[Cboldt]

If there was enemy fire why were there no bullet holes in any of the SwiftBoats or other crewmen shot? Or were the VC just extremely poor shots that day??

You are confusing the March 13 incident (Rassmann, where the Swiftees say there was no enemny fire) with the incident of February 28, where the Swiftees say that Kerry did not beach his boat in the face of numerically superior (but firing) enemy.

[Callahan]

Confusing incidents is just what the Kerry Campaign wants us to do. Kerry has just barely enough cover on this stuff to give his supporters in the media a reason to dismiss the Vets. Here's what I notice in this piece:

1. Doesn't mention that Rood's recollection of the "typical VC" holding the rocket wasn't conflicts with Kerry's official story in "Tour of Duty." The media has generally ignored Kerry's varying versions of events.

2. Doesn't mention Cambodia, or any of the other allegations.

3. Rood is concerned about the Swifties "impugning vets not in the media spotlight." The next logical question is asking him how he feels about Kerry's Winter Soldier BS.

[prairiebreeze]

You are confusing the March 13 incident (Rassmann, where the Swiftees say there was no enemny fire) with the incident of February 28,

Yes I was, thanks. Another FReeper has also pointed out that the Swifties aren't the only ones who refer to the "teenager in a loin cloth". The 2003 Kranish article also states "Kerry often would go beyond his Navy orders and beach his boat, in one case chasing and killing a teenage Viet Cong enemy who wore only a loin cloth and carried a rocket launcher".

So not only does the Kranish article support the SwiftBoat Vets account and not Rood's, Kranish clearly states that Kerry often went beyond Navy orders.

Prairie