiftees? If so, do you have anything that might support that suspicion?