Statement from John O'Neil about ABC's Nightline with Ted Koppel Oct 14 [read last paragraph]

redstate.org ^ | Oct 15, 2004 | John O'Neil

[Mike Fieschko]

The following statement from John O'Neil, member of Swift Boat Veterans and POW's for Truth, concerns a news segment that aired on October 14th on ABC's Nightline with Ted Koppel.

"While I have a tremendous amount of respect for Ted Koppel and ABC News I was appalled to learn that ABC News would go to the lengths of traveling to Vietnam to interview three Viet Cong communists in yet a third attempt by ABC to corroborate John Kerry's version of the events that took place on February 28th, 1969.

"I would only ask the American people: 'Who do you trust more, three members of a communist regime that tortured and killed our American troops or a group of more than 280 highly decorated American veterans, who proudly served their country and are now responsible members of their respective communities.

"The number of veterans who support John Kerry's accounts of his military service would not fill one Swift Boat. But instead of sitting down to interview some of the 280 plus members of our Swift Boat organization, ABC News chose to travel to Vietnam taking extraordinary and highly suspect steps to find someone to corroborate John Kerry's story.

"ABC News Nightline has now dedicated three seperate programs to this one incident while ignoring John Kerry's now discredited Senate testimony that he spent Christmas in Cambodia, his receiving a purple heart after all three of the officers required to approve such an issuance rejected his application, or his constantly changing account of the circumstances surrounding his remaining medal, a bronze star.

"Further, one has to wonder why ABC News will not address the serious questions as to why John Kerry only received an honorable discharge through the act of then President Carter, seven years after his discharge, and had to have all of his military citations reissued, on the same day, when he became a United States Senator in 1985. And, finally, why has Nightline found it of no interest to permit any POWs to come on their program to explain why they believe John Kerry betrayed their nation, caused them to be incarcerated for an additional two years and caused them tremendous additional hardship and suffering."

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks for the link! I sure hope so .....

[weegee]

John Kerry's photograph is featured in the War Protestors Hall of the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City -- a clear indication of the value the Vietnamese communists place on Kerry's support of their efforts during the Vietnam War. The photograph was received in response to a general request last week for information documenting Kerry's activities on behalf of the enemy.

"One could imagine a foreign government, for example, even a former enemy, choosing to honor one of our citizens this way with a photograph on display in whatever hall, without it necessarily legitimately destroying that person's reputation or fitness for office, but the true nail in Kerry's coffin here, is Kerry's willingness to accept the 1993 meeting with the Communist delegation, in clear knowledge of why they wanted to meet with him and thusly honor him."

"Senator (Ted) Kennedy, your brother defined anti-war demonstrators during the Viet Nam war as being traitors and giving aid to Ho Chi Minh. Your friend, John Kerry, was one of these. Who do you agree with?" -RedBloodedAmerican, FReeper

Media Schadenfreude and Media Shenanigans PING

Halperin Memo Dated Friday October 8, 2004

It goes without saying that the stakes are getting very high for the country and the campaigns - and our responsibilities become quite grave I do not want to set off (sp?) and endless colloquy that none of us have time for today - nor do I want to stifle one. Please respond if you feel you can advance the discussion.

The New York Times (Nagourney/Stevenson) and Howard Fineman on the web both make the same point today: the current Bush attacks on Kerry involve distortions and taking things out of context in a way that goes beyond what Kerry has done.

Kerry distorts, takes out of context, and mistakes all the time, but these are not central to his efforts to win.

We have a responsibility to hold both sides accountable to the public interest, but that doesn't mean we reflexively and artificially hold both sides "equally" accountable when the facts don't warrant that.

I'm sure many of you have this week felt the stepped up Bush efforts to complain about our coverage. This is all part of their efforts to get away with as much as possible with the stepped up, renewed efforts to win the election by destroying Senator Kerry at least partly through distortions.

It's up to Kerry to defend himself, of course. But as one of the few news organizations with the skill and strength to help voters evaluate what the candidates are saying to serve the public interest. Now is the time for all of us to step up and do that right.

[ADemocratNoMore]

> I hope there's more than one October surprise to help bring down JfnK.

> Photos of him meeting with the communists in Paris during Vietnam would be good.

Somewhere on a thread I read in the past month there is a reference to VVAW selling cassettes of the meetings in Paris. Somewhere, somebody must still have the 35 year old audio tapes. What a bombshell that would be!.

[stylin19a]

that's a good question. Are the Vietnamese years in sync with the Gregorian years ? or are they in sync with Chinese years...of which 2004 is 4701.

[nonkultur]

the year in vienamese/chinese calander would be 4666 not 1969.

28.2.1969 = 12.1.4666

[maica]

Thought it might be of interest to post the transcript, at least of the interview portion of the show:

Nightline, 14 OCT 2004, 2nd segment, interview with John O'Neill

The commercial that aired before the final segment with O'Neill just happened to be for the next program - Jimmy Kimmel - and it just happened to be a joke slamming President Bush.

Just a coincidence!!!!

[wvromania]

BUMP!

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

There are four consecutive engagements refered to in Kerry's SS citations. Ted Koppel clearly conflated the so-called "superior force" from the first engagement with Kerry's chasing of the solitary VC in the second engagement 800 yards away. If one accepts the original citation however, there NEVER was a superior force because the first engagement was supported by 70-90 South Vietnamese regulars being transported by Kerry's boats. The revised citations created and noted a "superior force" by omitting reference to the number of South Vietnamese troops aboard and adding a reference to 20 enemy against the 18 PCF crew in the first engagement. (The revised citations drop any reference to Kerry's mano-a-mano, the third and fourth engagements, and any enemy actually killed in the whole operation.)

JOHN FORBES KERRY SILVER STAR CITATION REVISIONS - FULL TEXTS

"The Incredibly Shrinking Silver Star"

NOTES	Zumwalt Original	Hyland Revision	Lehman Revision
HEADING: Aside from the differences in the issuing authority and minor punctuation, Kerry's middle name is shortened in the final revision to the initial "F." which more resembles Kerry's hero, John F. Kennedy.	COMMANDER UNITED STATES NAVAL FORCES VIETNAM The President of the Unites States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to JOHN FORBES KERRY LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE UNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVE for service as set forth in the following: CITATION	COMMANDER IN CHIEF UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET The President of the Unites States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Lieutenant (junior grade) John Forbes KERRY United States Naval Reserve for service as set forth in the following: CITATION	THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY WASHINGTON The President of the Unites States takes pleasure in presenting the SILVER STAR MEDAL to LIEUTENANT (JUNIOR GRADE) JOHN F. KERRY UNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVE for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
PLACE and TIME: The official reference to "Vietnamese Regional and Popular Forces" in the original citation is reduced to just "regional", removing any notion they were "Popular." The words "junior grade" are shortened in the final revision to "jg" in most places for the Massachusetts junior Senator.	"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Officer in Charge of United States Navy Patrol Craft Fast 94 and Officer in Tactical Command of an operation in the Republic of Vietnam. On 28 February 1969, Patrol Craft Fast 23, 43 and 94, in conjunction with Underwater Demolition Team 13 and Vietnamese Regional and Popular Forces personnel, conducted an operation on the Ca Mau Peninsula as part of Operation SEA LORDS.	"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with the Coastal Division ELEVEN engaged in armed conflict with the Viet Cong insurgents in An Xuyen Province, Republic of Vietnam on 28 February 1969. Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY was serving as Officer in Charge of Patrol Craft Fast 94 and Officer in Tactical Command of a three-boat unit engaged in inserting Vietnamese regional force troops on a reconnaissance in force mission.	For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with the Coastal Division ELEVEN engaged in armed conflict with the Viet Cong insurgents in An Xuyen Province, Republic of Vietnam on 28 February 1969. Lieutenant (jg) Kerry was serving as Officer in Charge of Patrol Craft Fast 94 and Officer in Tactical Command of a three-boat unit engaged in inserting Vietnamese regional force troops on a reconnaissance in force mission.
FIRST ACTION: "Small arms" is enhanced to "automatic weapons and small arms." (Had there been another revision, it would no doubt say "assault rifles.") The strength of the Swift force is approximately 18 crew, with 90 Vietnamese and demolition forces as passengers. The friendly force total is removed from the revisions and an enemy force total of 20 is added. This addition means that someone got information other than the original citation for the revisions. The removal of the number 90 (3 PCF units x 30) makes plausible the addition of "numerically superior" enemy added at the end of the revisions (20 VC vs. 18 crew). Also, in narrative one, the South Vietnamese troops did the ground sweep while one PCF stayed on station and two moved upstream. In narratives two and three the South Vietnamese troops play no part and credit for picking up the enemy weapons on shore is transfered to the crew gunners who should have still been posted at the 50 calibres providing cover for the ground troops and protecting the PCFs themselves.	While transiting the Bay Hap River en route to an insertion point along the Dong Cung River, these craft with thirty Regional/Popular Force personnel embarked in each unit came under heavy enemy small arms fire from the river banks. The Officer in Tactical Command, Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY directed his units to turn to the beach and charge the Viet Cong positions. Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY expertly directed the fire of his craft at the fleeing enemy while simultaneously coordinating the insertion of the embarked troops. While the Regional and Popular Forces conducted an area sweep, Patrol Craft Fast 43 remained on station to provide fire support and	As the force approached the target area on the narrow Dong Cung River, all units came under intense automatic weapons and small arms fire from an entrenched enemy force less than fifty feet away. Unhesitatingly, Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY ordered his boat to attack as all units opened fire and beached directly in front of the enemy ambushers. This daring and courageous tactic surprised the enemy and succeeded in routing a score of enemy soldiers. The PCF gunners captured many enemy weapons in the battle that followed.	As the force approached the target area on the narrow Dong Cung River, all units came under intense automatic weapons and small arms fire from an entrenched enemy force less than fifty feet away. Unhesitatingly, Lieutenant (jg) Kerry ordered his boat to attack as all units opened fire and beached directly in front of the enemy ambushers. This daring and courageous tactic surprised the enemy and succeeded in routing a score of enemy soldiers. The PCF gunners captured many enemy weapons in the battle that followed.
SECOND ACTION: The original citation contains the most impressive account of personal heroism on the part of Lt.(jg) Kerry, the famous story of single-handedly chasing down and killing a VC and capturing a live rocket. This daring exploit is not in the revised citations. One has to wonder why? Without that element, is this really Silver Star material? The "numerically superior" enemy cannot be from the second action as the lone VC in the original citation is the only enemy mentioned. The request by Army advisors and the 800 yard distance are not mentioned in the original citation, further indicating independent sources for the revisions.	Patrol Craft Fast 23 and 94 moved upstream to investigate an area from which gunshots were coming. Arriving at the area, Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY's craft received a B-40 rocket close aboard. Once again Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY ordered his units to charge the enemy positions and summoned Patrol Craft Fast 43 to the area to provide additional firepower. Patrol Craft Fast 94 then beached in the center of the enemy positions and an enemy soldier sprang up from his position not ten feet from Patrol Craft Fast 94 and fled. Without hesitation Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY leaped ashore, pursued the man behind a hootch and killed him, capturing a B-40 rocket launcher with a round in the chamber. Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY then led an assault party and conducted a sweep of the area while the Patrol Craft Fast continued to provide fire support. After the enemy had been completely routed, all personnel returned to the Patrol Craft Fast to withdraw from the area.	On a request from U.S. Army advisors ashore, Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY ordered PCFs 94 and 23 further up river to suppress enemy sniper fire. After proceeding approximately eight hundred yards, the boats were again taken under fire from a heavily foliated area and a B-40 rocket exploded close aboard PCF 94. With utter disregard for his own safety and the enemy rockets, he again ordered a charge on the enemy, beached his boat only ten feet from the VC rocket position, and personally led a landing party ashore in pursuit of the enemy. Upon sweeping the area, an immediate search uncovered an enemy rest and supply area which was destroyed.	On a request from U.S. Army advisors ashore, he ordered PCFs 94 and 23 further up river to suppress enemy sniper fire. After proceeding approximately eight hundred yards, the boats were again taken underfire from a heavily foliated area and a B-40 rocket exploded close aboard PCF 94. With utter disregard for his own safety and the enemy rockets, he again ordered a charge on the enemy, beached his boat only ten feet from the VC rocket position, and personally led a landing party ashore in pursuit of the enemy. Upon sweeping the area, an immediate search uncovered an enemy rest and supply area which was destroyed.
THIRD ACTION: The third action is mentioned only in the original citation. There is no indication that any assessment was made of effectiveness of the fire in EKIA or materiel.	While backing off the beach, these units again came under a hail of fire, this time from the opposite river bank. Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY immediately coordinated the firepower of his units and suppressed the enemy fire.	[no mention]	[no mention]
FOURTH ACTION: The fourth action is mentioned only in the original citation. There is no indication that any assessment was made of effectiveness of the fire in EKIA or materiel.	Later, after disembarking personnel and while exiting from the Bay Hap River, the Patrol Craft Fast were again taken under fire. Lieutanant (junior grade) KERRY immediately maneuvered his craft through several strafing runs which completely silenced the enemy.	[no mention]	[no mention]
OVERALL RESULTS: Only in the original citation is any mention made of enemy killed (11 total) or wounded (1). The revisions seem to wipe the scene of any blood and clear Lt.(jg) Kerry of killing anybody. It is a totally bloodless Silver Star according to the revisions and seems to have accomplished very little for the expenditure of ammo.	As a result of this operation, ten Viet Cong were killed and one wounded with no friendly casualties. In addition, numerous sampans, structures and bunkers were destroyed as well as confiscationn of substantial quantities of combat essential supplies.	[no mention]	[no mention]
COMMENDATION: In the first revision, extraordinary personal courage is substituted for outstanding leadership even as his most personally courageous and only specific action was removed. In the second revision, "brave", "bold" and "great credit" are added to his appelations.	Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY's devotion to duty, courage under fire, outstanding leadership, and exemplary professionalism directly contributed to the success of this operation and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."	The extraordinary daring and personal courage of Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY in attacking a numerically superior force in the face of intense fire were responsible for the highly successful mission. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."	The extraordinary daring and personal courage of Lieutenant (jg) Kerry in attacking a numerically superior force in the face of intense fire were responsible for the highly successful mission. By his brave action, bold initiative, and unwavering devotion to duty, Lieutenant (jg) Kerry reflected great credit on himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
SIGNATURE: At each revision, a more prestigious signature was obtained.	For the President (sig. E R Zumwalt) E. R. ZUMWALT, Jr. Vice Admiral, U. S. Navy Commander U. S. Naval Forces, Vietnam	For the President (sig. John Hyland) JOHN HYLAND Admiral, U.S. Navy Commander in Chief U.S. Pacific Fleet	For the President, (sig. John Lehman) Secretary of the Navy
SOURCES:	johnkerry.com  (p.7-8)	johnkerry.com  (p.1)	johnkerry.com  (p.2)

Any typographical errors are my responsibility.

[weegee]

I have adapted your wise question for a new tagline (I have had the line attributed and on my profile page for months).

[OESY]

The transcript of Nightline interview of John O'Neill by Ted Koppel reflects the mindset fostered by Halperin's memo disseminated the week before. It appears Halperin was attempting by his memo to inoculate himself by explaining his "investigative news reporting" to his staff because he feared a palace revolt by those who still practice ethical journalism at ABC.

Note the contrast with Kerry's mother who warned her son: REMEMBER, INTEGRITY! INTEGRITY! INTEGRITY! Too bad Halperin and Koppel apparently also were never taught that lesson by their parents or by their mentors at ABC.

[OESY]

"MANY THANKS FOR THE WORLD PEOPLE'S SUPPORT"

"Hanoi John" Kerry said that the Marxist butchers of North Vietnam were "full of love"

A propaganda poster (top) from the Marxist butchers of North Vietnam (a closed society)
thanked John Kerry and others like him for backing the Communist dictatorship during
the Vietnam War. The Nixon White House staff agreed that Kerry was their most potent
enemy in the "anti-war," pro-Communist movement. The Vietnamese Communists
long ago placed photographs of him prominently in their Saigon war museum.

Source: http://www.jtf.org/kerry/kerry.communists.behind.kerry.htm

[Fatalis]

Vietnam is a ruthless, dictatorial society. People are not free to speak freely. Koppel knows this. When the guy can't even kid himself and looks like a man caught with a forgery in his hand as they go to commercial break, that's a low point in any man's career. He set himself up because he was so in for Kerry.

This is from the transcript you posted at #14:
(Do you have an original link for the transcript?)

Koppel (:55): Mr. O'Neill . . uh . . maybe we're going to be able to do something more.
This was the place that we were brought to.

O'Neill: I-I invite you to, sir.

Koppel: This is the place we found. Let me go, just for this evening, and ask you . .

O'Neill: It's the third time you've covered it.

So which is it? Was ABC brought to that place or did they find it? If they were brought there, who brought them?

[sevry]

Brought to and then, found? I know. Which is it, right? I seem to recall in the setup piece that he talked about matching the three digits grid coordinates from the reports with the hamlet. So - brought? What's the intended distraction? He already said they knew where they were going.

The whole story seems conveniently fabricated. It's almost as if they assumed something that wasn't true. To get a gotcha moment on O'Neill, they thought to discredit his own book, and his own account. But somebody didn't mention to ABC or the Communist Vietnamese that on this, at least, O'Neill was relying on Kerry's own testimony in two different books, where he was involved in crafting both. The question O'Neill just never got out was, in my opinion - Ted, why are you asking me? Ask John Kerry!

[Congressman Billybob]

What we know for sure is that Kerry received a "less than honorable discharge" when he left the Navy. There are four different categories of discharge that are less than honorable, but he do not know the precise one than Kerry originally received, so we do not know that he received a "dishonorable discharge."

The reason we can be certain that he did NOT receive an "honorable discharge" originally is that if he did, there would have been no reason for his discharge to be updated to "honorable" as a result of an "order of the President" and a "review by a board of officers." The "order of the President" is specifically referenced to the general pardon that President Carter issued to those who ran to Canada, among others, on the first day after he was sworn into office.

Kerry's less than honorable discharge was probably due to his violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice for meeting with representatives of a government with which the US was at war (his admitted meetings with the Viet Cong and North Korean representatives in Paris) while he was still a member of the Naval Reserve. It is also a separate crime, after doing that, that Kerry did not report those meetings. It is too late for Kerry to be criminally prosecuted for these actions, but it is not too late to insist that he sign a Form 180 so the truth about these matters would come out.

Every veteran of the US military at any time and in any circumstance, needs to be made aware of these defects in Kerry's "I am a hero" claims. If this reaches them, even if the MSM seek to suppress the story, that should be enough to sink Kerry in the election.

Why so? Because veterans are in every city and town, every business, every civic association, every local community, and almost every every family, throughout the entire US. So if veterans know the truth, the people will know the truth. And then, the truth will prevail, regardless of what the MSM says, or does not say.

I think that's the fundamental dynamic of this election. And that, I think, will be the key to Kerry's defeat, rightfully so.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, "America Fails the 'Global Test' "

If you haven't already joined the anti-CFR effort, please click here.

[daviscupper]

Somebody else already said: ABC=Always believe communists.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[dalebert]

O'Neill did a great job. The swiftvets have done a great job of fighting the press. Thats who this battle is against. The press supports the left so we have to fight the press.

[Libertina]

The MSM hasn't yet sunk completely, though they are the gasping wounded. Time to hold their collective lying heads under the water for a (final)few more minutes.

[GretchenM]

Thanks for posting the transcript.

I guess Koppel would have to label O'Neill as a "hostile witness." LOL

He surely didn't stay in his box.

[Tacis]

"Read the last paragraph. Request you prepare a hat for me to eat, Mister."

OK, now I see. But I also hypothesized that, if Kerry had been cashiered and then pardoned, there would be a public record at the Office of the Pardon Attorney, DoJ in Washington. The media would never look there because they don't want the only answer that would explain. I've asked here several times if anyone had visited DoJ and never had any one rspond, yes or no. Maybe O"Neill went over and came back with something interesting I hope some.

With respect the the hat, my bets are always for cold beers. It is a lesson I learned from liberals. When you bet beers, win or lose, everyone is happy. In this particular case, even if I technically did win, I'd still be pleased to buy.

Let us hope that O'Neill does have something concrete and will spring it in the next several days. My bet is (another beer) that no matter how terrible the stain the truth creates, Kerry will not resign. He'll lie many times and the media will back him and try diversion and then he'll sort of concede and want to put it behind him and move on!