Citation Language
What is going on with this:
GARRETT: And there’s a question about Kerry’s Silver Star citations. One written in late 1969 or 1970 summarizes his heroism on a February 28, 1969 reconnaissance mission that drew heavy enemy fire. It was signed by John Highland, the commander of the US Pacific Fleet and concludes Kerry’s actions, quote, “His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.” But a second citation written in 1986, by then Navy Secretary John Layman [should be Lehman, I think – HH], adds these words. Quote, “By his brave action, bold initiative and unwavering devotion to duty, Lieutenant Kerry reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”
GARRETT: So why are the 1986 citation conclude with more ringing praise of Kerry than the earlier version? The Kerry campaign says it doesn’t know. The campaign says Kerry asked the Navy for copies of all his military records in May 1986, while serving in his first term in the
United States Senate. The campaign says Kerry lost all his original records and wanted citations suitable for framing; the Layman citation
in the packet that the Pentagon sent over. And Kerry aides say the senator never requested the more glowing praise in that latest 1986
appraisal from Secretary of Navy John Layman — Brit.HUME: Let me just see if I have this straight. He originally got a citation based upon a document signed by Admiral Highland. Correct?
GARRETT: Yes. And before that he received a citation about the Silver Star from Vice Admiral Elmo Zumwalt.
HUME: Right. And so, this citation from the secretary of the Navy, there was no earlier citation apparently from the secretary of the Navy. He didn’t get one from the secretary of the Navy until 1986. And that one was signed by somebody who wasn’t in office back when the events
occurred. Right?GARRETT: That is correct. There are three citations. And the Kerry campaign can’t explain why, when the Navy sent over his earlier records, it just didn’t send over copies of the Zumwalt and Highland citations. But also sent over Zumwalt, Highland, and then Navy Secretary John Layman.
HUME: With some added language.
GARRETT: Right.
HUME: All right. Major, thanks a lot.
GARRETT: You got it.
If Kerry were a republican, this accusation alone would be enough for a front page NY Times story.
BTW- What else happened in 1986? There was this:
And while we are add it, what is going on with this?
Do I believe all this stuff? I don’t know what the hell to believe, but since Kerry won’t address any of it or release his records, but instead does nothing but launch attacks on the character of anyone who dare question his platform (which is his Vietnam service), why shouldn’t I post anything that comes down the road?
Hell, Josh Marshall and Kevin Drum examined every aspect of Bush’s record, never came up with anything, and still declared him AWOL. Fair is fair, right?
We spent months hearing how ‘Bush knew,’ how this was a ‘Jewish war’ this was a ‘war for oil,’ and now this is too much heat for the Democrats? The word of 250 vets?
Service Details
Jeff Quinton is asking which bloggers served when and where. My info:
1990-1992- United States Army, 19K-Combat Armor Crewman, 11th ACR
1992-1996- West Virginia Army National Guard, 12B-Combat Engineer, Co. C, 1092nd ECB
1996-1998- West Virginia Army National Guard, 19k-Combat Armor Crewman, 197th RTI
Why, Roger? Why?
Why on earth would anyone swear off camembert?
Dungeons and Dragons
Great history of Dungeons and Dragons in Gamespy this week.
I played from 1977-1986, and still have all my old Gary Gygax books and dice at home.
Lies and The Lying Liars
It seems that MoveOn.Org, a 527 that the Democrats approve of, is planning to air an ad to quell the damage from the SwiftBoat commercial:
OPEN ON THE YOUNG GEORGE BUSH IN NATIONAL GUARD UNIFORM.
ANNOUNCER: George Bush used his father to get into the National Guard, and…
CUT TO BUSH’S NATIONAL GUARD MEDICAL FORM BEING STAMPED WITH “FAILURE TO APPEAR”.
ANNOUNCER: …when the chips were down, went missing.
CUT TO SHOT OF TV SHOWING “SWIFT BOAT” SPOT, THEN WORDS APPEAR ACROSS SCREEN, “FALSE ADVERTISING”.
ANNOUNCER: Now, he’s allowing false advertising that attacks John Kerry…
CUT TO FOOTAGE OF A YOUNG JOHN KERRY IN VIETNAM.
ANNOUNCER: …a man who asked to go to Viet Nam and who served with dignity and heroism.
CUT TO HALF SCREEN PICTURE OF JOHN McCAIN. HIS WORDS APPEAR ON SCREEN NEXT TO HIS PICTURE.
ANNOUNCER: Here’s what a true Republican war hero has to say about the anti-Kerry ad: “I think the ad is dishonest and dishonorable…I think the Bush campaign should specifically condemn the ad.”
CUT TO SHOT OF BUSH AND CLOSING DISCLAIMER COPY. ANNOUNCER: George Bush: Take that ad off the air. MoveOn PAC is responsible for the content of this advertisement.
When will they stop lying- Bush has nothing to do with the Swift Boat commercial and has repeatedly stated as much:
Soon after, White House spokesman Scott McClellan declined to do so and instead criticized the financing of the ad, saying the president “deplores all the unregulated soft-money activity.” McClellan said the Bush campaign had nothing to do with the ad or the group behind it. “We have not and we will not question Kerry’s service in Vietnam,” he said. McClellan used the opportunity to call on Kerry to join Bush in demanding that all soft-money groups quit running ads. The overwhelming majority of such ads have targeted Bush, often harshly. Kerry campaign spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said Kerry will not ask the groups to stop their advertising.
I am sure Media Matters will get to the bottom of this pronto.
Bush and The F102
An interesting piece on Bush’s Guard service and how he avoided danger by flying the F102, via the Donovans.
Also, this Lileks quote regarding Kerry’s lies nuance regarding Cambodia is spot on:
If Kerry