You raise a fabulous point---one I had not considered---that this "release" was a plan long-ago set in motion. However, my question would be, "Why did Kerry EVER think that 4 months in Vietnam would serve as a proxy for a PLAN in the War on Terror or an Iraq policy?" Are they that a) stupid, b) arrogant, or c) blind?
Because it has worked in every single one of his previous campaigns. But they aren't in Massachusetts anymore.