Posted on 08/09/2004 6:14:07 AM PDT by 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.
This Novak piece is now on DRUDGE. This is great, it will
give this more exposure.
Dramatically more exposure :)
Novak IS a Democrat?
He has so stated many times- surprising though it may be.
IIRC, Novak had a column on why he is still registered as a Democrat. Boils down to the fact that being a Democrat allows him a few more minutes to get his point across instead of being dismissed as a crazy Republican immediately.
He's been pulling a "House of Games" con artist operation on the people of Massachusetts and now the American voters. He decided to go nationwide.
Ditto. This is what we need to keep the issue from falling
off the radar.
I thought the boats were NOT under fire when Kerry pulled Rassmann out of the water?
Evan Thomas of Newsweek was on Imus today and said these allegations were "trouble" for Kerry. This story just might have legs.
Gee, wonder why?
A public interest group should take a page from the liberals and sue to get the records. Let Kerry and his minions fight the suit (citing the right to privacy among other defenses, then employ delaying, procedural ploys). This will just create more negative publicity. And, it will also remind everyone that Kerry's running mate made his reputation (such as ut is) in the courtroom.
The Swiftboat Vets who were on
scene swear one boat, not Kerry's,
hit a mine. No actual "fire".
Hopefully, he Kerry is going to be sorry as 'heck' that he Terry McAwful ever brought up Vietnam. He is as phony as a three dollar bill - and Hitlery knew it when she ordered Terry to scream "He's Got A Chest Full Of Medals".
Thank you :-)
Remember- Novak is a Democrat !!
What??
I've heard explicitly talk about being a Republican and I've heard Al Hunt and Mark Shields refer to him as Republican before on CNN
"Unfortunately, none of the talking heads, including the crowd on Fox News Sunday yesterday, served in Viet Nam so they are hesitant to question Kerry's record and/or aren't experienced enough to know fact from fiction when examining a service record."
---> Oliver North <--- Maybe just maybe Col. North could weigh in?
Bump to the top.
Except when they again 'front load' the Primaries to 'crown' The Beast in 2008.
:-)
What I read was there was somekind of explosion and Rassmusan was knocked overboard. Kerry took off in his swift boat while the others circled around Rassmusan. When Kerry realized there was no more explosions or fire going on he swept in with his swift boat and grabbed Rassmusan out of the water.
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