Posted on 08/21/2004 7:32:55 AM PDT by pogo101
Swift Change Of Heart
Critic once saluted Kerry's bravery, loyalty, moral courage
AUGUST 20--The broadside against John Kerry's war record is particularly bizarre in light of what one of the leading bomb throwers had to say about the Democrat while both served in Vietnam. George Elliott, a key member of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth who appears in the anti-Kerry group's virulent TV commercial, recommended Kerry for a Bronze Star in 1969.
In the below Navy report, Elliott, a lieutenant commander, recounts how Kerry was "highly courageous in the face of enemy fire" during a fight on the Bay Hap river in March 1969. During that skirmish, Elliott noted, Kerry dodged sniper fire to save a colleague who was knocked overboard when a mine detonated. In a March 1969 evaluation, Elliott reported that Kerry was involved in "several enemy initiated fire fights" and "exhibited all of the traits desired of an officer in a combat environment." A December 1969 fitness report was equally laudatory, with Elliott giving Kerry the highest possible grade available ("Is not exceeded") in most categories, including loyalty and moral courage. (5 pages [go to link for report])
Notice, though, that the site doesn't say just what Elliott says about Kerry today. All I can see is that Elliott is saying "Kerry lied about his service." This COULD mean Elliott's a flip-flopper, but other explanations are at least as possible, e.g.:
1. Elliott's realized, by now, that Kerry's report about the Bronze Star incidents was itself crap ... and Elliott can't really be blamed, back during the war, for not having smoked out the lies yet. 2. Elliott is referring to other aspects of Kerry's statements as lies, e.g., Kerry's 1971 "atrocities" testimony to Congress.
What the Smoking Gun is leaving out is that once some of those vets who previously supported Kerry started listening to O'Neill and investigating the evidence on their own, they realized that Kerry sold them a bill of goods. In other words, Kerry lied. He is a serial liar.
If you would like to help the Swift Boat Vets ( as I have, and I urge all to do-- even a few dollars will help ) kindly click on this logo:
I know that Thurlow has admitted that his commendation was the result of a falsified report written up by Kerry. Basically he accepted it and kept his mouth shut but admits it now.
I thought Thurlow said he believed he got the medal for pulling one of his guys out of the water and helping to save the boat he was in after it hit a mine? I am wrong on that or was it something else?
Elliot's earlier praise of Kerry were based on reports written by Kerry. After Elliot sees the Kerry's reports filled with inconsistancies and contradicted by many honorable men, he is entitled to change his view of the liar. His earlier opion of Kerry was based on lies.
I believe you're right. Thurlow said he didn't see the report till he returned stateside and recieved his award. It seems that it was then that he saw that there was a lot of false info in the report.
> Swift Change Of Heart
Elliot, his eyes open, is not news.
It's been covered here extensively.
But speaking of changes of heart, Kerry better keep the
"band of brothers" from reading UFC, because we might see
additional changes of heart.
Sure, JfK can blackmail them with the questionable medals
he helped them get, and they'd lose the all-expenses-paid
9-month vacation they're on, but if the SBVFT claims are
true, don't be too surprised if some honor kicks in.
> ... Thurlow has admitted that his commendation was the
> result of a falsified report written up by Kerry.
> Basically he accepted it and kept his mouth shut but
> admits it now.
As I understand it, enemy fire was not required for the
Bronze, so even if he'd questioned it, the outcome would
have been the same. And questioning it would thus just
have made needless trouble for his mates (even if it did
make needed trouble for whomever falsified the fire).
I was an email subscriber to SmokingGun.com until 2 minutes ago.
I will say yet again we are treading in dangerous waters here. The fact is a number of these Swifties have said glowing things about Kerry in the past. I'm aware that it could well be they weren't aware of Kerry's lies until later on. Still, it makes some of them appear unstable and politically motivated. Why in hell are we fighting the Vietnam war over again, there will be no clear winner in this debate. The average voter will say: "who knows the whole truth, the fact is Kerry served, so why are they trashing him"? Doesn't matter what the truth is, perception is what influences elections. Kerry's poll #s have yet to drop over this for the most part. This could backfire. I know I'm being ignored here, but this desire for gotcha and red-meat get Kerry back stuff harkens back to the unsuccessful attempts to kill off Clinton. Better to whip Kerry by pointing out endlessly his pathetic Senate record, and let people judge his blowhardiness about his Vietnam status on their own.
The fitness report is really not that good. Some Vets who can explain it to them should probably email them.
Smoking gun carries a lot of weight with the Internet press.
Unfortunately, the layman won't understand the subtleties of the Navy's fitness report system. Kerry was far from being a water walker and his rate of promotion was just average.
Yes, they said some flattering things about him in the past before they got together to compare notes. They realized they were conned by the guy. Every one makes mistakes and what's important to stress that while Kerry's story has changed, the Swiftees have been rock-solid. I don't care whom it helps or hurts, the American people can make their own decision.
Finding Waldo is easier than finding out anything about these guys...
You can email them here:
editor@thesmokinggun.com
But I'm thinking If O'Neill recommended Kerry in '69 why did they debate on the Cavette show in '71??? With Kerry representing VietNam Vets Against the War?
I thought it was coming on tv tomorrow night but in blondeness didn't notice the date I posted previously was incorrect.
You can watch the '71 debate here Kerry & O'Neill Debate on Cavette Show
You miss the point. The SBVFT are not a partisan group , and and they don't care what the RNC or the DNC says or thinks. For them and many of us, this is personal. They want the truth out there regardless of the consequences. Simple as that.
It is up to the RNC to educate the public about Kerry's legislative record. I would also hope that the RNC would go after Kerry's antiwar activities with the VVAW, his statements before Congress in 1971, and his associations with Fonda, Ramsey Clark, Black Panthers, and the commuinist affiliated groups. Kerry advocated positions, which led to a Communist takeover of South Vietnam and millions of deaths. That repressive government is still running the country. Kerry predictions (contained in his testimony before Congress) of what would happen if the US pulled out of Vietnam ad cut off funding, i.e., a few thousand people would be affected, were terribly wrong. This has relevance today with the situation in Iraq and Kerry's desire for a rapid withdrawal of our troops.
Kerry brought a typewriter to the war. After any incident, the default position was, "Hey, Lt. Kerry's got a typewriter. He can write it up." Which Kerry obviously knew, and prepared for.
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