Swift-boat questions continue because Kerry refuses to reply

Omaha.com ^ | 9/19/04 | HAROLD W. ANDERSEN

[Libloather]

Harold W. Andersen: Swift-boat questions continue because Kerry refuses to reply
BY HAROLD W. ANDERSEN
WORLD-HERALD CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Published Sunday, September 19, 2004

An attorney friend wrote to complain about "wild-eyed accusations" against John Kerry. His letter said that "most of the assertions by the Texas-funded 'Swift Boat Veterans' regarding John Kerry's actions in Vietnam had been refuted by real facts and undermined by their own contradictory statements."

But the truth is that most of the assertions by members of "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" not only have not been refuted - they haven't even been replied to. Most of the assertions haven't been reported in any detail, if at all, by the major news media.

So the ads were "Texas-funded." Does that somehow make them "wild-eyed accusations"?

The issue is the content of the ads, of a letter to Kerry and of the book "Unfit for Command," which quotes by name a substantial number of swift-boat veterans, a number of whom served with Kerry.

Scarcely reported, if at all, is a letter directed to Kerry and signed by more than 250 fellow Vietnam veterans. It included this language:

"Specifically, we the undersigned formally request that you authorize the Department of the Navy to independently release your military records (through your execution of Standard Form 180), complete and unaltered, including your military medical records."

Statements available to anyone - certainly including the news media - on the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth Web site offer interesting reading. Two examples:

(1) Lt. Thomas A. Withey, who had commanded a swift boat, summarizes his Vietnam experience thus: "Silver Star, Purple Heart. (I spent 21/2 months in a hospital and returned to Vietnam for the remainder of my 12- month tour.)"

(2) Retired Marine Lt. Col. James Zumwalt signed the letter to Kerry in memory of his father, Elmo Zumwalt Sr., commander of U.S. forces in Vietnam, and his brother, Elmo Zumwalt Jr.

The retired Marine officer said he added his name to the letter because Kerry "returned home from the war to make some outrageous statements and allegations" about "numerous criminal acts and violations of the law of war . . . disparaging those who had fought with honor in that conflict."

James Zumwalt said such acts "were few and far between," yet Kerry made numerous speeches and testified before Congress, "inappropriately leading his audiences to believe that what was only an anomaly in the conduct of America's fighting men was an epidemic."

A number of Swift Boat Veterans use much stronger language in regard to Kerry's anti- war activities in the United States after four-plus months in Vietnam.

Kerry's problem then - and his problem to this day - is that the great majority of Vietnam veterans "actually felt good about their service," in the words of B.G. Burkett and Glenna Whitley in their book, "Stolen Valor."

The book cites a 1980 Lou Harris poll of Vietnam combat veterans. It showed that 91 percent of those polled were glad they served their country, 74 percent enjoyed their time in the military and 70 percent would serve again.

Why do I return to this subject again? Because so many readers have told me they agree that John Kerry simply has not answered legitimate questions and criticism from other Vietnam veterans, including a number who served with him.

And because other readers are so willing to brush off the bulk of the Swift Boat Veterans' statements as lies when the truth is that the bulk of the assertions and questions haven't been reported in the news media or addressed by Kerry or his campaign associates.

My attorney friend's letter said that the attention focused on the Vietnam War "only diverts public attention from the candidates' positions on really pressing issues and probably sours many potential voters on the political process."

I agree that the campaign focus should be on pressing current issues. I expressed that view in a May 16 column, which carried this headline: "Kerry should focus on future, not past."

But the Kerry campaign continued, month after month, to emphasize Kerry's service in Vietnam. A New York Times story said Kerry's speeches on the campaign trail have included "incessant reminders of his four-month combat tour."

In accepting the presidential nomination at the Democratic Party convention in Boston, Kerry devoted three times as much time to his four-plus-months of service in Vietnam as he did to his nearly 20 years' service in the U.S. Senate.

So if there is to be any further lecturing about looking to the future rather than back more than 30 years to the Vietnam War, the pupil most in need of such lectures (former President Bill Clinton made a pass at this recently in the form of friendly advice) is John F. Kerry, Democratic candidate for president of the United States.

[Libloather]

I have a question about the headline - 'Navy Says Kerry's Service Awards OK'd'. Why then wouldn't Effin' Kerry be MORE THAN WILLING to sign that Form 180 - so everyone can see the truth?

[Libloather]

Time to bump...

[SandRat]

And another paper reports in on FLIPPER failing to answer the questions.

[Real Cynic No More]

Kerry must reply. The thrust of the story is true. Oh, yes, the facts espoused by the Swifties haven't been discredited, either!

[Boundless]

> 'Navy Says Kerry's Service Awards OK'd'

The Navy merely confirmed that the proper process was
followed in issuing the medals.

On the matter of whether the original reports leading to
the medals were fraudulent - no answer.

On the matter of why there are 5 citations for 2 stars -
no answer.

On the matter of whether Kerry's released documents are
authentic and unaltered - no answer.

On the specific matter of Silver Star citation #3, which
is entirely disclaimed by the SecNAV who ostensibly
authored and signed it - no answer.

Do not allow the Kerry Kamp to spin the Navy statement.

[MistyCA]

Thank goodness they are not letting up. The issue is completely legit and they aren't speaking for President Bush. They are speaking the Vets who remember and won't forget!

[js1138]

Actually, nothing has been refuted. There are a couple of Kerry supporters who claimed there was enemy fire in one incident, but one of them was under water at the time, and out of five boatloads of sailors, only three remember a firefight.

Oh, and the Navy has released a bombshell: the medals were awarded by officers with the authority to award them.

[DaiHuy]

Actually if you read the thing carefully, using the Dem tactic of parsing, the Navy said the correct procedures were used for awarding the medals.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

My Favorite post for dims and trolls
who slither in here each day.
And the Lame Stream media
who find the real news on Free Republic,
then rewrite and spin the truth.

JOHN KERRY
CLICK HERE TO SIGN FORM 180

WHAT ARE YOU HIDING?
WHAT IS YOUR SECRET?
WHAT DON'T YOU WANT
AMERICA AND THE PRESS TO KNOW?

John F. Kerry
Timeline of a traitor.
Click Here

http://www.archive-news.net/Kerry/JK_timeline.html

Guide to Local Media
Locate media in your zip code, gives you links to YOUR local media with phone, e-mail etc info.

Free Internet Fax Service
Free E-Mail to Fax from your computer, just fill in form on page , they do the rest.
Make sure you enter fax # like this 12025551212 (no spaces or -)

Is the number you want them to SEND FREE FAX covered?

Complete list of areas they SEND FREE FAXES to

KERRY'S ONLY POSITION
THAT HE HAS NEVER
FLIP FLOPED ON
TRAITOR THEN
TRAITOR NOW

READ THIS INTERVIEW THAT KERRY GAVE in 1970
KERRY GAVE AID AND COMFORT TO THE VIET CONG

Harvard Crimson : Kerry refused order to destroy Viet Cong village

http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=352185

Published on Wednesday, February 18, 1970
John Kerry: A Navy Dove Runs for Congress

By SAMUEL Z. GOLDHABER

Crimson Staff Writer

"...One time Kerry was ordered to destroy a Viet Cong village
but disobeyed orders and suggested that the Navy Command
simply send in a Psychological Warfare team to be
friend the villagers with food, hospital supplies,
and better educational facilities."


Free online version of
Kerry's "The New Soldier"
You can read it online right now.

Kerry hopes everyone
in the USA gets this book!

Hanoi Kerry and Hanoi Jane sitting in a tree F-R-E-N-C-H-I-N-G

Jane Fonda tells the student audience at the Michigan State University in 1969:

"I would think that if you understood what communism was, you would hope,
you would pray on your knees, that we would someday become communist."


Joe Moore, Can Tho Airfield 550th Signal Company

[lonestar]

I'm sick of hearing that Kerry "volunteered to go to Vietnam."

After he was turned down for a student deferment to study in Paris (assuming to major in "Peace Talk") he volunteered for the Navy Reserves-- and his unit was called up. He was trying to stay out of VN.

[Syncro]

And Kerry was an officer...

Self adulation turned into self abuse.

He's probably got hair growing on the palms of his ego.

He's roadkill.

Carrion Kerry

[Boundless]

> I'm sick of hearing that Kerry "volunteered to go to Vietnam."
________________

Kerry the war hero, Readers Digest edition:
2004-09-19 11:23
 

• Kerry used the deferment system until finally denied.
   
• He then enlisted in the USNR, because "I didn't really want to get involved in the war, ..."
   
• He transferred to PCFs when they were relatively safe open-water "PT-109"-like "Market Time" operations. "When I signed up for the swift boats, they had very little to do with the war. They were engaged in coastal patrolling and that's what I thought I was going to be doing."
   
• When did he find out about the switch to vastly more dangerous "SEALORD" ops, and why was he 17 days late reporting as ordered to Vietnam?

He did at least usually follow orders, and usually did not flee the field under fire. We can give him that.

• The Christmas in Cambodia story is now revealed as a total fiction, so we have to wonder about any other claimed Kerry exploits.
   
• He gamed the medal system and scammed 3 Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star w/V and a Silver Star.
   
• His own journal says that on a date after the 1st PH action, "... we hadn't been shot at yet ...". This quote, at least, looks honest.
   
• He has 2 citations for the BS, and 3 for the SS. The final citation for the SS is entirely disclaimed by the SecNAV who supposedly authored it. What is going on here?
   
• Kerry bingoed out on the 3PHs. Most heros didn't, unless actually disabled.
   
• He was still a USNR officer while he:
  • gave false hearsay testimony to Congress
  • negotiated with the enemy
  • helped the US lose a war
  • abetted in the deaths of millions
  • created a hostile environment for all servicemen
     
• He gamed the Reserve system to skip out on 2 years of drills (yes, the same JFK questioning GWB's ANG service)
   
• He waited until a dim-witted Democrat was President before requesting a Discharge, why?
   
• He sabotaged the POW recovery effort to benefit a family business.
   
• He claims to have released all his records, but the U.S.Navy says "not so". Will Kerry sign the SF-180? It could clear all this up.
   
• Kerry continues his treacherous legacy by criticizing Bush's handling of the War on Terror, but failing to lay out any kind of credible alternative plan. This is providing encouragement to the enemy (again) and causing them to launch attacks intended in part to affect the election. Kerry is getting people needlessly killed.
   

Some war hero.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!!

[Syncro]

Yup, and out of combat too.

He trained for the swift boats cause they
WERE NOT doing combat when his training started.

But they were when he got there.

You know fighting the wild Viet Cong....rice

Shooting an enemy youngster in the back when he presented no danger anymore...Silver Star material according to one of the Swift Boat Officers...His own coward self.

[Syncro]

Your last sentence sums up his agenda for the last 35 years

"Kerry is getting people needlessly killed."

SOP for that coward.

Thanks for putting so many facts about the lying traitor in one post.

[Use It Or Lose It]

Where's John Hurley been lately? Haven't seen hide nor hair of him since his appearance of Fox News Sunday. The following article poses a question: Did Kerry "officially" resign from the VVAW?

-------------

John Kerry adviser accuses Vietnam veterans of war crimes

Addison Ross
BrookesNews.Com
Monday 30 August 2004

John Kerry's spokesman on veterans issues, John Hurley announced on Fox News Sunday August 22 that John Kerry was right when he accused US troops of committing atrocities against civilians "on a day-to-day basis with the full awareness of officers at all levels of command."

Why would Hurley continue to repeat John Kerry's malicious slanders knowing that they had been completely discredited? Furthermore, why is the media trying to give credibility to the views of this John Kerry spokesman on veterans issues even though he has been exposed as a calculating liar? Well, I don't think I need repeat that question.

Lying seems to be second nature to Hurley because on Monday August 16 he appeared on MSNBC's 'Scarborough Country' where he falsely stated that that the Washington Times had called Unfit for Command a pack of lies. The following Wednesday the Times published a scathing denunciation of Hurley's own lies.

Like John Kerry, on his return from Vietnam Hurley, now a Boston Lawyer, also accused US troops of being war criminals. Among those he condemned was the engineering battalion with which he served.

Tom Perdue, who served in the same battalion, was so outraged by Hurley's lies that he tracked him down and confronted him with his own slanders. Hurley was forced to admit that he had slandered his comrades. Yet this liar refused to correct the public record. Nevertheless he now has the nerve to go on Fox News to repeat the same vicious slanders in order to protect John Kerry.

They don't get any more despicable than Hurley.

But why would Hurley and John Kerry continue to slander US troops? Hurley helped set up the pro-Hanoi VVAW (Vietnam Veterans Against the War). In this he had the support not only of Jane Fonda but also the CPUSA (Communist Party of the United States of America) along with the Black Panthers and various other domestic terror groups. None of these unsavory links deterred John Kerry from joining and then becoming a full-time organizer. So much for his patriotism and integrity.

So it was certainly no coincidence that the policy statements and political demands of the VVAW, which John Kerry supported, were identical to those of the CPUSA, which in turn took both its funding and its marching orders from the Kremlin.

Now John Kerry was once asked whether the group's communist links bothered him. Certainly not, was his response. According to his political logic getting rid of pro-Hanoi activists and other communist sympathizers would have the effect of "seriously dividing and weakening the movement, and making it less effective."

VVAW is still with us. A mere two weeks after the Twin Towers atrocity it had the gall to publicly announce that the "use of massive military power will only escalate the cycle of violence, spreading more death and destruction to more innocent people with no end in sight. ... We see many parallels between Vietnam and Afghanistan." It went on to say that America really had it coming.

A couple of years later these America-haters called on Americans to oppose the "war on terrorism". It then equated the Patriotic Act, which Kerry and most of his fellow Dems voted for, with terrorism disguised as "public safety".

Considering that both Hurley and John Kerry refused to denounce the VVAW's post-9/11 statements it would appear that they are still in agreement with this anti-American organisation.

Hurley's anti-American activities must have greatly impressed Rep. Robert Drinan of Massachusetts, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, because he put Hurley on his campaign staff. Drinan was also a vocal supporter of the murderous Fidel Castro. (Leftwingers like Drinan have no trouble with child-killers so long as they are socialist dictators). He also supported the Chile Committee for Human Rights, a Soviet front organization set up by a Stasi agent.

Drinan, like John Kerry, was an avid supporter of Central American Soviet-backed Marxist-Leninist thugs, as was Hurley. Is there a pattern here? I damn well think so.

And now we have the disgusting Hurley doing the bidding of John Kerry by once again sliming war heroes.

[ArmyBratCutie]

>>>>But the truth is that most of the assertions by members of "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" not only have not been refuted - they haven't even been replied to. Most of the assertions haven't been reported in any detail, if at all, by the major news media.<<<<<

WOOOHOO amen to this!!....Libs are ALWAYS on Fox News hollering this "talking point" about the Swift Boat Vets found to be liars" and NO ONE CALLS them on this rant..
Fox could take a clue from this editorial!!

[doblin]

bump

[wizr]

Thanks

[Soaring Feather]

bump

[OldEagle]

It looks like Kerry's advisors think that after he loses the election all of the SWV and CBS TANG stuff will go away.

Folks, I got news!

[BobbyK]

excellent collection for the coward, have you figured that coward is now playing to the tune of Bush has a *secret* plan to enlarge the troops in Iraq, after the election
what a load.
This just stinks, reeks to high heaven.

[tuesday afternoon]

I don't think I've seen Hurley since I first read on FR that he was a member of VVAW.

[Chieftain]

Here's the message that Kerry can't respond to:

S enator

We

I nsist

F orthrightness

T ruth

V eracity

E thics

T rustworthiness

S ervice

He won't respond because Kerry can't deal with the facts. That's the BIG reason he has tanked in the polls, he can't address even one charge laid out in the Swiftees killer ads!

You can bet the DemocRAT 'smear the Swiftees' campaign will be saying the same old thing.

The Swiftees are EXPOSING KERRY'S FRAUD!

These Swiftee stickers get the word out to the driving public and displays your public support for the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth! It even displays their website address.

Swiftee sticker thread! Freep mail for details on how to get yours!

[Valin]

His letter said that "most of the assertions by the Texas-funded 'Swift Boat Veterans' regarding John Kerry's actions in Vietnam had been refuted by real facts

Must of missed this. I've read a great deal of character attacks, and one or two half-ass attempts but nothing that says what these guys are sayung isn't true.

[Valin]

MORE THAN WILLING to sign that Form 180 - so everyone can see the truth?

I think we all know the answer to that.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

GREAT summary Boundless! PING

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1220656/posts?page=13#13

[Smartass]

   


GOD BLESS THE SWIFTEES - Click the logo to donate to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth!

[christie]

.
Let's not forget Kerry's stellar Senate career where his greatest achievements were

Stopping the funding for the Nicaraguan Contras after bring back a peace agreement with Daniel Ortega of the Sandanistas (which was worthless). Ortega turned around and solicited $200 million from the Soviets a few days later. Read: Kerry's Disloyal Nicaraguan Journey and Don't forget 'The John Kerry Committee'

Investigating (or creating) the Iran/Contra and BCCI scandals.

Blocking the vote on the Vietnam Human Rights Act in the Senate in 2001, which tied U.S. aid to Vietnam's human rights performance, and had passed by a 410-1 margin in the House of Representatives. Kerry, chairman of the Senate's East Asian and Pacific Affairs subcommittee, said in a statement at the time that he and fellow Vietnam War veteran Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) "are concerned that denying aid to Vietnam would actually slow human rights improvements." Many Vietnamese living abroad, along with human rights campaigners, say conditions in Vietnam have deteriorated in the three years since Kerry blocked the legislation.

Persuading the MIA/POW Senate committee to vote unanimously that no POWs existed in Vietnam in order to open up trade with Vietnam (his cousin C. Stewart Forbes, CEO of Colliers Intl, received a contract for a huge commercial deal worth at least $905 million to develop a deep-sea commercial port at Vung Tau).

For more on the POW/MIA issue, here is a great article: When John Kerry's Courage Went M.I.A. - Senator covered up evidence of P.O.W.'s left behind

For more, check out the John F. Kerry Timeline. Email it to your friends, post on your blogs.
.

[blackie]

"Kerry Lied and Good Men Died!"

"Kerry Fled and Good Men Bled!"

[Fawnn]

Bump!

[BykrBayb]

Very good! And let's not forget, kerry's the only one who ever got a Combat "V" on his Silver Star. Even Audey Murphy never got one of those!

[MeekOneGOP]

See this group of Swift Boats patrolling together? They are NOT SERVING together!!! Only the ones on the SAME BOAT are serving together! Each group of personnel on each boat know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about the personnel on the other boat, PERIOD !! If they say they do, they are Republican LIARS !! Unless the one talking is a DemocRAT. Then he is telling the truth, of course.

---

This idjit needs to release HIS MILITARY RECORDS!

Help the Kerry Campaign With Its paperwork!
Email Them a Standard Form 180 Now!

---

Click here to donate to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth!

[stylin19a]

Sen. Kerry is enough trouble, go easy on the 17 missing days.

Sen. Kerry took leave 9Nov-12Nov68.
He reported RVN 17Nov68.
He must have flown to RVN.
The Marines had a 4-5 day pit stop in Okinawa before going
to RVN.
Maybe the Navy also had a pit stop.

Coronado training was to begin (estimate)25Aug68 and take 9 weeks. Nine weeks would go through approx. 25Oct68. His RVN report date was NLT 31Oct68.
In his orders, the Coronado start date was estimated. If the start of training didn't take place until later (which is surely possible..in-transit delays of other class members etc...), then the time-line could fall in place nicely.


Don't forget, on his DD-214, the Silver Star also has a "V", of which there is no such animal for the SS.

[Boundless]

> And let's not forget, kerry's the only one who
> ever got a Combat "V" on his Silver Star.

Well, not the only one.
There are reports of others, all bogus.

But this issue has lost traction. Unless someone can
develop a forgery/alteration case, the records Kerry
has published are merely in error on the "Combat V".

The USN records that Judicial Watch did manage to get,
show the "V" on the Bronze, not the Silver, and no
enhancements to the Silver.

Now if you want to raise the issue of why a Bronze+V
would be issued for Kerry running away, then noticing
no enemy fire, then going back to fix the problem
caused by his running away, well that's another matter.

And my reading of the various conflicting reports on
the Silver Star episode suggests that Kerry merited
a Court Martial, and not a decoration. There was at
least some hostile fire in that case.

[devolve]

[BykrBayb]

If he'd just sign the SF-180, it would answer all our questions; but instead, he just continues to do 180s.

[Boundless]

> Sen. Kerry is enough trouble, go easy on the 17 missing days.

Roger that. Wilco.

Your analysis makes sense to me.

[MistyCA]

Thanks for the ping, Tonk.

[Jet Jaguar]

BTTT

[AFPhys]

Kerry the war hero, Readers Digest edition: 2004-09-19 11:23

Very nice job of that.
/

[Boundless]

>> Kerry the war hero, Readers Digest edition:

> Very nice job of that.

Thanks. It sort of amazes me that we pajamahadeen are
obliged to create and maintain this sort of summary.

The legacy media is obviously not going to touch it,
nor the Bush-Cheney-2004 campaign, but there are lots
of conservative advocacy sites, if not openly anti-
Kerry sites, that you'd expect to be able to go to,
and quickly find such snapshots.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[Chieftain]

I went to the Jaguars game today in Jacksonville and wore my STOP Hanoi John Kerry T-shirt. I brought a portfolio full of these Swiftee stickers (MADE BY FREEPER WVROMANIA), to show everyone and maybe even sell a few! I received many positive comments. Everyone told me they were proud to see me standing up against Kerry and supporting the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth!

I did sell a few stickers but I realized folks will say good things, but they ain't gonna spend that BEER money!

I am PROUD to stand up and FIGHT KERRY and support the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth who are EXPOSING HIS FRAUD!

Swiftee sticker thread! Freep mail for details on how to get yours!

[Alamo-Girl]

Kudos, Chieftan! Thank you!!!

[potlatch]

Whole lota stuff going on in those graphics!!

[devolve]

That's the still .jpg

The .gif was too big a file and took forever to load

[ntnychik]

OutSTANDING graphics!

[PhilDragoo]