Posted on 08/08/2004 10:54:18 AM PDT by areafiftyone
Former Iraq war commander Gen. Tommy Franks said Sunday that Sen. John Kerry is qualified to be commander-in-chief, rejecting criticism from more than 200 Vietnam veterans who served with Kerry and say he's unfit for command.
"I'm not a fan of hyperbole whether it is for or against Sen. Kerry," Gen. Franks told ABC's "This Week."
Asked specifically about allegations that Kerry fabricated some of his combat record, Franks said, "Yeah, I think it is hyperbole."
"For some reason we've fallen pray to a notion that says there has to be vitriol on order to simply say, I support Sen. Kerry, I support George W. Bush to remain president for the next four years."
Asked point blank if Kerry was qualified to be Commander-in-Chief, Franks said, "Absolutely."
The Iraq war chief was adressing allegations by Swiftboat Veterans for Truth, a group of Vietnam Veterans who served with Kerry who have chronicled evidence of his misconduct as a swiftboat commander in the new bestselling book, "Unfit for Command."
Gen. Franks said he was proud of being "fiercely independent" in his politics, but he told "This Week" that he's leaning towards supporting President Bush and acknowledged he's in talks with GOP planners for a possible address to the Republican Convention on Aug. 29.
Exactly. This is between Kerry and them. It isn't hyperbole in any way. shape or form. I wish I'd heard the interview, but was trying to ignore the news today....then of course I come here anyway and find out I missed something.
Well I hope he does speak at the convention.
Only if he wants a job in a Kerry administration. He is retired from the military.
Following the Crowe line. Stars don't mean you have no dopey nodes in your brain. BTW he's not a hero (Franks).
I remembered he is retired only after I posted that. Thanks. It's the price of missing my morning coffee.
Tommy Franks, while qualified to be CinC, would be HIGLY unlikely to try and run on 4 months service in a war that ended 30 years ago, while hiding his actions of those 30 years. Kerry is. He's mentioned his service in Vietnam once or twice. A minute. For the past year and a half. He wants us to vote for him because of it, and only it.
Well, knock me down with a feather. I was pretty sure he sang a different tune when Hannity interviewed him at that book signing in Ling Island, last week.
Has politics corrupted him already?
Neither Franks nor McCain served one minute with kerry.
Kerry's fellow Swift boat officers were there. They served with him and directly observed his actions. When 200+ veterans who served with a man question his fitness, I want to see their charges either confirmed or refuted.
Another guy who wants the Left to say nice things about him. WONDERFUL!!!
He ain't no Patton.
President Bush has never engaged in attacks on anything other than the record of kedwards.
Well maybe he figures he can sell more books that way.
reminds me, I need a refill....
I guess I'm just a slow reader. I subscribe to a daily and a twice weekly news paper-the daily eats up between two and three hours of my mornings. Then I listen to Rush for a while, then hit the net and scan several more dailys on line. Free Republic has me hooked for more hours a day than I care to confess to. In between all that, even though I am retired, my cgores must be done, like mowing the grass, rototilling the garden, etc., etc., paying bills, ordering prescriptions for the wife and myself, pleasing my very spoiled and demanding chihuahua, and the list goes on.
I just don't have time for reading books any more, best seller or dud.
Ya just gotta wonder who is buying all these books and if they are stocking up on them to read during the long boring hours of their retirement years. If they are, I have news for them-you are wasting your money. There is so much to do during retirement these days, that you wonder how you ever found the time for work in the first place.
Filled up bookcases do look less dull than a blank wall I suppose-but colorful wall paper would be much cheaper.
You might want to double check the US Code Title 10. He was Promoted to Major General two stars and appointed thereafter to General four stars. Though officially retired he still holds the rank and is subject to recall at the desire of the President or the Secretaries of Def or Army. Further as a "retired senior General Officer is Security Clearance is still active and he gets regular classified updates. So you very right he has to be very careful what he says. BTW as a retired flag rank officer and since his security clearance is still active his book manuscript had to be submitted and approved at DoD level before going to print for security reasons.
Uh, that is incorrect-- Franks was Central Commander of the Iraq war-- he reported to Rumsfield and to President Bush. But, Franks planned and ran the war with their complete confidence and support.
You just don't associate him with Iraq because he's not a TV guy. Read his book.
I think you are right.
If Gen. Franks remains neutral, his book will reach a lot more people AND, in reading it, they will read the truth. Something very much needed in liberal land. How could he help the country better than by getting the truth out to as many people as possible. No business of theirs who he will vote for anyway.
If they have serious charges to make against Kerry, they had 30 years to make them.
Nail on the head BUMP!
Do yourself a favor-- ditch the paper for a week and read Franks' book. It will open your eyes as to our true history since 9/11. I can tell you that what you read on FR during Afghanistan and Iraq do NOT, in important ways, line up with what was truly going on.
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