ONE OF THESE??
"KERRY'S WAR RECORD: ENDING THE SPECULATION
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August 22, 2004 -- THE ISSUE: Questions about John Kerry's service record in the Vietnam War.
As Deborah Orin writes, it appears that Sen. John Kerry is back to doing what he does best — denigrating the veterans he claims are his brothers ("Kerry Camp Frets Over Cambodia Tale," Opinion, Aug. 20).
He did it in the 1970s and he's doing it again now.
Kerry can, at any time, stop the intense scrutiny of his military record. All he has to do is release his full military records for all of this to go away.
More importantly, though, why does a man who has a 20-year record in the Senate base his entire campaign on his military record of 35 years ago?
Katherine Dhalle
Rome
*****
Orin poses a reasonable question.
In most of the mainstream media, how come, "the 13 pro-Kerry vets are automatically assumed to have more credibility than 264 anti-Kerry vets?"
This phenomenon sounds familiar. It reminds me of the tiny group of highly politicized 9/11 families who have been elevated above the thousands of other relatives who may think differently.
It seems that if you're not a foaming-at-the-mouth, anti-Bush ranter, Saudi oil wells will pump neat Scotch before any traditional "news organization" deigns to call.
David Smitth
London, England
*****
Orin's right. If Kerry loses, the impact of bloggers will be the story of the election.
Elizabeth Coote
Ontario, Canada
*****
As Eric Fettmann relates, Sen. Tom Harkin has accused Dick Cheney of being a "coward" because he didn't fight in Vietnam ("Vietnam Isn't the Issue," Opinion, Aug. 19).
Harkin, however, despite his claims to the contrary, never served in combat in Vietnam either.
Harkin was based in Japan, as a Navy pilot, ferrying repaired planes from Japan to Saigon.
Brian Picardi
Brooklyn
*****
Vietnam-era military service is largely irrelevant to an election being held in this millennium.
It is merely one short line in the resume of a man applying for the position of president.
In 2004, we have a clear choice. One man is currently a successful, battle-tested commander-in-chief. The other served a brief four-month tour of duty 35 years ago.
In the thick of the War on Terror, President Bush wins hands down.
Gary Bouchard
Edison, N.J. "