Posted on 08/22/2004 11:27:26 AM PDT by kattracks
Author and Vietnam historian B. G. Burkett tells NewsMax in an exclusive interview that Senator John Kerry is mired in a quagmire worse than the one he complained about in Vietnam.The controversy may just cost him the presidency, Burkett says. Kerry keeps losing points every day this controversy wears on in the media, Burkett told NewsMax shortly before Kerrys campaign filed a legal complaint with the FEC to stop the Swift Boat Veterans ads. A sign of desperation?
Burkett is no stranger to such controversy and measures. He has been sued multiple times after exposing phony military records of Vietnam veterans many of whom never even served in Vietnam.
Burketts book Stolen Valor: How the Vietnam Generation Was Robbed of Its Heroes and Its History (Verity Press) was published in 1998 and has become a must read for those who want to unlock the truth about Vietnam and its aftermath.
In fact, Burketts book has been credited in being among the first to question John Kerrys war record. Burkett has interviewed and spoken with many of the Swift Boaters who served with Kerry and his commanding officers.
Kerry Responds
As Swift Boat Veterans for the Truth keep ramming away at John Kerrys carefully crafted hero image, the beleaguered candidate has finally turned to a media blitz of his own.
In his new TV ad Kerry defends his actions that led to him receiving the Bronze Star.
The ad features Jim Rassmann, one of his loyal dozen band of brothers, certifying Kerrys bravery under fire as the future senator from Massachusetts and presidential candidate pulled him from the water under withering fire after a couple of mines exploded during a South Vietnam river operation.
Or was it just one mine that exploded? And were there small arms sweeping the area as well as the after-action reports claimed?
The Swift Boat vets that criticize Kerry say only one mine exploded under a boat not commanded by Kerry and there was no accompanying enemy fire.
How did Green Beret Rassmann fall off Kerrys boat only to be rescued from the drink by Kerry? Burkett says witnesses attest that Rassmann fell off Kerrys boat because Kerry engaged the boat in a frantic maneuver to flee from away from the action around the exploding mine.
Preponderance of Evidence
What will settle the controversy? NewsMax asks the author.
They [the Swift boat group] will go away only if Kerry announces he has removed himself from the race, replies a cynical Burkett, who has been making a study of the growing controversy that has dominated the TV talk shows and radio pundits.
Although Burkett feels that the fog of war may forever keep the real truth from emerging from the smoke, he does believe that the vet group is moving ahead in establishing its less flattering version of the Kerry exploits by a preponderance of the evidence.
These Swift Boats moved in squadrons and formations, explains Burkett. Sometimes the better vantage point for observing the action was from another boat.
And John ONeil, co-author of the bestseller Unfit for Command has interviewed these other observers, taking dispute with the so-called after-action reports filed by Lt. (j.g.) Kerry.
These reports later provided the basis for Kerrys now much celebrated Silver Star, Bronze Star and three Purple Heart decorations all earned in an abbreviated and bigger than life four month stint in-country.
The people up the chain of command assumed that none of their officers would cheat, opines Burkett.
Its a back and forth catfight says Burkett, who thinks that the tide may break dramatically to the side of the disaffected vets if one of the loyal Kerry band of brothers turns colors.
How likely is that? asks NewsMax.
Well, they [Swift Boat Veterans for the Truth] keep hoping, says Burkett. But if ONeil has done his homework so has Kerry, he explains. Kerry long ago called all his men together to settle on one version of the action.
Other critics say that Kerrys campaign has already put on the payroll one or more of his band of brothers.
Veteran Steve Gardner, however, is one of the Kerry crew members who has never gone along with the Kerry program: I watched him put his crew in jeopardy, his indecisive moves
So why was Gardner so singular? asks NewsMax.
You have to realize that Gardner was an unusual member of the crew, explains the author. Gardner had a previous tour of duty on Swift Boats. He knew the right way to confront the enemy not the Kerry way [steering to open water].
Kerrys Navy More Like McHales
Burkett goes on to explain that a stalwart, chance-taking Kerry would be contrary to the historic Kerry, who he describes as always belly-aching and whining about how the admirals had decided to send the Swift Boats up those dangerous jungle-clogged rivers.
According to Burkett, Kerry had volunteered with the notion that his tour was going to be a sort of gentlemanly duty of offshore coast-watching not close combat with an enemy lurking on the shores.
Burkett has suggested in the past that the way out of the dilemma for Kerry would be for Kerry to open up all his files by executing a blanket SF-180 form allowing all the press to have independent access to his file.
Burkett, however, says the release of Kerrys full file, which he does not believe has taken place despite Kerrys claims otherwise, will still not stop the Swift Boat Vets who are opposed to Kerry.
It would have some bearing to the press, but its not going to deter this group, says Burkett.
And remember, adds Burkett, this is not a bunch of Republicans going after Kerry. If Kerry were running as a Republican, the attacks would be just the same.
Burkett himself has criticized President Bush for his National Guard duty during the Vietnam War.
Just how worried is the Kerry camp?
You bet they are worried, says Burkett. This election may just turn on those five percent undecided out there. The bottom line is simple -- the longer the dispute wears on, the more Kerry loses. Theyre never going to resolve this dispute.
We've become conditioned to the hollywood flick of "mines" blowing up where its actually small packages with 2-4 ounces of low explosives and has some gasoline and other pyrotechnics to make it look powerful on the screen. Actually sea mines with approx 20+ pounds of High Explosives will actually tear a boat in two and the people therein will lose body parts for the explosive force of it.
So all in all it proves the point that the so-called "HERO" Kerry didnt dodge or survive a mine (that would be physically impossible since they'll be in little pieces) but instead the guy fell off the boat due to Kerry's reckeless managing the boat.
So instead of a medal he should have been disciplined at the Very least for endangering lives.
I'd love to see that, but Kerry can't because as little/any that he was really wounded, he obviously didn't deserve those three purple hearts. Bob Dole was crippled for life and almost died in WWII and he only has two purple hearts and one bronze star. He wasn't putting himself in for medals, though. Also, Dole never claimed to have have thrown his medals over the White House fence (now it was Kerry's medal ribbons that he threw), and then run for presidency bragging about those same medals he so despised every chance he gets.
Wow,
Thanks for responding, the only thing I can say is to watch what they're doing (they, the dumb-ass crats) are doing in New Jersey, N.J. is a potential test bed for what may happen in a much
grander scale nation-wide. First with the "Torch" Torricelli, now with McGreavey (sp. on both), Democrats are
not to be trusted at all..................
You can expect that to come at and after the convention directly from the Bush campaign.
My brother, Jim (retired Army) weighed in on this subject - in an email he sent to me this afternoon:
"HERE IS JUST ONE WAY THE VIETNAM PROTESTERS KILLED AMERICAN SOLDIERS:
When my unit overran an enemy headquarters in 1968 during the tet-offensive time frame, we captured enemy documents that were telling.
These documents were written orders from Hanoi to all communist units in the south. The orders directed all units to focus on attacking u.s. units exclusive to all other allied units, for the purpose of creating as many casualties as possible in u.s. units.
They even directed to by-pass other units if necessary to get to u.s. units. These documents cited how effective the anti-war movement was to their cause.
They pointed out that the higher the casualties, the louder the outcry would be to end the war! Of course they were right, and that was an effective way to win politically what they could not achieve on the battlefield.
THIS WAS AMERICAS CENTER OF GRAVITY!
Kerry's group, and people like him provided aid and comfort to the enemy and in fact caused american soldiers to be killed.
THE LAST TIME I LOOKED, THIS WAS CALLED TREASON!
ONE OTHER POINT; This controversy about Bush not serving in combat etc. etc. seems pretty ridiculas at this point. Before his first term you might have found that to be a relevant issue but not now.
The reason most of us look at a candidate's past military service is to evaluate how his past service reflects on how well he will lead in the white house as Commander-in-Chief etc.
Lets now fast forward to 2004. TIME TO EVALUATE BOTH CANDIDATES MILITARY SERVICE:
KERRY: 4 MONTHS FRAUDULENT SERVICE, VIETNAM.
BUSH: FIGHTER PILOT, NATIONAL GUARD,VIETNAM ERA. ALMOST 4 YEARS AS WAR PRESIDENT WITH TITLE OF COMMANDER- IN- CHIEF OF ALL ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES.
FREED OVER 50 MILLION PEOPLE THRU ARMED FORCE. CONTINUES TO DECISIVELY USE MILITARY TO ACHIEVE AMERICAS INTERESTS AND PROTECT AMERICA FROM ATTACKS.ETC. ETC.
THATS JUST MY OPINION ... WHAT DO YOU THINK? JIM
No no no. You GO girl! We are entitled to enjoy it. WE didn't create it, KERRY DID! LOL!
also Lincoln, and H L Mencken
But second runner up: Unless a man feels he has a good enough memory, he should never venture to lie. - Montaigne 1533-92
First runner up: Any fool can tell the truth, but it requires a man of some sense to know how to lie well. Sallust 86-34BC
And the winna!: A liar should have a good memory. Plato 427-347 BC
I think someone could make an effective anti sKerry Ad about his attendance at the VVAW,Viet Nam Veterans against the War, meeting in Kansas City I believe it was, where killing several U. S. senators was debated. Skerry first denied that he was there but as evidence that he was grew he changed his response to somthing like, maybe I was there, yes I was there, but I don't remember being there. This is from my less than stellar memory, but people doing an Ad could nail down all the relevant facts.
If it is correct, Kerry only has to put his head between his shoulders and wait it out, doesn't he?
Yeah. I'm convinced. Swing voter how? ROFL
One that wasn't too hard to disprove was sKerry's claim to having been in Cambodia after having been sent by the President, on Christmas Eve of 1968 and having the event double seared in his memory. After telling this fib in many places and formats over decades it turns out to be completley untrue. Once a proven liar, always questioned.
That's a good question. I don't know. This will be interesting.
In contrast, President Bush never attempted to stop the showing of Fahrenheit 9/11--or anything else. He actually believes in Freedom of Speech.
"This is not a bunch of Republicans going after Kerry. If Kerry were running as a Republican, the attacks would be just the same."
On the other hand, Michael Moore was given a prominent "place of honor" at the Democrat National Convention--which is fitting considering the Democrats' concept of honor and the value they place on it.
"A sign of desperation?"
You bet.
.
JOHN KERRY = Enemy of Vietnam Vets
http://www.TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1320
...still..!!!
.
Do you suppose the Clintons could be behind the Swift Boat Veterans???
Kerry's Quagmire. Has a nice ring to it.
See the following link
And do your best to discredit the messengers ...which also seems to be exactly what he is doing.
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