Kerry's war record (Novak reviews unfit for Command) On DRUDGE

Townhall ^ | 08/09/04 | Robert Novak

[Pikamax]

August 9, 2004

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The television ad that aroused the wrath of John McCain and journalist supporters of John Kerry just begins deconstruction of the Democratic presidential candidate's war record. "Unfit for Command: Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out Against John Kerry," a 214-page critique of his performance in Vietnam and the antiwar movement, is off the presses ahead of schedule.

I have read the book and found it is neither the political propaganda nor the urban legend that its detractors claim. It is a passionate but meticulously researched account of how Kerry went to war, what he did in the war and how he conducted himself after the war. The very serious charges by former comrades deserve answers but so far have produced only ad hominem counterattacks.

Why should details of what Kerry did more than 30 years ago be part of this election campaign? Only because the senator has made them integral to his strategy. Kerry as war hero received more attention at the Democratic National Convention than plans for the future. Thus, what he did in his shortened four months of combat becomes a valid campaign issue.

John E. O'Neill, co-author of "Unfit for Command," replaced Kerry as commander of Swift Boat PCF 94 in 1969 and has been confronting him since 1971. O'Neill told me he is no George W. Bush partisan and probably would have supported John Edwards had he been nominated for president, but is committed to keeping Kerry out of the Oval Office. Thus, reversing the usual formulation, the assault on Kerry is personal but not political.

O'Neill told me neither he nor his co-author (Jerome R. Corsi, a writer and expert on the Vietnam antiwar movement) has had contact with the Bush White House or the Bush-Cheney campaign. He said he and Corsi, on their own initiative, went to conservative Regnery Publishing to offer the book.

The co-authors paint Kerry as a reluctant warrior. Contrary to claims by Kerry's supporters that he served two combat hitches in Vietnam, his one-year term aboard a guided missile frigate was far from action. His four months in the brown water navy were terminated eight months early by a third Purple Heart wound, none of which required hospitalization.

The book's strength is the vehemence of testimony by swift boat veterans, alleging that Kerry "gamed" the system to win decorations and later betrayed comrades by charging war crimes. Typical is the quote by Bob Hildreth, commanding an accompanying boat: "I would never want Kerry behind me. I wouldn't want him in front of me, either. And I sure wouldn't want him commanding our kids in Iraq and Afghanistan." Some 200 "Swiftees" on May 4 signed a letter to Kerry demanding full release of his service records.

The book's weakness is support for Kerry's presidential campaign by his swift boat crewmates, presumably people who knew him best. O'Neill told me that these former sailors served with Kerry no more than five weeks. Jim Rassmann, now part of the Kerry presidential campaign, was a Special Forces lieutenant spending a few days with Kerry when he fell or was knocked off the swift boat while under fire and was fished out of the Mekong River by the future candidate.

The "band of brothers" was organized by Kerry, according to this book. It tells of a 2003 telephone call to Adm. Roy Hoffmann, who commanded swift boats in Vietnam, telling him he was running for president. Hoffmann, mistakenly thinking it was former Sen. Bob Kerrey, "responded enthusiastically." Once the admiral realized it was John Kerry, "he declined to give Kerry his support." Hoffmann is quoted as saying, "I do not believe John Kerry is fit to be commander in chief of the armed forces of the United States."

"Unfit for Command" sends a devastating message, unless effectively refuted. Perhaps most disturbing are allegations that Kerry's combat decorations are unjustified. His first Purple Heart, the book alleges, was accidentally self-inflicted. His commander, Grant Hibbard, is quoted as saying: "I didn't recommend him for a Purple Heart. Kerry probably wrote up the paperwork and recommended himself." Full release of documents demanded by his critics could settle this claim quickly if it is unwarranted.

[GVnana]

Good for Novack. Now we have the heavy hitters.

[Light Speed]

Just pondering some Phil...

Remember the media recently..prior to the Dem ticket selection for veep.

John McCain openly talking to Kerry repeatedly..then visits.

Did media ask the right question/maintain the theme..both Kerry /McCain wanted...ie McCain as a possible veep.

A usefull slight of hand...as Kerry and McCain both obtained *Pledges from each other concerning past *Closet Skeletons.

I'm thinking so....if Kerry was caught talking to McCain discretely..the media would be salivating....it needed to be done in the open.

So far..little coverage has occured in regards to Kerry's overseas -restore relationship with Vietnam junket.

why?

[jhs999]

While I like the "show who the real Kerry is", I believe this entire theme will not help reelect George Bush. At some point, I'm certain the President will take action to distance himself from this decades old low-ball noise.

Jim S.

[PhilDragoo]

Clearly Kerry suppressed evidence of POWs left behind while pushing for normalization so cousin Forbes' could make a billion.

Kerry and McCain were working as a tag team then--what would be McCain's motive? Brainwashing?

Surely McCain's recent defense of Kerry and slandering of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth further reveals his maggoty psyche.

Do you not recall George Herbert Walker Bush telling some hecklers who claimed a POW coverup to sit down and shut up?

The U.S. Government betrayed our fighting men during the war, betrayed our ally South Vietnam after we left, and betrayed our POWs.

We can't count on "the press" or "the mainstream media" for anything--after all, they're all Joseph Goebbels and Leni Riefenstahl.

We can't count on popular commentators (Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Michael Savage, Bill O'Reilly).

The people are on vacation and/or buried in the Days of Our Lives.

And, the POW issue has officially been declared solved, thanks to the wonderful cooperation of the same assholes who tortured John McCain.

Vietnam Veterans Against John Kerry have outlined the case against Hanoi John.

[Light Speed]

And with the POW issue settled..guess what eles occured in the region : )

In 1995, in a multi-hour BBC TV documentary broadcast about the oil industry, the president of one of the oil companies, a spin-off of Standard, stated, ".. It was quite a coincidence, that we finished our offshore oil survey on the very last day of the war, just as the last helicopter was leaving the roof of the embassy in Saigon." A coincidence?

Fifteen years later, after North and South Viet Nam were unified and all the dust settled and most people had forgotten about the "war," the Vietnamese decided they needed some cash and would allow offshore oil exploration. They divided up their coastal area into many oil lots and let foreign companies bid on the lots, with the proviso that Viet Nam got a cut of the action.

Oil companies from 12 countries put in bids. Norway's Statoil, British Petroleum, Royal Dutch Shell, even Russia, Germany and Australia all put in bids. But when those countries drilled in their oil lots they all came up with dry holes. Only the "American" company had gushers and since 1990 has pulled billions of dollars out of their Golden Dragon, Blue Lotus, and White Tiger oil fields in the South China Sea off Viet Nam. Coincidence? Were they just lucky? Or did they know something those other oil companies didnt?

Rockefellers and Standard oil..... Timing is everything

[GretchenM]

Why should details of what Kerry did more than 30 years ago be part of this election campaign? Only because the senator has made them integral to his strategy.

That's just half of the fertilizer. What Kerry did 30 years ago has shaped his Senate career, his votes against our military, our national defense, etc.

The apple didn't roll after it fell off the tree. Kerry has never repudiated his anti-war activities of the 1970's, nor his early 20's statements in an interview that he would strip the CIA and use US military power only if the UN saw fit to send them somewhere.

So it's fair game to examine what he said and did 30 years ago because he's not changed his tune. It is bogus and dangerous to say that what a man did in his youth is all to be forgiven -- if the man never turned his head around and started going the right way.

Another excellent place to get the truth about where Kerry stood/stands: Reckless Disregard: How Liberal Democrats Undercut Our Military, Endanger Our Soldiers, and Jeopardize Our Security by Lt. Col. Robert Patterson

God bless our veterans' efforts as they seek to push the truth in front of the American people.

[windchime]

Bump!

[Fenris6]

"---> Oliver North <--- Maybe just maybe Col. North could weigh in?"

Careful. Ollie would wiegh in with a right hook to Kerry's glass jaw.

[ken5050]

Thanks for the great link....very informative...regards

[mtntop3]

You state it very well.

[kellynla]

You state it very well
Thanx, coming from an old newspaperman, I take that compliment honorably...
now get busy with the next edition! LOL

Semper Fi,
Kelly

[BushisTheMan]

Release the one eight zero
If you are indeed a hero

[1Old Pro]

Blowhard O'reilly is too busy to READ THIS BOOK, thus he just has his knee-jerk reactions to call it all a hoax.

[BushisTheMan]

I just copied the address to send a check to the SwiftVets.

Just a few questions. How is this group doing for money? Have contributions picked up since the release of the ad and the increased appearances on TV/cables shows?

Will money from O'Neill's book sales go towards more ads?
By the way, I also plan to buy this book.

Here's hoping you guys gain support -- I do not want Kerry
as the Commander in Chief over my son who is in the National Guards -- EVER!

[BushisTheMan]

While I like the "show who the real Kerry is", I believe this entire theme will not help reelect George Bush. At some point, I'm certain the President will take action to distance himself from this decades old low-ball noise.

All the better if Bush does distance himself. It only goes to prove that the SwiftVets are not supported by either Bush or the RNC -- that is to the SwiftVets advantage in my opinion. It makes them VERY believable.

Notice how the DNC talking heads have pointed to the one person who contributed a lot of dollars to get the ad published and that guy is a Republican?

The DNC knows they have to make it APPEAR to be partisan or Kerry is toast. However, if the Swift Vets keep repeating that it is not political but against the man himself (John Kerry), then they win in my opinion.

[kellynla]

How is this group doing for money?
Like everyone else...ya just never have enough...
But if you've noticed I am a former Marine not a Swiftie so I really don't have a clue since I am not a member of the Swifties...just a supporter
from what I hear they had 150K of which 100K came from some guy in TX

Will money from O'Neill's book sales go towards more ads?
I would say that the election will have come and gone by the time they receive their first check from book sales...

[Gunder]

Has anyone seen this book in a place of prominence at their local bookstore? I was just in a Barnes & Noble in Edina, Minnesota. Couldn't find the book ANYWHERE, but the Molly Ivins (who's doing an in-store in a few weeks) books were stacked a foot high on a table near the front door.

[Hildy]

I don't know if it was office he was thinking about. We know that he used those movies to get girls into bed.

[Wil H]

"Hey, Hey, J eFing K... How many medals did you win today!"

Close..

Hey, Hey, J eFing K... How many medals did you award yourself today!"

[Forgiven_Sinner]

"Kerry is toast. He has nothing to fall back on now that the truth about his truncated service in VN is getting out."

Not true... Kerry has a 19-year voting record in the Senate to fall back on. BWAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

But you repeat yourself . . .

;)