Website Exposes Kerry's 1971 Antiwar Book, Activities (FRN)

GOPUSA ^ | 2/24/04 | Jeff Gannon

[diotima]

(Talon News) -- A conservative activist group has created a website that features excerpts from a book written by Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) in 1971 when he was a leader in the Vietnam antiwar movement. The Free Republic Network (FRN) has posted photographs and transcripts of Kerry's testimony before Congress on the site, www.wintersoldier.com.

The cover of the book "The New Soldier" is displayed on the site which shows members of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW) imitating the famous photograph of U.S. Marines raising the American flag on Iwo Jima. In this pose, the American flag is carried upside-down, a symbol of disrespect according to the rules of flag etiquette.

The name of the site comes from the Winter Soldier Investigation, an event staged in Detroit by VVAW that was intended to expose atrocities committed by American troops in Vietnam, but doubts about the claims made and the military history of those making the charges undermined its credibility. Scott Swett, a Director of FRN told Talon News his reason for creating the site was to "bring to light that the Winter Soldier Investigation was a fraud and a show trial that was financed by Jane Fonda and the other members of the hard left."

Swett declined to comment on Kerry's military service beyond saying, "To the best of my knowledge he served honorably."

The website talks about Kerry's much-publicized act of defiance where the future senator gained national attention for throwing his medals over a fence in front of the U.S. Capitol. Years later he admitted that he threw someone else's medals during the protest march after a reporter spotted Kerry's medals in his Senate office.

The website also tells how the apparently "spontaneous" speech Kerry delivered that day was actually written by a speechwriter for Robert Kennedy named Adam Walinsky.

John Kerry and the VVAW signed the "People's Peace Treaty" in 1971 and sent a delegation to Hanoi. The document was a summary of the North Vietnamese bargaining points, including the key concession that the United States must agree to withdraw all troops before any negotiations could take place for the return of American prisoners.

A portion of the book is devoted to Kerry's testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during which he said of his fellow soldiers, "They told the stories [that] at times they had personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals and turned up the power, cut off limbs, blown up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages in fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan."

Five days before his testimony before the Senate, Kerry appeared on NBC's "Meet the Press" where he said, "There are all kinds of atrocities, and I would have to say that, yes, yes, I committed the same kind of atrocities as thousands of other soldiers have committed in that I took part in shootings in free fire zones. I conducted harassment and interdiction fire. I used 50 caliber machine guns... I took part in search and destroy missions, in the burning of villages."

Last week, Kerry was asked about reports that he had accused "American troops of war crimes," during his testimony by CNN anchor Judy Woodruff. The Massachusetts senator denied the statements that were recorded by the Congressional Record as well as his own book.

"No, I was accusing American leaders of abandoning the troops," Kerry said. "And if you read what I said, it is very clearly an indictment of leadership."

Jane Fonda appeared on CNN two weeks ago to explain that she and Kerry might not have even "shaken hands" at a Valley Forge, PA rally where the two were photographed together. But flyers distributed by VVAW for the Operation RAW (Rapid American Withdrawal) list Kerry and Fonda as speakers as well as sponsors.

Kerry recently charged that discussion of his war record and his antiwar past was equal to questioning his patriotism. Yet the Democratic Party has continued to blast President Bush about his service in the Texas Air National Guard, from which he was honorably discharged. DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe said that the Bush may have been AWOL, a statement he has refused to retract.

On Sunday, Kerry sent a letter to President Bush saying, "As you well know, Vietnam was a very difficult and painful period in our nation's history, and the struggle for our veterans continues. So, it has been hard to believe that you would choose to reopen these wounds for your personal political gain. But, that is what you have chosen to do."

But it is Kerry who campaigns with his "band of brothers" and has established his image with the media as "John Kerry, war hero," while the Bush campaign has been focusing on the senator's voting record on defense and intelligence issues.

Copyright © 2004 Talon News -- All rights reserved.

[Hon]

"How could a guy with the money Kerry's family had be broke?"

The way I understand it is this: While Kerry's dad established the wonderful tradition of marrying money, he made the mistake of marrying a woman with too many siblings (I think something like 9 or maybe even 11), so her family money got parceled out to nothing.

At this time, in 1971, Kerry had yet to marry his first heiress. Though his best bud at the time was his future wife's brother. So you think they could have easily come up with the scratch--since she, and presumable he, were worth in excess of $300 million in 1970 dollars.

But you know liberals. They always prefer to spend someone else's money.

[BlueNgold]

To MR. Swett and the others at FRN:
John Kerry himself, on Nov 5 2000, questioned Pres Bush's Guard Service. Terry McA is a hack sent out to make statements and deflect the flack. Bring this back on Sen Kerry. He said it himself. Don't allow him to hide behind TMack. Make him answer his own statements!

[cake_crumb]

"But you know liberals. They always prefer to spend someone else's money."

Good point.

[BushisTheMan]

Good luck at the protest rally. Make sure you ask to see the "unreleased" citations for his medals.

Point out that Bush provided his record...and so should Kerry. Why does he not want to release them?

[JulieRNR21]

bttt

[pawdoggie]

In the interests of historical accuracy: As you noted, Lincoln did serve in the forerunner to the National Guard, the militia (and four months is enough to qualify as military service "in the field", just ask John Kerry). Ronald Reagan was a Lieutenant in the US Army (although his poor eyesight kept him in Hollywood making training films), and FDR biographers insist that he attempted to enlist in the Navy, until he fell ill and was discovered to be underage (FDR was a Democrat, so I've always wondered about this legend).

[CyberAnt]

Hmmmm? Thanks for that info. I remember seeing Reagan in a uniform a lot, but I never knew he was enlisted.

[wjcsux]

bump for later read.

[KeyLargo]

Excellent commentary political cartoon by Jack Higgins. Go to: http://www.suntimes.com/index/commentary.html
Click "Higgins" line and scroll back to Chicago Sun-Times, Sunday February 22, 2004.

[SunkenCiv]

"No, I was accusing American leaders of abandoning the troops," Kerry said... Kerry recently charged that discussion of his war record and his antiwar past was equal to questioning his patriotism.

AFAI'm concerned, there is no question about his patriotism. He's not a patriot. Nor is he a hero. He never was a hero. But discussion of his war record isn't the issue. The issue is the fact that he's a liar.

[SunkenCiv]

Just a ping for me.

[Betaille]

I understand the that mainstream press is a bunch of liberal snobs. But I am concerned that the conservative press, including Drudge and Foxnews unfortunately, have also really given Kerry a free ride. Drudge de-listed the article about Kerry announcing that he disagrees with bush saying that god is on our side in the war on terror, and instead is running conspiracy theories about Haiti and Aristide.
Foxnews also has largely ignored Kerry's "OTHER" vietnam war record(falsely accusing US troops of war crimes). They also haven't made much of a point to discuss Kerry's "god isnt on our side" comment. If Kerry declares war on Motherhood and Apple Pie, and nobody reports it, did he really say it???

[ntnychik]

In Gerald Nicosia's "Home to War" (Crown Pub., 2001), Kerry blames Richard Nixon for the suppression of the publication of "The New Soldier."

[AmishDude]

Nixon's dead, Kerry. Release the book! Put it on the internet in PDF form.

[jokar]

Bump

[Hon]

"In Gerald Nicosia's "Home to War" (Crown Pub., 2001), Kerry blames Richard Nixon for the suppression of the publication of "The New Soldier."

That's pretty hilarious, isn't it? How do you think that would have worked?

Hello, Mister Publisher (or book store owner), my name is Richard Nixon and I know that you will do exactly what I want without going to the press to complain if I ask you to remove a book from your list (or shelves).

There is no business that is more liberal that the publishing industry (or book stores). It is simply laughable for Kerry or anyone to suggest this.

The ONLY person who could have pulled it would have been the publishers or Kerry himself. Of course it was Kerry himself.

[ntnychik]

"In Gerald Nicosia's "Home to War" (Crown Pub., 2001), Kerry blames Richard Nixon for the suppression of the publication of "The New Soldier."

That's pretty hilarious, isn't it? How do you think that would have worked?

Here's the quote from the book (but I like your version better!) Nicosia relied heavily on interviews with Kerry in '88-89.

p. 155 "John Kerry's brother-in-law David Thorne and his friend George Butler had documented (with tape recorder and camera respectively) the entire Dewey Canyon III operation as Thorne's senior project at the Columbia School of Journalism. Because veterans were 'hot' just then, Collier offered them a book contract--but only provided John Kerry's name was on the book jacket--and the book, called The New Soldier, was rushed into print within a few months. The initial print run was 35,000 copies--quite impressive for that day. The advance was also sizable (most of it was donated to VVAW). Thorne was thus puzzled to find the book available in few bookstores. The next thing he knew, the editor who had commissioned the book was fired. On the grapevine, Thorne heard that 'the White House really put the kibosh on it [The New Soldier].' He was told that 'Nixon was freaked out by the book--he was really worried that the veterans' movement was going to make the antiwar movement legit.'"