In Koppel's closing comment, he said something to the effect of the Vietnamese confirming what was said in the award citation and after-action report, and I was waiting for what he DID NOT say: that they DISAGREE with what sKerry himself said, in boston globe book and in Tour of Doody. Of course, that would actually be reporting EVERYTHING, in an accurate manner, which he claims is what they're doing, but not. This just goes to show the bias in the reporting by Koppel/ABC.
He then goes on, after the whole spiel of using former VC's to confirm the AA report and citation, that they HAD to report whatever they found, and to do so would be wrong. Fair enough Ted, and it would've been fine if you yourself mentioned also what you found disagreed with what sKerry's people have said about the incident, which you didn't. When O'neil brought that up, and pointed NOT at Unfit for Command, but books that sKerry's people wrote, all Ted could do was ask, "why would these people lie", for crying out loud Ted, you're not THAT stupid and gullible?! Well, maybe you are...
Kerry's crew got 2 Bronze Stars and 3 Navy Commendation Medals for this same action! This is his band of brothers!
Six medals awarded by Kerry to himself and his crew!
Is it any wonder that the "press" is not interviewing Kerry's crew!
I THINK THE DATE ON THE GRAVE SHOWN IN THE PIECE WAS MAY '69 NOT FEB '69
Koppel wasn't even satisfied with Kerry's own account via Kranish, or via Doug Brinkley. If it came from Vietnamese villagers with Vietnamese government officials observing over their shoulder, then that must be the best evidence, in Koppel's judgement. Liberal snobs like Koppel are so far up Kerry's butt, I don't how they even breath.
I only saw a piece of it but it confirmed for me the kind of low life Koppel is. The first, last, and every question in between should be, why hasn't Kerry released all his records.
Clinton lied to his face and they applauded.
I must say Koppel was wearing a nice blue dress for Kerry but I don't think he let any DNA slip from his lips.
This kind of sinister journalism really bothers me because it's dangerous. When a recognized national journalist willingly wants to believe communist witnesses over American heros, then it's time to bring the MSM to their knees by every legal tactic available.
Did Abc look into the background of the peasants in this story? Of course not. Do they know if they tortured and killed Americans? Of course not. Do they even know their real names? Of course not. There is no way to "vet" these people and yet they take their word over a group of American Citizens, Soldiers and heros! I think they do not realize how easy it is to see right through this kind of flimsy reporting.
John O'Neill shocked Teddy boy with his "reference library" and correctly pointed out that Teddy was giving credence to people who may have been coerced over Kerry's own words in Brinkley's autobiography of Kerry, the Boston Globe biography of Kerry, and the Swiftboat Vets stories from those who were there.
Quote of the interview " Ted, you've been had!"
Ted made a half hearted effort to talk about the "after- action reports" and the Silver Star commendation--I yelled at the TV--which commendation, Ted, there were three of them!!"
In addition, Ted didn't mention the machine gunner on Kerry's boat, who is deceased, in 1996 or 1997 told the whole story of shooting the VC kid first, then brave Kerry jumped off and basically shot in cold blood a wounded prisoner of war.
What is amazing is how we Freepers, who have taken the time to get the facts, know so much more than the vaunted Nightline, who tonight, was exposed for the shoddy reporting Democratic Kerry shills that they are.
And this was but one easily rebutted example of their bias and of their intentionally incomplete, unprofessional reporting.
It makes me wonder as to the extent of all of the lies I have been told by the MSM in the last 50 years.
I watched the whole thing as well. The Dems will see it as vindication, but to my mind it was an obvious scam.
1. "Independent local producer contacted us."
2. Present Vietnam government decided to go along after they got drift of what the reporters were up to.
3. The purpose was to vindicate a presidential candidate that was their single most influential ally 35 years in the propaganda war in the streets of the US.
4. As O'Neill points out Kerry is honored as a hero of their side in their war museum.
5. All talking is with local peasants who supposedly were Viet Cong 35 years ago, interpreted by the official Vietnam government "monitor" along for the purpose.
6. Everyone "remembers" details including the name of the visiting RPG toting VC, even though he was not a local, there for only a day or so, etc."
7. Granny just happens to have the VC arms still buried under her garden 35 years later (although they didn't bother to dig to prove it) and admits it to (through) the government monitor. [Who would believe that a peasant with a bunch of automatic weapons hidden for 35 years in a communist country casually tells the government about it and noone thinks anything of it!?!?]
Instead of Ted Koppel's straight-faced Dan Rather moment, "We only reported what we found, if we had found Kerry exaggerated we would have reported it straight, like we always do..blah, blah,blah...."
I would have rather have John Stossel saying, "Give me a break!"
I got the impression that neither Koppel nor Oneill were interested in finding the truth.
Who can trust any of the methodology of the MSM? I think O'neill saw an ambush having to discuss within the context that ABC had created by their report.
Neither one came off too well.
Ironic how they're now traveling to Vietnam to ask Communists if they like John Kerry or not. LOL. And they think this will help him get elected President?
I just wrote about this and sent it to Drudge, Rush and Hannity. Kerry lied in his military reports and book interviews. That date on the tombstone doesn't add up either.