Q&A About Bush Service in National Guard

AP ^ | 2/13/04 | DEB RIECHMANN

[anniegetyourgun]

President Bush's service in the National Guard during the Vietnam War has become a heated political issue once again, with Democrats claiming he may have been "AWOL" some of the time and the White House charging that partisan critics are just "trolling for trash."

And while the president has said he would be willing to release records that would help clear up questions about his service, White House officials are still poring over records to decide whether they will make public any more information than they already have this week.

Here, in question and answer form, is a look at the controversy.

Q: When did Bush serve?

A: He enlisted in the Texas Air National Guard at Ellington Air Force Base on May 27, 1968. The last day he was paid for Guard duty was July 30, 1973. Bush was placed on inactive Guard duty six months before his commitment ended because he was starting Harvard Business School. He was honorably discharged.

Q: What is in dispute?

A: Bush performed most of his service in Texas, but he transferred to an Alabama guard unit for a time because he was working as the political director for the Senate campaign of Winton Blount, a Bush family friend. Democrats claim Bush has not provided enough evidence that he showed up for duty in Alabama. White House officials say Bush recalls serving both in Texas and Alabama, and has provided new documents - a dental record and payroll information - from his file that they say corroborate Bush's recollections.

Q: Hasn't Bush's service record been an issue in past elections? Why is it resurfacing now?

A: Yes, it has come up previously, but the controversy was reignited earlier this month when Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe accused the president of being "AWOL," or absent without leave, during his time in Alabama.

Democrats are hoping to neutralize Bush's strength in the polls on national security issues by contrasting his service in the Guard, where he was a pilot who did not see combat, with that of Sen. John Kerry, the decorated Vietnam War veteran who is the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination. Kerry has been campaigning on his war record, often appearing with fellow veterans he likes to call his "band of brothers."

Q: When did Bush serve in Alabama?

A: Reports differ on exactly which months Bush was there, but generally, it's believed that he asked for permission to continue his duties at the 187th TAC Recon Group, Montgomery in May 1972 and returned to his Texas National Guard unit after the November election. The White House says Bush went back to Alabama again after that.

Q: Is there evidence he showed up in Alabama?

A: The White House released pay records this week that show Bush, who was a 1st lieutenant, was paid for 25 days of service between May 1972 and May 1973, the year Democrats have been questioning. The pay records, however, do not say what Bush did to receive pay, or where he did it.

Q: What other evidence is there?

A: The White House released a copy of a dental exam Bush received Jan. 6, 1973, at Dannelly Air National Guard Base in Montgomery. Democrats wonder why a dental exam was conducted at the base two months after Blount's unsuccessful election and after Bush had returned to Texas. Citing the dental record as evidence, the White House said Bush had returned to Alabama after the election to fulfill his Guard obligations.

Q: Where did the dental record come from?

A: The White House obtained the dental record, along with other medical records it did not release, from the Air Reserve Personnel Center in Denver. The record was accompanied by a statement from Dr. Richard J. Tubb, the president's current physician, who stated that he read Bush's records, which covered a period from 1968 to 1973, and concurred with the doctors' assertion that Bush was "fit" for service. "The records reflect no disqualifying medical information," Tubb said.

Q: What's next?

A: The White House, which has been hardening its defense of the president's military record, is considering whether to release more information. Democrats say all the information released so far has raised more questions than answers. They dismiss the 1973 dental record, saying they still want to see documented evidence of Bush's Guard service in Alabama in 1972.

[cripplecreek]

The most important question isnt being asked by the media.

"why does it matter?"

[Conspiracy Guy]

I want a cat scan of John Kerry's head. I need documentation that there is a brain inside.

CG

[backhoe]

For the full story, go to "last" here & work back:

-The Real Military Record of George W. Bush: Not Heroic, but Not AWOL, Either-The Original Story--

[Always Right]

Q. What kind of toilet paper does the President use?

A. That is the most relevant question yet.

[Maria S]

"The most important question isnt being asked by the media:
"why does it matter?"

Au contraire! THE most important question was posed by our great poster, "JohnHuang2", in another thread. I'm STILL laughing:

"America needs a full probe of Bush's tooth No. 3 -- why is it missing? Why wasn't this missing tooth charged with going AWOL? And what's he covering up with that cap? This missing tooth and cap work go to Bush's credibility as Commander-In-Chief! from "JohnHuang2"

[cripplecreek]

I do know of one method that John Kerry can use to aquire a semen sample from the president if Laura doesnt mind.

[anniegetyourgun]

But all that might prove is that there is a brain....not that Kerry was actually there for the scan! Personally, I think his brain is AWOL.

[Drango]

the controversy was reignited earlier this month when Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe accused the president of being "AWOL,"

The press, being lap dogs of the Democrates, are more than willing to help smear the President. They could laugh at McAuliffe or accuse him of unfounded lies. Instead they repeat the lies...

[SpinyNorman]

Next report: Were John Kerry's Purple Heart wounds serious enough to be used to invoke the "three Purple Hearts: you go home" clause?

I am sure I will become more "injured" holding my breath waiting for the answer to that one.

[Conspiracy Guy]

We will need photographs, cat scan, and several neutral witnesses as evidence. Wait they could steal a brain and substitute it. The evidence is clear. Kerry has no brain. Send him to the Wizard of Oz.

CG

[findingtruth]

BUSH A NO-SHOW AT ALABAMA BASE, SAYS MEMPHIAN

[anniegetyourgun]

As I said on FR last night....our mainstream media can't find their way to a story unless the DNC leaves crumbs along the path.

[anniegetyourgun]

Boy, they keep digging up these Kerry supporters everywhere.

BTW, I know you just posted that so everyone can check out "Venusinterupted" (sic)!

[StonyBurk]

Terry and the Pirates (Democrats) simply can't accept there
is NO credible comparison between President Bush and his
predecessor Taco Bill Clinton (An Unusually good Liar -who
Lied to avoid the draft,and went to Moscow to cozy with the
commies) Neither can President Bush be compared to Hanoi
Kerry (Whose civil-dissobediance was commended by Gen. Giap
whose service to his country makes him more credible than Kerry)Mcauliffe also Never served and his role reminds me
of the GREAT response Gen.Colin Powell gave to a Senate
Jacki Who raised this issue--"I will not dignify your
quesiton with a response-for clearly yo do not know what you're talking about."

[anniegetyourgun]

It's a fine line to walk, to be sure. However, I think we may be looking at a campaign very unlike any we've ever seen in the past. This one may actually come down to "it's character, stupid."

[johnny7]

9:00AM Friday and no major media yet reporting on Kerry affair. Story broke around 12:00PM Thursday on Drudge. ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, FOX, NYT, WP, LAT all focusing on Bush's dental records. No bias here.

[KellyAdmirer]

At this point, that Q&A looks ok to me. It should have included that people are now coming forward to verify that President Bush did perform service in Alabama, though. That is a very curious omission.

[Savage Beast]

PROPAGANDA ALERT!

AOL Morning Headlines:

Reaching Out
To the Enemy?
National Guardsman Accused
Of Trying to Tip Off al-Qaida
-Bush Driving Records Opened

(Guess what they didn't report.)

PROPAGANDA ALERT!

Drudge Headlines:

U.S. Soldier Charged in Al Qaeda Sting

[familyofman]

"...no major media yet reporting on Kerry affair."

What's there to report - a rumor, that's all. Should all rumors be reported as facts? Or, is it better to find out if the rumor has any basis before reporting it? I opt for the latter.