Swift Boat Accounts Flawed

The Washington Post ^ | 08/22/2004 | Michael Dobbs

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

damn.....I tried backspacing your URL's to browse a bit,,,,"forbidden"

anyhow, you won't need to go to the library.....those are nice!

my home offices were XT960490 and later XT830910

[TOUGH STOUGH]

"This article is about as clear a repudiation of Kerry's story as one could expect from a lefty pub. Were it fairly written, that which is "between the lines" would be stated. You could be sure if Bush published a book full of lies, the WaPo would not hesitate to say "Bush published a book of lies." There would be no lines to read between."

This is about as fair an article as we can expect from the left. But were it Bush, you are correct. It would be treated as you suggest in the above quote.

[R. Scott]

Meanwhile the lib networks incl CBS (which I listened to a few ago) are coming to his rescue.

I have yet to hear any of the “major” news shows mention that the film clip is a reenactment. They air the scene as being factual.

[R. Scott]

By the way, since when do the words of some Veterans in interviews or in a book warrant MORE scrutiny than the words of a Presidential candidate?

< massive sarcasm> Because a man could not rise to the level of Presidential Candidate in a respected political party like the Democrats’ without being 100% forthright, honest and beyond reproach! Why can’t we see that?
Besides, all Viet Nam Veterans are war criminals who did nothing but run around burning villages and killing babies. These despicable actions were even brought before the US Senate by a very respected personage of breeding and culture back in 1971! < / massive sarcasm>

[Caipirabob]

If their accounts are so "flawed" why has the Kerry Campaign retracted at least two statements JF'nK has made on his 'Nam experiences already?

If the Swiftie's position is classified as "flawed" then Kerry's position should be classfied as "Outright Lie".

[R. Scott]

Wasn't this a year after TET where the NLF (Vietcong) pretty much wiped themselves out and before the NVA came down South in force?

Yes.
I have been helping an Army Historian put together the story of Army convoys in Viet Nam. Through interviews and official reports he had collected a lot of material on convoy ambushes, the reactions to the ambushes, casualties, awards and history of the gun truck.
He asked me why he couldn’t find any material for mid 1968 though early 1969.
I thought it might be because NVA/VC forces were just about wiped out in the ‘68 Tet festivities. Those that survived were back in North Viet Nam of over in Cambodia.
Rick did some more checking and discovered that the biggest problem facing allied forces was finding any enemy to fight. That is why there were so few ambushes during that time period.

[misterrob]

That's what I said.

[Luis Gonzalez]

I recall reading a thread in FR about one of Kerry's "Band of Brothers" who spoke about his service with John "Johnny Bandaid" Kerry in Vietnam, when in fact he had not been there at the time Kerry had been.

Does anyone have a link to that story?

[JOE43270]

Flawed with the TRUTH!

[FourtySeven]

From the article (last paragraph): ""A lot of people just can't forgive and forget," countered Kerry crew member Medeiros. "He was a great commander. I would have no trouble following him anywhere."

Forgive and forget what?

[MortMan]

Today on the David Gold show (KSFO) I know that I heard again Mr. O'Neill say that there was firing from the shore for less than a minute.

I believe what Mr. O'Neill has consistently said is that the swiftess opened fire immediately after the mine explosion - fearing that an ambush was underway. After about a minute, with no return fire at all, all boats ceased firing (the no. 3 boat, of course, did not fire, and Kerry's boat was downriver).

The SBVT have been very consistent. O'Neill, or course, will readily admit he is relaying the observations of others regarding this incident - he was Kerry's replacement after Kerry bugged out with three band-aid purple hearts.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

RE: After about a minute, with no return fire at all, all boats ceased firing (the no. 3 boat, of course, did not fire, and Kerry's boat was downriver).

Yes, I believe that you are correct. Thanks for the correction.

[technochick99]

Bump for a later read.

[Coop]

You have GOT to be kidding me...

That's a bit of a stretch in my book, too. The Post has some good analysis, but it's dreadful at passing off opinion as news.

The Post, Kerry and his campaign friends can whine and try to blame Bush all they want, but when this ad debuts on TV today, Kerry's own treasonous words will be seen for all to judge.

And I have a feeling Mr. Kerry won't like the verdict.

[Hatteras]

Oooh, this time they provided drawings? Well, I guess THAT seals it. Kerry isn't a liar, the drawing proves it! ;-)