Posted on 09/06/2004 8:02:00 AM PDT by Rakkasan1
WASHINGTON — Documents that should have been written to explain gaps in President Bush's Texas Air National Guard service are missing from the military records released about his service in 1972 and 1973, according to regulations and outside experts.
For example, Air National Guard regulations at the time required commanders to write an investigative report for the Air Force when Bush missed his annual medical exam in 1972. The regulations also required commanders to confirm in writing that Bush received counseling after missing five months of drills.
No such records have been made public, and the government told the Associated Press in response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit that it has released all records it can find.
Outside experts suggest that National Guard commanders may not have produced documentation required by their own regulations.
"One of the downfalls back then in the National Guard was that not everyone wanted to be chief of staff of the Air Force. They just wanted to fly or maintain airplanes. So the record keeping could have been better," said retired Maj. Gen. Paul Weaver Jr., a former head of the Air National Guard. He said the documents may not have been kept in the first place.
Challenging the government's declaration that no more documents exist, the AP identified five categories of records that should have been generated after Bush skipped his pilot's physical and missed five months of training.
(Excerpt) Read more at twincities.com ...
Has anyone checked Sandy Berger's socks?
ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
After 2 Texas Governor elections and 1 US Presidental election, this tired old dog just will not hunt!
Fine...
Bush has released his records, Kerry has not.
If they want to play in this sandbox again, then fine. They are going to find the cat poo stacks up against them.
To know that something is "missing" all the documents have had to be released. Interestingly enough, we haven't a clue as to what is "missing" in sKerry's portfolio.
Recycled. Oh well. Go for it people. See what you can do with recycled no news.
AP back in their role carrying water for the democrats. What about the gaps in Kerry's released military records? Teraysa's taxes? Please!
I almost can't believe the Associated Press actually (sort of) acknowledged that the documents might not have existed in the first place, and it wasn't Bush's fault.
Excellent point.
I don't care if they research this until the cows come home. They only make themselves look stupid. They are reporting for the umpteenth time that they have no news. In the meantime, it is glaringly obvious to the public that they treat Bush and Kerry VERY differently. So bye-bye credibility.
A lot of people only read the headlines. Even if the body of the story refutes the headline, the damage is already done.
I think that you will find that this is not about the 2004 election, which they are beginning to realize is lost, but about trashing Bush throughout the next four years in any way and every way that they can. They are starting to look into allegations of cocaine use again and the National Guard service. They'll dig into past business dealings, his drinking history, and how he made his money from the Texas Rangers. They're out to damage his reputation, if not destroy it.
As I remember AP did not attend the Swift Vets' press conference (prior to the ads, book, etc.) because "It did not advance the story."
There was a representative there. He asked questions after the presentation.
AP just chose to ignore the event.
The same could be said about Kerry and the ready reserve service he never completed. He was obligated to make 48 meetings and do 17 days on training after he was assigned to ready reserves in 1970. There is no waver for this obligation or any documentation on Kerry's service from 1970 to 1972 when he asked to be transferred to standby reserves. He either needed a waver or attend training as required in his officer candidate agreement. Why did it take until 1978 for him to get his discharge when it should have been 1972? where is the paper work?
There was a representative there. He asked questions after the presentation.
AP just chose to ignore the event.
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