Because they are not real memos, and were written to fit the creators plans
Now that we know the memos were forged, the question is who created them and why? It has been reported that these memos came to CBS from the DNC and may have originated by a disgruntled former Army National Guard member who has an axe to grind with President Bush. I'm sure the who will be discovered by other news sources soon. I want to focus on the why.
When I originally saw these memos, I couldn't figure out what the purpose of them was. There didn't seem to be any new facts in them, as everyone agrees that Bush missed his annual flight examination which was scheduled for July 1972, and had his flight status suspended on August 1. These memos just appeared to provide backup.
However, upon further analysis, it appears that these memos were meant to lay the ground work for further charges that Bush used cocaine while in the National Guard and had to be quickly shuffled out of Texas to Alabama to cover it up. These are rumors that have circled amongst the Bush haters, but there has been no proof, and the timeline didn't really support the conspiracy theories. Lets look at how these memos were an attempt to forward this rumor:
What is behind each of the memos:
| Fake Memo | What is says | Why was it created |
| February 1,1972 | Asks for an update of flight status for Bush and another officer, Bath | To create a paper trail leading to the May 4 memo. Also, Bath also missed his physical within a month of the time Bush missed his, and many leftwing conspiracy sites beleive that they both got caught doing cocaine in the Guard, but that the records were scrubbed. Also, Bush was later involved in a company with Bath, and they attempt to link Bush and Bath with the Bin Laden's based on this company. |
| May 4,1972 | Orders Bush to get his annual physical within 10 days | To change the timeline for Bush getting his annual physical, which wasn't actually due until the end of July. Create the impression that Bush left in a hurried panic for Alabama to avoid drug testing |
| May 19, 1972 | Phone call from Bush asking about getting transfered to Alabama because he wants to run a campaign. Followed by discussion of getting the physical later if he decided to keep flying | Show that Bush left town on May 15, called his commander after the fact to see if he could transfer to Alabama. Also, create a confirmation that Killian was aware and ok with the fact that Bush missed the physical. If the order from May 4 was disobeyed, you would expect some sort of official reprimand or follow-up. Since there is nothing in the record, the May 19 memo provides an answer. |
| August 1,1972 | Bush suspended from flight status due to failure to perform to USAF/TexANG standards and failute to meet annual physical examination as ordered. Plus order of the creation of a flight review board IAW AFM35-13. | Make it look like there was something more to the suspension of flight status than just missing the physical. Create the impression that a flight review board was ordered, so that they can then ask why Bush has not released this document (ie, there must be a cover-up). It must show that Bush was suspended for using drugs |
| June 24, 1973 | Memo concerning a request for evaluation of Bush and a statement about not being able to evaluate Bush since he had been off of the base from May 1972 to May 1973. | To provide a basis for the August 18, 1973 memo, which complains of being pressured by superiors. |
| August 18, 1973 | CYA Memo about being pressured to sugar-coat the Bush review. Mentions something about backdating information | Perhaps to show that there was some pressure from higher up for a coverup. However, I wonder what record would need to be "backdated" in order to fit in with the subsequent conspiracy theory that they plan to release. Perhaps we will find out, or perhaps they will abandon the next phase of the plan now that the forgeries have been uncovered |
Why did 60 Minutes run this story last week? I believe it was meant to be a lead in to the Kitty Kelly book, which also makes these unfounded claims of Bush drug use. 60 Minutes expected there to be a 4-5 day news cycle discussing how Bush had not completed his guard duty or had been given preferential treatment. After the Kitty Kelly book came out, they could look at them again in a new light to help spread the rumors of Bush's drug use. That's when they would release the two memos that CBS had in its possession but did not mention on 60 Minutes or release on it's website.
Hey thanks! With content like that table, FR is taking another step to being an online conservative newspaper, in addition to being a message board.
Graphics and tables, people! Graphics and tables! ;)
People did cocaine in the 70's?
The horror!
Good work.
If you are right, Dan Rather and CBS deserve to hang for this, along with the whoever provided the documents (probably involving John Kerry and the DNC).
If you are right, and I suspect you are, then this is much more than shoddy journalism. It represents a large scale conspiracy to steal a Presidential election...
Good job exposing the conspiracy to undermine our election process.
I want JAIL TIME for Rather, Mapes and ALL the CBS executives responsible for this injustice!
Bump for reference.