Posted on 09/15/2004 11:30:46 AM PDT by rocklobster11
Now that we know the memos were forged, the question is who created them and why? It has been reported that these memos came
to CBS from the DNC and may have originated by a disgruntled former Army National Guard member who has an axe to grind with
President Bush. I'm sure the who will be discovered by other news sources soon. I want to focus on the why.
When I originally saw these memos, I couldn't figure out what the purpose of them was. There didn't seem to be any new facts in
them, as everyone agrees that Bush missed his annual flight examination which was scheduled for July 1972, and had his flight
status suspended on August 1. These memos just appeared to provide backup.
However, upon further analysis, it appears that these memos were meant to lay the ground work for further charges that Bush used
cocaine while in the National Guard and had to be quickly shuffled out of Texas to Alabama to cover it up. These are rumors that
have circled amongst the Bush haters, but there has been no proof, and the timeline didn't really support the conspiracy
theories. Lets look at how these memos were an attempt to forward this rumor:
What is behind each of the memos:
| Fake Memo | What is says | Why was it created |
| May 4,1972 | Orders Bush to get his annual physical within 10 days | To change the timeline for Bush getting his annual physical, which wasn't actually due until the end of July. Create the impression that Bush left in a hurried panic for Alabama to avoid drug testing |
| May 19, 1972 | Phone call from Bush asking about getting transfered to Alabama because he wants to run a campaign. Followed by discussion of getting the physical later if he decided to keep flying |
Show that Bush left town on May 15, called his commander after the fact to see if he could transfer to Alabama. Also, create a confirmation that Killian was aware and ok with the fact that Bush missed the physical. If the order from May 4 was disobeyed, you would expect some sort of official reprimand or follow-up. Since there is nothing in the record, the May 19 memo provides an answer. |
| August 1,1972 | Bush suspended from flight status due to failure to perform to USAF/TexANG standards and failute to meet annual physical examination as ordered. Plus order of the creation of a flight review board IAW AFM35-13. |
Make it look like there was something more to the suspension of flight status than just missing the physical. Create the impression that a flight review board was ordered, so that they can then ask why Bush has not released this document (ie, there must be a cover-up). It must show that Bush was suspended for using drugs |
| August 18, 1972 | CYA Memo about being pressured to sugar-coat the Bush review. Mentions something about backdating information | Perhaps to show that there was some pressure from higher up for a coverup. However, I wonder what record would need to be "backdated" in order to fit in with the subsequent conspiracy theory that they plan to release. Perhaps we will find out, or perhaps they will abandon the next phase of the plan now that the forgeries have been uncovered |
Why did 60 Minutes run this story last week? I believe it was meant to be a lead in to the Kitty Kelly book, which also makes
these unfounded claims of Bush drug use. 60 Minutes expected there to be a 4-5 day news cycle discussing how Bush had not
completed his guard duty or had been given preferential treatment. After the Kitty Kelly book came out, they could look at them
again in a new light to help spread the rumors of Bush's drug use.
"This is a totalitarian hijacking of our democracy, our freedoms of speech, and a DIRECT THREAT to Mr. Dan Rather, Citizen of the United States!! "
Wow. These people are scary. AND it's NOT a democracy, it's a REPUBLIC, you misguided fools. DU is a good place for ya. Too bad you can vote.
The O&O's. I hadn't thought about that...
Maybe, Sumner Redstone hasn't either...
This is so believable it is downright creepy.
Gee, without the internet, how do you suppose this would have played out?
The only hole in your theory is, why didn't the forger at least use the courier font? Aren't these guys pros? 8^>
Just call me a pajama-mama........and it's an honor to be a freeper.
Thanks! I was wondering if that still applied these days. Most networks do NOT air both sides of much of anything.
Be nice, though, if CBS became FRBS...
This isn't over, yet. Not by a long shot.
And, I am very motivated.
FRegards
No need to "prove", just plant the idea and hammer on it.
They have been doing the same thing with the Assault Weapons Ban. Make everyone believe that they are trying to ban machine guns. Who cares if machine guns have been illegal since the 30's.
I, for one, am tired of being lied to.
.
CBS refuses.. so the FCC goes to court. If the court rules the media can not hide a forger guilty of fraud, then the media has lost a huge hunk of power. That is they could lose the right to never reveal sources of a story.
Now if you are ABC, NBC, or USA Today do you let the court take away your right to keep all sources secret or do you make the story mute by revealing the source yourself?
This story is a long way from being over. And the for the first time in memory the media does not have every reason to present a single front. The solidarity of the media may for the first time in my memory come apart.
It doesn't compare, but did 60 Minutes do a story on that? Only in the context of the Swiftboat Vets, and then if they did, it was to prove them liars. You don't hear much about this in the negative toward kerry! It is just amazing!
"This is so believable it is downright creepy.
Gee, without the internet, how do you suppose this would have played out?
The only hole in your theory is, why didn't the forger at least use the courier font? Aren't these guys pros? 8^>"
You have interesting questions.
I remember in the old days of watching network news, they would 'show' a document with some line highlighted, and get on with the story. The 'mistake' CBS made was to make the documents available on the web. In this global information age, and with a 100000 'human database' at Free Republic, there would have been someone who immediately would have caught on to the forgeries. Their 2nd mistake was to sneer at the combined intelligence of serious FReepers and bloggers. That really unleashed the energy to delve deeper in these docs. But to answer your question, in the old days they would have gotten away with it. We (the viewing public) trusted and believed the network news commentators. Dan Rather has now betrayed the trust of all his viewers, IMHO.
Are the forgers pros? My gut feel is no. They're bunglers, like the Watergate bunch. CBS fished around for the docs and they manufactured them based on what CBS was asking for. But the forgers misused military formats, confused army terminology for air force terminology, and produced half-baked memos from memory. CBS turned a blind eye because they wanted the scoop so badly. Rather wanted to contribute to 'Operation Fortunate Son' and be the cause of bringing down a sitting President in a time of war. I think he still wants this as his legacy.
What: Forgeries
Who: Bill Burkett
Why: To Lead into the Bush did Cocaine in the Guard smear
Conjecture, but a good one. I'll spell it out. Look, who are the big heroes in the journalistic profession: Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman, 30 years after their big Watergate scoop. Ben Bagdikian, who played Jason Robards in the movie, if I'm not mistaken, got a cushy job as the Dean of UC Berkeley's journalism school, and got to spew out his lunatic neo-Marxist theories of modern media every other week in newspapers, on the screen and in books, ever since. Only the black security guard who discovered the silly burglary died broke and forgotten. But then, he wasn't a member of the media aristocracy.
Back then, I think a CO would have had to send you for a specific test if he suspected something. Physicals were routine and for the purpose of seeing if you were in good health. They weren't designed to look for drug use on a routine basis. That came later.
bmp
"backdated" in order to fit in with the subsequent conspiracy theory that they plan to release...
I suspect they misused the word "backdate" and meant to imply that Bush actually missed his physical and was grounded in May, to advance the theory that he skipped town to dodge a drug test, disobeying Killian's direct order in the process. This silly notion also betrays a misunderstanding of the regulations on medical exams - his medical was not overdue until 1 August, that's why his official orders removing him from flight status are dated 1 August.
Here are some comments (from July) on the Bush/Bath theory, including a suggestion that the missing memos story wouldn't go anywhere unless:
"...someone can prove that he was doing time for cocaine possession..."
http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/34381
July 16, 2004
AP Seeks Release of Bush Military Records
Your analysis sounds good. This would also indicate a very high level conspiracy at the DNC level and or Carville and Begala. I have noticed they have not been saying anything??
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