Questions Remain About Kerry's Military Records

Editor & Publisher ^ | 6/11/05 | Thomas Lipscomb

[ambrose]

Questions Remain About Kerry's Military Records

But will the press answer them? The Boston Globe and Los Angeles Times published in-depth accounts this week but, according to Lipscomb, the form that produced the documents may have asked for "anything and everything" or "nothing much at all."

By Thomas Lipscomb

(June 11, 2005) -- The Boston Globe and The Los Angeles Times initially refused to confirm or deny that they had a copy, or had even seen a copy, of the Standard Form 180 (SF-180) by which Sen. John Kerry’s “complete” military records were released over the past several days. This threw serious doubt on whether either newspaper took sufficient reasonable care in evaluating the chain of transmission by which they received the Kerry documents.

In response to my story in the Chicago Sun-Times on Thursday, the Managing Editor of the Boston Globe, Mary Jane Wilkinson, has now told Sun-Times editors that the Globe does indeed have a copy of Kerry’s Standard Form 180 used in delivering the documents to the Globe. That is reassuring, but it remains to be seen whether the Globe will release copies of the SF-180 in their possession, and that is important.

According to Mark Sullivan, a former Navy JAG officer who worked directly for the Secretary of the Navy, the SF-180 can release anything and everything and nothing much at all, depending on how it is executed. So it is incumbent upon anyone relying on statements, much less making them, concerning the production of documents to examine its wording carefully. One must evaluate it the same way an attorney would examine a request for discovery document in a legal case to see if it is artfully worded in a way not easily apparent to a non-specialist that excludes vital material.

Even when a source is doing their best to cooperate, the maze of the giant government bureaucracy can release some documents and not others for a variety of reasons. Kerry could have been doing his best to release all his documents on the SF-180 and still have things stuck in some subsection of the National Archives.

The Associated Press last summer, after chasing documents on President Bush for four years, finally had to sue for injunctive relief to get the U.S. government to release the last documents. The head of the AP, Tom Curley, told me, “This wasn’t the fault of the White House. They were doing everything they could to help us. But without a court order we couldn’t get the last documents.”

Journalists are seldom specialists. That is why they consult experts to help them make this kind of evaluation. It is now reasonable to assume that both papers used experts to examine the transmission SF-180 before they gave Kerry the very thing he was looking for: the imprimatur of two great newspapers that he had “provided access to his complete records” (L.A. Times) and that he “authorized the release of his complete medical and military records” (Boston Globe).

But there is still no evidence to support that confirmation, other than their assertion. There may be if, as I hope, these newspapers, or John Kerry himself, decide to reconsider and allow his SF-180 to be examined and the form is indeed filled out properly. In that case their stories are perfectly in order and deserve congratulations and I will be the first to say so.

The day before Globe reporter Michael Kranish released his story on the documents he called Kerry’s nemesis during the presidential campaign, John O’Neill, head of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. He told me he cautioned Kranish about the difficulties of an SF-180 release.

He stated that he sent Kranish directly a copy of his own he had filled out in response to Kerry’s challenge to him to do so on the “Meet the Press” show on January 30 on which Kerry promised to sign his. O’Neill’s SF-180, signed January 31st. was released to the media and has been available online since March 1st.

Now that the Boston Globe has in its possession what it claims are Kerry’s “full military and medical records” is the Globe ready to make these much-anticipated records available to the public? Managing Editor Mary Jane Wilkinson replied, “It is my understanding that Kerry will release these papers to anyone else now that he has signed the Form 180. The Boston Globe is not going to make available the papers we have received.”

But “the onus is on the Globe to explain why they are not releasing the records. They at least ought to give the public some reason,” according to former journalism dean and Fordham University Larkin professor Everette Dennis.

“With the opportunity to release the Kerry material on the internet inexpensively, there certainly is no physical problem preventing the Globe from publishing them,” Bill Gaines, a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and Knight Professor of Journalism at the University of Illinois, told me. “The decision they have made certainly doesn’t seem to be in the interest of their readers and not very good journalism.”

Both the Boston Globe and Los Angeles Times claim that Kerry will release any papers in their possession to anyone else who applies. But that isn’t what The New York Sun’s Josh Gerstein found when he called Kerry’s able press representative, David Wade. Gerstein reports: “Asked whether the senator would permit release of the records to The New York Sun, Mr. Wade said, ‘The issue is over.’"

But it isn’t. And it won’t be until the public has access to the SF-180 which procured release of the papers. Freedom of Information Act requests for it are now under way. Those requests will most likely be successful, perhaps as early as next week. And there is nothing barring its release before those requests are processed but John Kerry, and The Los Angeles Times and The Boston Globe.

Michael Kranish, the Globe reporter who wrote the front page story about receiving Kerry’s “complete medical and military records,” was not happy at being pursued by my questions about how he had made that determination. Kranish finally sent me the following: “The story speaks for itself. Other media have been given access to the same records, and the Kerry office has said it is accepting requests. Your request should go to them. That is our statement.” It sounds more like a response from a lawyer than a reporter.

And The Boston Globe made several calls to editors at the Chicago Sun-Times, complaining that I was giving them the kind of unpleasant treatment reporters give sources who stonewall on questions about matters they think are of vital public interest. They were right. I was. And those questions got the Globe to admit they had the SF-180 two days later.

Perhaps now they will release it and even Kerry’s worst critics will find it in order and finally be silenced. In that case, David Wade may be right: “The issue is over.”

Thomas Lipscomb (letters@editorandpublisher.com) is a senior fellow at the Annenberg Center for the Digital Future at the University of Southern California. He writes regularly for the Chicago Sun-Times

[lilylangtree]

MSM has credibility problems. They know skerry was substandard yet they tried to give him the presidency. However, one of the few times that the general public got smart and opened their minds to what MSM was doing.

[Doctor Raoul]

Pipscomb is absolutely correct in his assessment. He should be a hero to his fellow reporters, but they aren't reporters, they're "journalists".

What is a "jourmalist"? It is a reporter who thinks they are part of a ruling class.

[HarryCaul]

Surely they aren't covering directly for Kerry. If they are, that's it, that's the deathblow for the MSM.

My bet is there's nothing else of interest in those records.

[Doctor Raoul]

A thousand apologies, it's spelled "Lipscomb".

[CedarDave]

O’Neill’s SF-180, signed January 31st. was released to the media and has been available online since March 1st.

Anyone have a link? Haven't been able to Google it.

[Freee-dame]

What is a "jourmalist"?

...somoeone who interprets the who, what, when, where and how of yesterday's reporters. This according a panel of several "journalists" that I saw on C-Span recently. They were young, but already considered themselves as part of the elite.

[ozzymandus]

I sincerely doubt if the trurh about kerry's military records will ever come out completely.

[ozzymandus]

sorry, "truth".

[CedarDave]

Lot's of discussion on the Glob's story here...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1420695/posts

[layman]

Kerry never disappoints ... he's lying again. He submitted form 180 to the National Personnel Record Center with instructions to release the records to the Department of the Navy. He then instructed the Navy to release 'selected parts' of the records to The Boston Globe. The Navy's privacy policy makes it possible to release less than the full record. The honest way to do it is to instruct the NPRC to release the full record to a third party. Only in this way can purging or selective release of Navy records be avoided. As I said, Kerry is lying again.

[Verginius Rufus]

In Watergate terms, this is a "limited modified hangout." Having DNC propaganda organs like the L.A. Times and the Boston Globe vouch for this form is sort of like Nixon's plan to have Senator Stennis listen to the White House tapes...except that there was never any evidence that Stennis agreed to be part of a cover-up.

[Doctor Raoul]

In Watergate terms, this is a "limited modified hangout."

BRILLIANT CALL!!!!

[afnamvet]

From SF180:

An UNDELETED Report of Separation is requested for the year(s) This normally will be a copy of the full separation document including such sensitive items as the character of separation, authority for separation, reason for separation, reenlistment eligibility code, separation (SPD/SPN) code, and dates of time lost. An undeleted version is ordinarily required to determine eligibility for benefits.

Kerry needs to sign SF180, requesting an undeleted report of separation with a signed release for the full and complete military record(Medical,Training, etc.)

IMHO, he will not.

[afnamvet]

"Perhaps now they will release it and even Kerry’s worst critics will find it in order and finally be silenced. In that case, David Wade may be right: “The issue is over.”

The "issue" is NOT over.

[johnny7]

This is what I expected from the start.

A little bit here... a little bit there... released by two, incredibally-compromised, pro-Kerry news sources. They don't even have all the information!

The guys a living-lie... a two-bit, bullsh_t artist.

[bitt]

the Glob!

LT ping!

[bitt]

'The Boston Globe made several calls to editors at the Chicago Sun-Times, complaining that I was giving them the kind of unpleasant treatment reporters give sources who stonewall on questions about matters they think are of vital public interest. They were right. I was.'

---

so the Glob was whining that Lipscomb was picking on them, and went to his boss??

Great Glob gutter gunk !

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

There is no need to impeach Hanoi Kerry from the US Senate

He is there illegally!

WAKEUP AMERICA!

For those who "forgot" what Hanoi Kerry
did in the past read on and learn the truth.

Hanoi Kerry 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

Why is Kerry still in the US Senate?
This is in violation of
U.S. Constitution Amendment 14 Sec 3
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.amendmentxiv.html

And the FBI has proof of his treason.

Hanoi Kerry Timeline of a traitor
includes FBI files

May 1970
Kerry and Julia traveled to Paris, France and met with Madame Nguyen Thi Binh, the Foreign Minister of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of Vietnam (PRG), the political wing of the Vietcong, and other Viet Cong and Communist Vietnamese representatives to the Paris peace talks, a trip he now calls a "fact-finding" mission.

(U.S. code 18 U.S.C. 953, declares it illegal for a U.S. citizen to go abroad and negotiate with a foreign power.)

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

a) A person charged with absence without leave or missing movement in time of war,
or with any offense punishable by death,
may be tried at any time without limitation.

http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/ucmj.htm#*%20843.%20ART.%2043.%20STATUTE%20OF%20LIMITATIONS

Distribute these url's!

Links to Anti Kerry sites
212 LINKS
News reports,
Viper's Vietnam Veterans Page

http://members.aol.com/ga1449ga/links/links.html


EXPOSE HANOI KERRY!

MUST SEE WEBSITE!!!!

http://www.kerrystreason.com/index.html

Full details on these url's!

http://stophanoikerry.150m.com

There is a backup site
if the 1st url is unavailable.

http://tonkin.spymac.net/hanoikerry1.html

Did you see this...?
(The 'Kerry's Promise Counter')
http://polipundit.com/index.php?p=6628
Polipundit even tells you how to install it on your own page!

Swift Boat Veteran For Truth John O'Neill Comments on Kerry's 180 'Release'
6/7/05
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1418592/posts

John Kerry was dishonorably dismissed from the Navy:
(statement from lawyers there at the time)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1406760/posts

[Smartass]

FYI

Dear Friends and Supporters:

· We’ve got an important question for you! Does your town, county or state have a “sanctuary policy?” When it comes to illegal immigration, a sanctuary policy refers to public laws or regulations that prohibit police officers from asking immigration questions of persons in connection with an investigation. In the case of other public employees and officials, these same sanctuary regulations forbid them from inquiring about a person’s immigration status when the illegal immigrants seek public services or benefits (i.e., taxpayer funded health care, housing, education, financial assistance, drivers’ licenses, etc.). You can just imagine the terrible fraud, waste and abuse of taxpayer money; or the threat to public safety posed by these outrageous regulations. Many jurisdictions across the country have enacted sanctuary policies: Los Angeles, San Jose, Houston, Miami, Denver, San Francisco, Portland, ME – the list goes on and on. Does your town have a sanctuary policy? Take a minute to tell us about the situation where you live. Send a brief e-mail to: info@judicialwatch.org with the word “Sanctuary” in the subject line. We want to know what’s happening in your community!

· John Kerry finally executed a Standard Form 180 (“SF-180”). The SF-180 form is used to release privacy protected military records held in government archives. Mr. Kerry’s naval service has been a point of renewed controversy since his run for the presidency last year. Judicial Watch led the way in uncovering the details concerning Kerry’s naval record, and forced a (disappointing, whitewashed) review of his military awards & decorations by the Inspectors General of the Navy and Defense Department. Many of you will remember Kerry’s January 30, 2005 appearance on the NBC news show, Meet the Press, when moderator Tim Russert asked Sen. Kerry (three times) if he would sign an SF-180 and release all of his military records. On the third attempt Sen. Kerry answered Mr. Russert directly stating: “Yes, I will.” We took Senator Kerry at his word and on Wednesday, February 2, 2005, we hand-delivered an SF-180 and cover letter to his Senate office. The Boston Globe and other newspapers have reported they are in possession of Kerry’s “full military and medical records.” But are they? You see, an SF-180 is much like a checkbook, according to former Naval Judge Advocate Mark Sullivan. The form can be filled out for one dollar or for one million dollars. What matters is examining how Kerry filled out the SF-180 – to see precisely what he authorized to be released, and to which U.S. Navy records repository the form was submitted. Interestingly, Senator Kerry’s office has refused to produce a copy of the completed SF-180. We’ll keep tracking this story.

· Hurricane season began last week. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) handed out over $31 million of hurricane relief money in Dade County, Florida alone following Hurricanes Ivan, Frances, Charlie and Jeanne last year. There’s a big problem, however: None of the hurricanes struck Dade County. We’ve launched an investigation seeking records from the agencies involved and will report back to you on this enormous fraud.

Chris Farrell
Director of Investigations

Judicial Watch is a non-partisan, educational foundation organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code. Judicial Watch is dedicated to fighting government and judicial corruption and promoting a return to ethics and morality in our nation's public life. To make a tax-deductible contribution in support of our efforts, click here.