Softball at CNN [Kerry-Woodruff Interview]

The Washington Times ^ | February 23, 2004 | House Editorial

[xsysmgr]

Vietnam has become an unexpected battleground in the race for the presidency, but the war records of the likely opponents have been dealt with quite differently.

Members of the Fourth Estate scrutinized, speculated about and misreported the service record of President Bush after Democratic operatives accused him of being "AWOL." However, the radical activism of Sen. John Kerry after he returned home has received far less attention than it deserves.

[xzins]

If he no longer believes that his brothers in arms committed atrocities, he should explain why he changed his mind and issue a statement exonerating them.

Absolutely awesome point.

This is a pro-soldier ping!

Kerry did claim atrocities by our ground troops (when he never was one.)

If he's changed his mind, then it's fair to ask "Why?"

[Cap Huff]

Good editorial! Thanks for the ping.

Cap Huff (Retired Air Force and proud of it!!)

[MEG33]

I am not surprised at Woodruff,she loses ten years off her face when discussing democrats and ages ten reporting a favorable Republican item.

Kerry is a fraud.

[Lokibob]

More than that, Kerry participated in atrocities while in VN.

I found this excerpt on net:

"For example, the fabled and distinguished chief of naval operations (CNO), Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, told me -- 30 years ago when he was still CNO -- that during his own command of US naval forces in Vietnam, just prior to his anointment as CNO, young Kerry had created great problems for him and the other top brass, by killing so many non-combatant civilians and going after other non-military targets.
"We had virtually to straight-jacket him to keep him under control," the admiral said. "Bud" Zumwalt got it right when he assessed Kerry as having large ambitions -- but promised that his career in Vietnam would haunt him if he were ever on the national stage. "

Can provide the cite if you would like it.

Bob

[reed_inthe_wind]

For (at least) the second time in his life, Kerry is in a position to encourage our enemy to continue a figth against our troops. Before Howard Dean went on the attack, the "loyal" opposition treaded softly before questioning the war on terror. Whether it was cynical politics or actual patriotism, the dems supported the war. Dean lost 17 straight elections, because grass roots dems (the ones that actually participate in the primaries) support our troops and reacted against Dean. I get so tired of the pundits trying to analyze Dean by saying he stood for the Internet or the people. The pundits ignore the real Dean; he attacked the war effort. Remember. Now it's time for Kerry to atone for his radical left position that encouraged the North Vietnamese to continue the war against American troops. Anything less from Kerry is an outrage!

[xzins]

I think you should put the link up. You are referring to Kerry killing women and children civilians, and then finishing off an already wounded enemy soldier.

Probably the reason Kerry talked about atrocities....he had a guilty conscience all his own.

[alloysteel]

Damaging if true - Kerry sounds like he may have been another Capt. Calley, of My Lai fame. Perhaps this is one of the great unreported stories of the Viet Nam war? Another rampaging robo-warrior, indiscriminately spraying .50-caliber fire as he strode into hamlet after hamlet unflinchingly.

What the hell, you have heard it yourself. Kerry has confessed to taking part in atrocities, and since "everybody" did it, he is blameless.

[Lokibob]

Here are 2 exerpts from PRO Kerry articles that discuss his service in VN.

---

http://slate.msn.com/id/2087214/#Correct

Reality check: On March 17, 1969, Kerry's superior officer passed along a request from Kerry to be reassigned "as a personal aide in Boston, New York, or Wash., D.C. area." The basis for this request was a rule that allowed any Navy officer with three wounds to seek reassignment "regardless of the nature of the wounds." Kerry had indeed received three wounds, but all were minor (they had caused him to miss only two days of service), and the third was on March 13, 1969, just four days before his transfer request was forwarded. In sum, he got out as soon as he could. The Boston Globe noted that "none of [Kerry's] wounds was disabling" and that he got his transfer "six months before his combat tour was slated to end." According to the Globe, "Kerry declined … to sign a waiver authorizing the release of military documents that are covered under the Privacy Act and that might shed more light on the extent of the treatment Kerry needed as a result of the wounds."

---

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2004/02/11/2003098345

For example, the fabled and distinguished chief of naval operations (CNO), Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, told me -- 30 years ago when he was still CNO -- that during his own command of US naval forces in Vietnam, just prior to his anointment as CNO, young Kerry had created great problems for him and the other top brass, by killing so many non-combatant civilians and going after other non-military targets.
"We had virtually to straight-jacket him to keep him under control," the admiral said. "Bud" Zumwalt got it right when he assessed Kerry as having large ambitions -- but promised that his career in Vietnam would haunt him if he were ever on the national stage.

[alloysteel]

Do you suppose that some pressure had come from higher-ups in the Navy to remove an embarrassment from the war zone and get him under cover as quickly as possible, before he became an outright liability? The three "Purple Heart" awards were just a smokescreen to expedite the swift transfer of a problem officer. This is MUCH more in character with the "anti-war" stance that young John Kerry adopted so quickly.

Ain't psychoanalysis fun? Especially when you can do it for free.

[Lokibob]

I am positive that Zumwaldt approved his transfer out of country with that in mind.

I found on the net somewhere, that he brags about his meeting with Zumwaldt. I'll try to find it again and post it (think it is on his web page, so it may gag me).

[MeekOneGOP]

Kerry did claim atrocities by our ground troops (when he never was one.)

If he's changed his mind, then it's fair to ask "Why?"

Amen !

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[blackie]

John F'ing Kerry is a traitor!

[mewzilla]

CNN

[Plutarch]

...young Kerry had created great problems for him and the other top brass, by killing so many non-combatant civilians...

Hey, maybe we could find some survivors of Kerry's atrocities, or their orphans, and bring them over to the U.S. for a few interviews.

[Jhensy]

NOTHING could have been butt-kissing and non-confrontational than Stephanapolous with Kerry/Edwards yesterday on ABC.

It wasn't even softball ... it was TEE-BALL.

[windchime]

Bump!

[Right Wing Professor]

I am not surprised at Woodruff,she loses ten years off her face when discussing democrats and ages ten reporting a favorable Republican item.

So that would be 60 for the Dems and 80 for the GOP, then?