CBS is NOT sinking!
Posted on 09/10/2004 1:10:00 PM PDT by Hillary'sMoralVoid
The memos in question were not official files, but were personal files of Col Killian's. How were these recently obtained from an officer who has been dead for over 20 years without the knowledge of his family?
As a squadron and group commander, I kept numerous personal files with both handwritten and typed memos on various pending disciplinary actions. I saved many of these for years, but would never share them with anyone. They were kept in a locked desk drawer in an office that I kept locked when I wasn't there.
I typically kept the documents for around five years, and, believe it or not, I sometimes got official inquiries that required me to refer to the documents. About five years after retirement, I personally shredded about 200 pages of notes that I had kept while serving in an Inspector General job, which constituted my only remaining personal records.
I would never keep these documents around permanently, because they always involved issues that fell beneath the threashold of formal disciplinary actions, but could be used as a reference for patterns of activity.
It is quite remarkable that these unofficial documents could have survived twenty years after the death of the purported author. It would take an incredibly prescient individual with dark motives to want to hold on to such documents and spring them on a campaign just two months before a national election.
I would fight to the death to protect the privacy of the similar documents I created in the Air Force, I am certain that LtCol Killian would feel the same. I went to great lengths to protect them until I ultimately destroyed them.
With all this in mind, one can only reach two conclusions from this analysis: Either the documents were stolen from personal archives or they were forged.
The question that LtCol Killian's wife and son need to ask CBS is "How and from whom did you obtain these documents?" It is a question I am sure that CBS will not answer. (Lawsuit on behalf of the Killians, anyone?)
Well said sir.
I've mentioned this before, but Democrats *never* have a problem getting a hold of secret files or ever pay a price for stealing them.
Remember Linda Trip's file for example?
By digging in...CBS is going to keep the story on the front page and make it worse for themselves in the end.
Just keep in mind that this contradicts the "But an officer would NEVER keep personal documents" line of thought being advanced by Killian's son and several here.
Now, back to the comment I intended to make when I saw this headline - how could there possibly be an issue about these documents that has not been raised on this forum in the last 24 hours? Don't get me wrong - it is an interesting and important issue - but I'm starting to get a little tired of all fontgate, all the time. There's a lot going on out there in the world.
These guys have turned into Haldemann and Erlichman... with a smidgin of Colson. The people they crucified for a miniscule breaking and entering!
They took down a friggin' president for less than what they have done!
If See BS has access to the originals, then why don't they show them via digital methods? Or let an independent observer have a look see? Methinks this stinks like a dead fish.....
Hope so.
Why the hell didn't you interview us before running that story?
They were stolen from the imagination of some Kerry supporter that thought he/she would be hurting the Bush Campaign
They need to turn the docs over for carbon dating and to be checked for 'rag' content of the paper fiber. The 'rag' content in 1970's paper would be different than today's paper. Also to see if they match other paper out of the office of Col. Killian.
I am not a lawyer, but I have commanded. I have a question for you.
Did you check with your JAG or Legal office on what UCMJ and DoD regulations are regarding that?
If someone gets a UIF (Unfavorable Information File), it must be destroyed upon expiration of the appointed time. No commander is allowed, under military law, to keep documents such as Letters of Reprimand (LOR), Letters of Counseling (LOCs), Article 15s, or other such UCMJ approved documents indefinitely if the punishment was nonjudicial.
Moreover, the MPF (Military Personnel Flight) is required to shred the records after (I believe) 2 years after the time of justice administered by the commander.
An Article 32 (Court Martial) is quite different, and other rules apply.
All of this contributes to the implausibility of this entire phony CBS hoax.
I have read just about every post listed on FR today about this item. And no where have I seen it posted or stated that in 1972 there were 641 casualties from all types of action in Viet Nam but in 1971 there had been 2,357. The war was winding down and the chances of GWB being called into action were about as likely as me being called back to active duty after doing my four.
To the point.
I think Byron York provides a very succinct analysis of these documents. They cannot be bona fide personal files unless Officer Killion was "Jekyl and Hyde" character, (please see: http://www.nationalreview.com/york/york200409100809.asp )
Killion was in Texas. On May 2, 1973 he and Lt. Col. Harris wrote that they could NOT give Bush an evaluation in because Bush was in Alabama. Two years prior Killion wrote Bush glowing evaluations.
The CBS memos dated August 18, 1973 indicate that Killion was approached by Bush in 1973 to write him a positive evaluation. Killion writes, presumably to himself, that he is reluctant to do so and that higher ups were pressuring him to "sugar coat" the evaluation.
The second, CBS memo is dated May 4, 1972 and Killion writes to Bush to get a physical examination and that we have spent considerable money on your training. (Note that it is customary to go for your flight physical during the month of your birthday--Bush's birthday is in July or August I believe.) Then another document, May 19, 1972, again a personal one, Killian documents that the young Bush wants to be transfered to Alabama.
Then in the authentic White House documents, on May 24, 1972 Killion gives glowing evaluation of Bush. And the evaluation is concured by Lt. Col. Harris.
The CBS documents are phony otherwise Killion and Harris are the Jejkl and Hyde twins.
nick
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