[Non-Sequitur]

A little late for Mr. Rood to be getting in the game, isn't it?

When should he have gotten in?

[CaptRon]

If he wanted to set the record straight, why not at the beiginning when this so-called 'smear' first came out?

The fact that it has been going on for about a month and only now when it has become something of a firestorm makes it look like damage control to me.

[Gee Wally]

When should he have gotten in?

Mr. Rood is an editor for a major metropolitan newspaper. His business is the news. The SBVT firestorm has been building all summer and exploded weeks ago. He has first-hand information about that story. His newspaper could have had this story weeks ago.

Never mind that it took a phone call from Kerry for Rood to speak out. One would think with all the newspapers in this country that some investigative reporter, like maybe one from the Chicago Tribune, would have found out that Rood served with Kerry and interviewed him weeks ago. After all, Rood is mentioned in Brinkley's book about Kerry, Tour of Duty, so there is no excuse that he was a complete unknown.

Bill Rood called Kerry "Ichabod," as in Crane

The circumstances of his coming forward at this time and under these circumstances seem odd to me. I guess he, too, is now "reporting for duty."