[bcsco]

I have no problem going after Murtha for what you posted. My problem is going after him for alleged fraud in his acquiring his purple hearts.

My point was that if done properly it would be his service comrades who would take that issue public; not anyone else. Anything short of that simply invites a deluge of criticism in investigation.

[Calpernia]

Lying about military service is a crime.

But, I'm not picky, I don't mind which crime he is investigated and charged with. There are lots to choose from.

[usmcobra]

And who would those service comrades be...One weekend a month marine reservists that might never have seen Muthra because he was performing an alternate duty while in Washington DC as a congressman?

Or a bunch of grunts that never would have known that he was their intelligence officer or who he was while he was in Viet Nam.

Unlike Kerry who was actually in command of a small unit, Muthra would have been almost invisible to anyone that would be believed if they came forward.

Here he is being challenged by a comrade, a fellow congressman from his state that served with him in the halls of congress, and that former Congressman is also a decorated Viet Nam Veteran.

As long as his bonifides are not challenged, his words that hurt our troops and aid our enemies have weight, and nothing anyone can say on the issue of Iraq will trump his words.

[dk/coro]

I must state at this juncture that a very significant number of Bronze Stars were awarded (I like to use the word "issued") during the peak of the SEA conflict as essentially nothing more than "thank you" tokens for a clap-free in-country tour.

I cranked out far too many of them myself -- and am guilty of this perversion of the system. I got so good at it, I could grind out the Citation verbage to such a colorful degree that I could make Elmer, the postal clerk, into Audie Murthy in less than 10 minutes of serious scribing.

Farcical and demeaning to the process. I suspect the good Colonel may well have been caught up in one of these penmanship exercises as a reward for keeping his family jewels unsullied.

Just my real-life two cents worth. *S"

[bdfromlv]

If you desire the truth but fear the criticism then your opinion will be given to you when we think you need it. Fear not what can not kill you.

[El Gato]

My point was that if done properly it would be his service comrades who would take that issue public; not anyone else. Anything short of that simply invites a deluge of criticism in investigation.

Many here, 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub, Aloha Ronnie, RVNAirplaneDriver, and many others, *are* his service comrades. Many others have worn the uniform, and hate to see it used to collect political brownie points from Code Pink and the Dancing Dims.