I guess he's finally realized the jig is up, and he's endorsing W!hehe! He might as well. :^)
Posted on 09/05/2004 10:29:40 AM PDT by areafiftyone
Sen. John Kerry's campaign biographer Douglas Brinkley said Sunday that if an ongoing Navy investigation into Kerry's military decorations turns up evidence of "purposeful" deception, it could spell doom for the top Democrat's White House bid.
Praising reporter Thomas Lipscomb, who broke news of the Navy investigation on Friday, Brinkley told WABC Radio's Steve Malzberg, "Journalists are going to have to see whether there's a discrepancy on [the citations posted to Kerry's] web site - whether there's something wrong that's said there or not."
"If so," said the "Tour of Duty" author, "Kerry would have to fix it immediately - and it does raise some questions as to why that would happen."
"Is it sloppiness, is it purposeful intent, is there an easy explanation for it?" Brinkley wondered.
He said that while questions raised by the Swiftboat Veterans for Truth about Kerry's war record have been very damaging, "so far they haven't been lethal." But Brinkley predicted that a discrepancy with Kerry's medals could seriously escalate his political problems.
Asked if inconsistencies uncovered by the Navy probe could be the "death knell" for Kerry's campaign, Brinkley told Malzberg, "It could."
In the next breath he hastened to add, however, "Right now it's unclear. So we have to just wait to see what all this adds up to."
The presidential historian called on Kerry to authorize the release of his full military file, saying, "Clearly some of these military records should be made available to the press."
Why would Kerry need a replacement
citation? The confusion was never
about Kerry discarding a document,
but whether he tossed ribbons or
medals.
Red
I wonder the same thing, why citation #3? Is that when the "v" was added?
And you bring up the other question, did he toss the medals, and then request a replacement and amendment with citation #2?
There is so much controversy over just this one medal, I don't see how a Navy review will happen within 2 months on all of his citations.
Wouldn't it be better to not run in '06 so that one could devote themselves to their '08 campaign? Especailly now that the election season starts earlier and earlier.
Mine too!
I can't point you to the comment now, but on a thread a week or 2 ago, someone posted that for a higher award such as the Silver Star, it would not have been done with an autopen in any event.
And especially this person said, since the later versions done for this award were for such a high level govt person as a Senator.
IOW, Lehman would have signed it personally, was the thinking of the freeper who posted that.
I'm only posting what I read, if anyone knows for certain otherwise, please post.
He claims he lost them.
OK, Rick, your a nice guy and all, but you, like Hillary! are an empty shell.
lol.
According to John O'Neill, Unfit for Command (pp.80-81), Kerry was awarded the medal "two days after the incident with no review." Thus, Kerry received the medal on March 2, 1969. This is corroborated by Mrs. Droz whose husband was one of the three PCF OIC's that day along with Kerry and Rood. She cites a March 6 letter from her husband, who wrote. " I had quite a morning... Admiral [Elmo] Zumwalt, Commander Naval Forces Vietnam, flew to An Thoi from Saigon ... for a special awards presentation. To make a somewhat long story short, PCF's 23, 94 and 43 conducted an operation February 28th which we pulled off rather spectacularly. Anyway, for my part, I was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat 'V.' I don't mean to blow my own horn, but I really am pleased with the award, and it is a rather significant medal. I'll bring the citation with me to Hawaii."
Kerry's Reserve status -- Kerry's release from active duty orders state that he was transferred into the Inactive Reserves and was not obligated to attend any drills. His only obligation was to keep the Navy informed of his whereabouts since he was subject to recall. On 1 July 1972 Kerry was transferred into the Standby Reserve (Inactive) and then received his Honorable Discharge in 16 Feb 1978. The Navy's 24 May 1986 letter to Kerry gives a good synopsis of Kerry's service.
I can recall a similar timeframe for my naval career. I had served almost eight years, but it was years later until I was finally discharged. I had a regular commission, but I was transferred into the Naval Reserves (inactive) and then Standby Reserves. I can recall that I was sent some sort of letter asking me if I wished to continue my service in the Standby Reserves. In any event, I wouldn't make too much of Kerry's status as he moved through the Reserve process.
There are several issues that need to be raised relative to Kerry's Reserve status. Kerry met with the Vietnamese Communists in Paris, per his sworn testimony before the Senate, while still being a member of the Naval Reserves subject to recall. He returned and advocated acceptance of the Communists' negotiating points. Kerry also participated in the VVAW as a national officer and was involved in the infamous Kansas City meeting where discussions were held about assassinating USG officials. The question is whether Kerry was violating the UCMJ or federal statute by being involved in these activities while still serving in the Reserves and being subject to recall.
What I found curious on Kerry's initial website many months ago was the fact that he listed his military service as 1966-1970-Active Duty and 1972-78-Reserves. He conveniently left a gap between 1970-72, which I can only believe was done intentionally so as not to raise questions. Currently, his service timeline no longer includes his reserve service. Curiously, it ends with the following: April 29, 1970 Kerry listed as Registrant who has completed service. John Kerry for President - John Kerry's Vietnam Service Timeline
I have no idea what listed as a Registrant means because Kerry remained a member of the inactive Reserves until he was transferred into the Standby Reserves on July 1, 1972. This could be a smokescreen to inoculate Kerry from charges that he was giving aid and comfort to the enemy while still being a member of the Reserves. We definitely need more information on this one.
Thanks. :^)
The incident was on Feb 28/69 I believe. The second citation was issued sometime between then and Dec. 5, 1970, when Hyland no longer was commander in chief of the Pacific Fleet, according to this site:
http://www.vnsfvetakerry.com/kerry%27s_silver_star.htm
"The night I posted a thread about how Judicial Watch filed the complaint to get this started, I heard a lot of 'so what' criticism, and the story was pulled from breaking news.
It seems like a pretty damn big story to me."
===
Ya, I remember that, and I thought it was a pretty big deal, too.
Others, I guess, knew Judicial Watch's reputation. I sure didn't know about their past.
At any rate - WooHoo! This article being reported sounds like a continuation of this big story.
I guess he's finally realized the jig is up, and he's endorsing W!hehe! He might as well. :^)
I don't think he had direct, unadulterated access to the originals. As I understand it, Kerry provided whatever he provided. It probably appeared to be fairly complete, since it was acceptable to Brinkley, but that does not mean that it was truly complete nor that it was entirely accurate.
Bet he knows more than he wrote about.
Yes, I agree. Or at least he's harboring questions.
!!!!!!!!
Brinkley's star is hitched to Kerry's right now. If Kerry pulls through this, then Brinkley turns out well. But Brinkley doesn't want to take a chance on Kerry taking a fall and being dragged down with him.
I'd say that Brinkley seems not to have a lot of confidence that Kerry will pull through.
So how difficult is it to check the type-fonts on the citation with others of the same unit AND with the official IBM Selectric "military" ball that another FReeper said was used.
I guess the FBI have some sample Smiths Corona portable typewriters in their archives...
Hint...check some of the other letters John F'n "flip-flop fop" Kerry wrote during this same time frame.
Doc
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
