ABC News: Son of Late Officer Questions Bush Memos

ABC News ^ | 9-9-2004 | AP

[Thanatos]

DALLAS Sept. 9, 2004 — The authenticity of newly unearthed memos stating that George W. Bush failed to meet standards of the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War was questioned Thursday by the son of the late officer who reportedly wrote the memos. "I am upset because I think it is a mixture of truth and fiction here," said Gary Killian, son of Lt. Col. Jerry Killian, who died in 1984.

Gary Killian, who served in the Guard with his father and retired as a captain in 1991, said one of the memos, signed by his father, appeared legitimate. But he doubted his father would have written another, unsigned memo which said there was pressure to "sugar coat" Bush's performance review.

"It just wouldn't happen," he said. "The only thing that can happen when you keep secret files like that are bad things. ... No officer in his right mind would write a memo like that."

News reports have said the memos, first obtained by CBS's "60 Minutes II," were found in Jerry Killian's personal records. Gary Killian said his father wasn't in the habit of bringing his work home with him, and that the documents didn't come from the family.

CBS stood by its reporting. "As a standard practice at CBS, each of the documents broadcast on "60 Minutes" was thoroughly investigated by independent experts and we are convinced of their authenticity," CBS News said in a statement.

The White House distributed the four memos from 1972 and 1973 after obtaining them from CBS News. The White House did not question their accuracy.

[Texasforever]

If these are typewritten and CBS has the originals then there should be the letters should be embedded into the paper...no?

[TheClintons-STILLAnti-American]

CBS stood by its reporting. "As a standard practice at CBS, each of the documents broadcast on "60 Minutes" was thoroughly investigated by independent experts and we are convinced of their authenticity,"

Their "independent experts" apparently were about as independent as CBS and Dan Rather.

[Mo1]

I'm not an expert and the type writer my parents had that I used back in the 70's was OLD

But yes, those letters were embedded in the paper

[Howlin]

Amid questions raised on Internet weblogs about the authenticity of National Guard documents potentially damaging to President Bush, CBS News told WorldNetDaily it stands by its claims.

Spokeswoman Kelli Edwards said she was aware of the charge that the documents, purportedly produced in 1972 and 1973, appear to have been forged with a modern word processor.

"As is standard practice at CBS News, each of the documents broadcast on '60 Minutes' was thoroughly investigated by independent experts, and we are convinced of their authenticity," said Edwards.

Edwards refused to comment further, referring back to her statement as the final word.

Later, however, she sent an e-mail to WND, adding, "CBS verified the authenticity of the documents by talking to individuals who had seen the documents at the time they were written. These individuals were close associates of [Bush commander] Colonel Jerry Killian and confirm that the documents reflect his opinions at the time the documents were written."

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Uh.....see #32!

They screwed up in ways other than using a 1972 typewriter....

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

The White House did not question their accuracy.

Nor did the White House question their inaccuracy.

[Texasforever]

I also remember typewriter paper being much flimsier than we use for printers.

[txbill]

Let's think about this. If Lt Col Killian kept these memos on 1Lt George Bush over a period of several months in some sort of "personal file", then he must have kept many, many more such memos on those who really screwed up. Perhaps CBS (Danny boy) would be kind enough to confirm that "Yes indeed, Lt Col Killian did in fact have quite a large number of memos in his 'personal files' regarding all the screw-ups in the 147th Fighter Grp. By the way from Oct 1963 to Oct 1966, I was assigned as a radio maintenance technician in the 747th AC&W Sq. which provided all of the radar and communications support for the 147th Fighter Grp. Just for info from many previous posts, two F-102's were kept on alert at all times, not just in "special 24 hour periods" as has been stated before.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Talk about a MOAB. Folks, we are seeing it happen.

In a big way, CBS is still defending the memos....

See Howlins post at #64!

Memo was dated

August 18, 1973

referencing pressure from "Staudt has obviously pressured Hodges more about Bush"........however

General Staudt, who thought very highly of Lt. Bush, retired in 1972.

[SierraWasp]

RATHER GATE!!!

Heard it on Huge Hewitt... pass it on!!!

[calcowgirl]

I FEEL SO SORRY FOR THEM!!!!!
NOT!!

Ahhh... come on Ernest... where's your compassion???

Bwaaaaaaahahahhaaaaaaaaa!!!! LOL.

...this just keeps gettin' better and better... thanks for the ping :-)

[pyx]

Dio;

I usually stay out of these but its just too much fun playin' T-Ball with LEFTIST heads. So, I thought I'd dust off my ol' 40 ounce Louisville Slugger.

What is KERNING ?

kern·ing
noun
adjustment of space between letters: the addition or removal
of space between individual characters in a piece of
typeset text to improve its appearance or alter its fit

Kerning could only be done by TYPESETTERS in the 1970's and early 1980's. Even early versions of WordStar and its famous DOT commands on 1980's CPM Z80 machines couldn't do Kerning.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

AS GrandmaPatriot said .....they may have just dropped a MOAB...... on themselves of their own making!!!!!!

This is just hilarious....what clowns.....

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

This is so fun....

Not enough people know about this yet ....

everyone should ping ten people....

I've done better than that but I might have a few yet I could ping.....

[Bayou City]

Bump for later...

[chalkman]

I am a bit confused. What is the forged document, and is it harmful for Kerry or Bush if it is forged. (forgive my ignorance, I am very tired and am having trouble thinking)

[Mo1]

I also remember typewriter paper being much flimsier than we use for printers

Yes I remember that type of paper also

[citizen]

The White House distributed the four memos from 1972 and 1973 after obtaining them from CBS News. The White House did not question their accuracy.

Snicker....WH: "Shooting yourself in the foot? Here, let me help you with your ammo."

[Ann Archy]

The Clintonistas job is to DESTROY Kerry, and they are doing a FINE job!

[Ciexyz]

The MSM makes me puke.