Posted on 09/10/2004 7:06:51 PM PDT by ambrose
Posted on Fri, Sep. 10, 2004
Man named in Bush memo left Guard before document was written
BY PETE SLOVER
The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN, Texas - (KRT) - The man named in a disputed memo as exerting pressure to "sugar coat" President Bush's military record left the Texas Air National Guard a year and a half before the memo was supposedly written, his own service record shows.
An order obtained by The Dallas Morning News shows that Col. Walter "Buck" Staudt was honorably discharged on March 1, 1972. CBS News reported this week that a memo in which Staudt was described as interfering with officers' negative evaluations of Bush's service, was dated Aug. 18, 1973.
That added to mounting questions about the authenticity of documents that seem to suggest Bush sought special favors and did not fulfill his service.
Staudt, who lives in New Braunfels, Texas, did not return calls seeking comment. His discharge paper was among a packet of documents obtained by The Dallas Morning News from official sources during 1999 research into Bush's Guard record.
A CBS staffer stood by the story, suggesting that Staudt could have continued to exert influence over Guard officials. But a former high-ranking Guard official disputed that, saying retirement would have left Staudt powerless over remaining officials.
The authenticity of the memo and three others included in Wednesday's "60 Minutes" report came in for heavy criticism Friday, prompting an unusual on-air defense of the original work. Experts on typography said they appeared to have been computer-drafted on equipment not available in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
And the family of the officer who supposedly wrote them, Lt. Col. Jerry Killian, who died in 1984, said it wasn't his nature to keep detailed personal notes.
In its network news broadcast Friday, CBS said the documents were supported by both unnamed witnesses and others, including document examiners.
Earlier, CBS anchor Dan Rather told The Dallas Morning News that he had heard nothing to make him question the legitimacy of the memos. He attributed the backlash to partisan politics and competitive journalism.
"This story is true. The questions we raised about then-Lieutenant Bush's National Guard service are serious and legitimate," he said, expressing confidence the memos are authentic. "Until and unless someone shows me definitive proof that they are not, I don't see any reason to carry on a conversation with the professional rumor mill."
The interview concluded before The Dallas Morning News determined the date of Staudt's departure, so that issue was not included. But a CBS staffer with extensive knowledge of the story said later that the departure doesn't derail the story.
"From what we've learned, Staudt remained very active after he retired," the staffer said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. "He was a very bullying type, and that could have continued."
In the "60 Minutes" report, Rather said of the memo's contents: "Killian says Col. Buck Staudt, the man in charge of the Texas Air National Guard, is putting on pressure to `sugar coat' an evaluation of Lt. Bush."
Staudt was the person Bush initially contacted about Guard service, and he was the group commander at Ellington Air Force Base in Houston when Bush arrived there to fly an F-102 jet. He later transferred to Austin, where he served as the chief of staff for the Air National Guard.
In the disputed memo, Killian supposedly wrote "(another officer) gave me a message today from group regarding Bush's (evaluation) and Staudt is pushing to sugar coat it."
It continues: "Austin is not happy either."
The CBS staffer said that the memo appears to recognize that Staudt has retired, since it differentiates between his displeasure and that of Austin, where he served his final Guard stint.
But another Texas Air National Guard official who served in that period said the memo appears to wrongly associate Staudt with his group command in Houston, and - based on that mistake - the memo distinguishes his views from that of the Austin Guard headquarters.
Retired Col. Earl Lively, who was director of Air National Guard operations for the state headquarters during 1972 and 1973 said Staudt "wasn't on the scene" after retirement, and that CBS' remote-bullying thesis makes no sense.
"He couldn't bully them. He wasn't in the Guard," Lively said. "He couldn't affect their promotions. Once you're gone from the Guard, you don't have any authority."
The report about the memos originally appeared to stir anew longstanding questions about Bush's Guard service, including whether he defied a direct order to take a physical exam, and whether his suspension from flying was partly for failure to meet military performance standards.
The campaign of Bush's Democratic rival, John Kerry, stood mostly mum, saying Bush should answer all questions about his service. Earlier this year, though, Kerry aides raised the exact points the memo seemed to address.
Bush has not commented publicly about the CBS report, and aides say his honorable discharge proves he fulfilled his obligations.
But the White House, which contends that all known records of Bush's service have been released, also took the unusual step of distributing the CBS memos to reporters the night of the broadcast.
"We don't know whether the (CBS) documents were fabricated or are authentic," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said Friday.
Sorry, my friend, but this was reported multiple times -- yesterday. I know everyone wants to be a front page newsmaker, but there is only so much bandwidth to go around.
"Earlier this year, though, Kerry aides raised the exact points the memo seemed to address."
Hmm indeed. If true, could indicate that Kerry/McAuliffe were fashioning the debate early on along the lines of these memos, and that they knew of the memos whenever "Earlier" is.
I suppose if one wanted to do research, a way would be to see when the "Bush failed an order to take a physical" meme popped up first. That angle, about an "order" to do it, seems unique to the CBS memos.
DMS isn't drinking the Kool-Aide.
Danno, you're the one dealing with irresponsible rumours and unfounded smears! "This story is true," you haughtily huff. Why? Because you say it's true? Umm...check me if I'm wrong, here, Sparky...but isn't the burden of proof on you, the accuser? Don't you have to PROVE that your forgeries ARE real, rather than make the slandered party PROVE his innocence?
When your opponent is self destructing, you don't interupt him.
Sorry, but a Freeper posting this revelation isn't the same as the MSM publishing a story about it.
How about one of those sink holes in Florida. they need all the solids they can find to throw into those.
Dog:
Sign me up for the brigade!
I have broadband, Pal. Stop being an ahole and take the time to look for an on-topic thread before draining the bandwith.
Reynolds reported that Kerry recently began playing "Fortunate Son" at his rallies. This was a planned hit, done in concert with CBS.
What's this I here about Barnes not even taking the office of LG until AFTER Bush was in? Did he have a position of influance before LG? Is that another anacronism?
While I'm on the subject, does ANY blog have an athoritative timeline of Bush's Gaurd years including the proven dates (enlistment, deicharge, when he changed assignments etc) as well as the aledged ones (differentiated of course)?
All these charges and counter charges have amounted to a confusing amount of info. I'd like to see what is proven as opposed to what is CLAIMED.
For instance, the relationship between the supposedly missed Physical, Bush's birth month (when physicals were supposed to happen), the point at which he stopped flying, and his discharge date...I'm getting the feeling there not nearly as much unaccounted for time as the Dems are aledging but I want to SEE it.
I looked and looked at that, wondering what was wrong, the second clicked post, I knew
DMS = DMN
Well?
"Until and unless someone shows me definitive proof that they are not, I don't see any reason to carry on a conversation with the professional rumor mill." - Dan Rather
Anybody go to Journalism school? lol this freerepublic, of course not... ...but wouldn't one think that the burdon of truth would be on journalists to prove their sources before putting them on the air? It's like Rather saying "Geroge Bush is an alien and until someone proves otherwise I stand by my story".
there is a logical fallacy for this.. forget what the term is called...
Aren't forgers supposed to be smarter than this? This sounds like a guy who would give a stick-up note to a bank teller on the back of his electric bill.
It's been here over and over the last 24 hours. I'm not refering to MSN, but here in Freeperland. Take the constuctive criticism and move on.
The sequential PO Box numbers have been shown to be consistent with other documents.
First rule of politics - Never step in the way when your opponent is cutting his own throat.
Probable anti-Vietnam war apparatchiks, certainly non-mil, going after Bush for non-service in Vietnam? Bad, bad flashbacks they're having. 9/11 discombobulated their anti-american worldview.
What is Kerry, "Fortunate Husband?"
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