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.
That part I knew ... but Rassmann only knowing Kerry for a couple of days is news to me
Been following this fairly closely, and much of the Dems argument is that the SBV weren't ON Kerry's boat..which of course is an absurb argument for anyone with any basci knowledge, but have you come across any well written piece about the tactics the boats employed, how they closely supported each other..
"That part I knew ... but Rassmann only knowing Kerry for a couple of days is news to me"
But, But, But Susan Estrich on FOX News
said he served with Kerry and Swift Boat Vets did not!
And Sean Hannity let her get away with this.
Anybody wonder why the vets at the Democratic Convention are NOT around????
Bump!
Not unless john f'n skerry authorizes their release and he is not going to do that.
Check this post by xzins
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1187945/posts?page=18#18
Because this is the best the RATS have??!!
Kerry lied, is lying and will always lie ~ Bump!
You have to realize the extreme hatred McLame has for President Bush. A hatred so severe that he will back sKerry in any lie in order to get in a jab at W. McLame KNOWS how vile, evil, anti American that sKerry is but it doesn't matter to him. It's a shame.
Yes, but it's way too short....hopefully there's something more detailed..even a unit's Mission Ops...detailing how the boats travel in formation..interlocking fioelds of fire, etc...there were detailed, and practiced, methods of fighting the boats TOGETHER..
I wish you were right BUT remember McGovern and the midget Michael Duk. The extreme left (pronounced SOCIALIST) control the dimocRat party lock, stock and barrel and will continue, with 99 percent media backing, to nominate these POS anti Americans.
Novak, this gained you a little of my respect back.
"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."
I guess that disputes Juan and Bob Beckel (speaking on FOX), that this was a BUSH PLAN. And .. both men knew IT WASN'T A BUSH PLAN WHEN THEY SAID IT .. which makes me even more angry.
With Novak, Malkin, and Steyn this morning, my day is already complete.
Susan has nothing else, so she is going into lawyer mode and playing word games
It's an old tactic
He is a "conservative" and, like Pat Buchanan, was hand picked by Ted Turner as an easily caricatured buffoon.
Never trust a conservative who gets hired by the MSM, particularly CNN or PBS. They may or may not be on our side, but they are certainly only on the air because our enemies think they can beat them.
Funny I thought he was a republican all these years I have watched him. Maybe someone should tell him. Where are all the young reporters? Is the old man the only one with balls?
BTTT!!!!!!!
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