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EXCLUSIVE: SWIFT OFFICERS AND VETS: KERRY LIED ABOUT SPENDING CHRISTMAS IN CAMBODIA
Drudge Report ^ | 8/8/04 | Matt Drudge + SwiftVets

Posted on 08/08/2004 5:09:55 PM PDT by Steven W.

XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX SUN AUG 08, 2004 19:04:35 ET XXXXX

SWIFT OFFICERS AND VETS: KERRY LIED ABOUT SPENDING CHRISTMAS IN CAMBODIA

Since the early 1970s, Kerry has spoken and written of how he was illegally ordered to enter Cambodia. Kerry mentioned it in the floor of the Senate in 1986 when he charged that President Reagan’s actions in Central America were leading the U.S. in another Vietnam. Here’s what he said as excerpted from the new book, UNFIT FOR COMMAND:

I remember Christmas of 1968 sitting on a gunboat in Cambodia. I remember what it was like to be shot at by the Vietnamese and Khmer Rouge and Cambodians, and have the president of the United States telling the American people that I was not there; the troops were not in Cambodia. I have that memory which is seared--seared--in me.

DRUDGE has learned from the accounts of Swift Boat officers and Kerry’s crewmembers that Kerry was never in Cambodia. UNFIT FOR COMMAND authors charge that Kerry made it all up.

“Despite the dramatic memories of his Christmas in Cambodia, Kerry’s statements are complete lies,” according to John O’Neil, co-author and the Swift Boat commander who took over Kerry’s boat. “Kerry was never in Cambodia during Christmas 1968, or at all during the Vietnam War. . . . he was more than fifty miles away from Cambodia.”

Kerry was stationed at Coastal Division 13 in Cat Lo. Coastal Division 13’s patrol areas extended to Sa Dec, about 55 miles from the Cambodian border. . . . Tom Anderson, Commander of River Division 531, who was in charge of PBRs (small river patrol crafts] confirmed that there were no Swifts anywhere in the area and they would have been stopped had they appeared.

All the living commanders in Kerry’s chain of command . . . deny that Kerry was ever ordered to Cambodia. They indicate that Kerry would have been seriously disciplined or court-martialed had he gone there. At least three of the five crewmen on Kerry’s boat, Bill Zaldonis, Steven Hatch, and Steve Gardner, deny that they or their boat were ever in Cambodia.

O’Neill observed that the Cambodia incursion story is not included in Tour of Duty (Kerry’s recent biography). Instead, Kerry replaced the story with a report about a mortar attack that occurred on Christmas Eve 1968 “near the Cambodian border” in a town called Sa Dec and Christmas day was spent at the base writing entries in his journal.

After conducting interviews and research, authors of Unfit for Command conclude, “The truth is that Kerry made up his secret mission into Cambodia.... the lie about the illegal Cambodian incursion painted his superiors up the chain of command. . . . as villains faced down by John Kerry, a solitary hero in grave and exotic danger and forced illegally against his will into harm’s way.”

Developing...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2004; antiamerican; bronze; cambodia; christmasincambodia; christmasncambodia; drudge; hanoikerry; iaintfondajohn; johnkerry; kerry; kerrylies; ketchup; liar; liarliarliar; lyingliar; military; militaryrecord; purpleheart; sedition; skerrykerry; swiftboat; swiftboatveterans; swiftvetsdotcom; traitor; treason; unamerican; unfit; unfitforcommand; vet; veteran; veterans; veteransforbush; vets; vietnam; wintersoldierdotcom
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To: cyncooper

I am with you -- these men have a right to speak out and tell the truth. I just don't get the people who are saying it will hurt Bush. Why would the truth about Kerry hurt Bush?


181 posted on 08/08/2004 6:55:29 PM PDT by PhiKapMom (AOII Mom -- Oklahoma is Reagan Country and now Bush Country -- Win Another One for the Gipper!)
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To: gilliam

See my post #164. Kranish and Eason of the Boston Globe mentioned the Kerry/Cambodia/Nixon reference in their multipart biographical series about Kerry last year. They also discussed it with Greta earlier this year. It shows what a piss poor job they did in research and missing the obvious Nixon gaff.


182 posted on 08/08/2004 6:57:45 PM PDT by kabar
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To: sinkspur
Yep. Go after Kerry's totally-unproductive 20 years in the Senate, especially his flip-flops on the Iraq War.

Which is what the Bush/Cheney campaign has been and will continue to do.

Vietnam is a loser.

These SwiftVets are not politicians. They have a Vietnam experience that they say has been misrepresented and they want to have their say. It is not and should not be confused with the Bush political campaign, either by Kerry supporters or handwringing Bush supporters who worry too much.

There is nothing right about Kerry showing and telling a story of Vietnam that these men say is a lie and then telling these men "Too bad, you better shut the hell up. Kerry can say whatever he wants, including showing pictures of you to imply you all support him and you better not rock the boat and make everyone feel all uncomfortable by contradicting his highness".

That is wrong and doing wrong is what will backfire every time.

183 posted on 08/08/2004 7:03:23 PM PDT by cyncooper ("We will fear no evil...And we will prevail")
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To: nopardons
Once again, I hope you are right...but obviously I don't think so. No, Reagan wasn't a strict-constructionist, but he represented a SERIOUS attempt to slow the progression of socialism. We are socialist now, half of the people don't contribute via the tax code so of course they support democrats who promise to provide for them by taking from the other half.

I had high hopes for W when he, during his first campaign, talked about his desire for strict-constructionist judges, yet he continues to act as if federal powers are unlimited...as is the status quo (IMHO). This situation will not be reversed at the ballot box given the government mandated indoctrination centers known as public schools. Now conservatives are happy with socialism-lite...but it all leads to the same unsustainable inevitable conclusion.

Understanding that, I am less than optimistic and anxious for the cataclysm to take place so that I can participate before I get too old. (It would be a shame to waste my skills as a marksman on garden-invading rabbits)

184 posted on 08/08/2004 7:03:26 PM PDT by gorush (Exterminate the Moops!)
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To: PhiKapMom; All
Given the seriousness of this election, I am willing to stomach that which may make my stomach turn for the greater good. McCain, for instance. It isn't that he is a Liberal (and we know he is) that makes him intolerable. It is that he lacks character. He is an opportunist. He uses his status as a "Republican" to curry favor with the Democrats and blackmail Republicans for every single vote. However, I am willing to allow this imposter of a Republican to grace the stage at the convention if it tacks a few more votes to G.W's column in the election. This is a sacrifice I will make to get G.W. elected. I will admit I'll experience a little delight at the grimace of the Dems/Media's 'darling' supporting Bush, as well.

This is a form of concession for the 'greater good' I can live with.

I could never live with my conscience if for purely cynical and selfish reasons I joined league with the Dems/Media to silence the Truth and spit on these men that deserve justice. That would take partisanship to a level I cannot join. I will not join.

The reason I turned my back on the Democratic party is because I realized they no longer had a soul. It is one thing to make obvious concessions to win an election. No one is in doubt why G.W. signed some of the Bills he did. No one is in doubt why McCain or Arnold are speaking at the convention. The Truth is plain for any wishing to see. I may not like all his decisions, though others I have had his back 100%, but the Truth is on the surface.

It is quite another to attempt to deny the Truth from being heard to win. That is what Democrats do. They lie and they rationalize to excuse their intentions. They have done so for so long they have forgotton what Truth is.

Our allegiance should be to the Truth. Otherwise we risk becoming no better than our opponents.

If we do not stand up for these men now, when will we do so? 35 years later and they are middle aged. A few years down the road they will begin to die in larger numbers. Do we award justice after they have passed? They were labeled baby killers, they had blood thrown on them, they were denied a hero's welcome, they were unable to secure employment, they had their honor called into question by John Kerry!! It is a national disgrace that few seem to have the courage to begin actions that would heal these men. All they really want is the Truth to be known and to receive a long underdue "Thank You".

Loyalty to the President can be exercised while not allowing these men to be forgotton.

The President needs only to stand on the sidelines on this issue while continuing to address the other issues, as he is doing. The matter with the SwiftBoat Vets is between Kerry and them. It is time this showdown occured.

185 posted on 08/08/2004 7:04:29 PM PDT by Soul Seeker
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To: cyncooper

YES!!!!


186 posted on 08/08/2004 7:04:42 PM PDT by Just mythoughts
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To: gilliam
Doesn't explain everyone saying he couldn't be in Cambodia anyway.

See my post #164. Kerry would have had to breach a phalanx of PBRs and a LSU stationed at the border to prevent anyone from crossing over. Plus there were big signs prohibiting it. All of this is in Chapter 3 of Unfit for Command. It is available from HumanEventsOnline.com. Kerry also made reference to Nixon on the Senate Floor in March 1986. The bottom line. Kerry wasn't in Cambodia. He was 55 miles away. He made the whole story up. Can't get any clearer than that.

187 posted on 08/08/2004 7:04:42 PM PDT by kabar
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To: kabar

This just came in my email -- cannot vouch for contents but it might add someplace to research:

I have done some interesting digging into the Kranish connection to
the Kerry campaign, including some of the stories which began the
sinking of Dean in 12/03. I have also looked at the very suspicious
interview with Elliott, as well as the Swift Boat Vets responses. As
you would expect, none of it makes the Kerry campaign, Kranish, or
the Globe look too good.

If you are interested, there are half a
dozen pieces posted at www.dinocrat.com

This is the most recent: http://www.dinocrat.com/index.php?p=373


188 posted on 08/08/2004 7:05:40 PM PDT by PhiKapMom (AOII Mom -- Oklahoma is Reagan Country and now Bush Country -- Win Another One for the Gipper!)
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To: pepperhead
Wonder if Tommy Franks still thinks Kerry is "absolutely" qualified to be commander in chief.

Some people aren't happy unless the person they don't like is denounced and condemned to the lowest pits of hell by one and all.

Franks is doing fine and if you think he supports Kerry you are flat out wrong.

189 posted on 08/08/2004 7:05:41 PM PDT by cyncooper ("We will fear no evil...And we will prevail")
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To: OXENinFLA

even claimed that Nixon ordered him in and Nixon was even the President then.


190 posted on 08/08/2004 7:06:35 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: Just mythoughts

Thank you!


191 posted on 08/08/2004 7:07:24 PM PDT by cyncooper ("We will fear no evil...And we will prevail")
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To: Steven W.

When did he say Nixon sent him? I have heard that, but haven't really followed this aspect of the story much.

If true......blockbuster stuff.


192 posted on 08/08/2004 7:07:53 PM PDT by rwfromkansas (BYPASS FORCED WEB REGISTRATION! **** http://www.bugmenot.com ****)
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To: cyncooper

Franks is trying to be amicable and sell books.

He;s a good man and doesn't want to get in this pissing contest....unlike me...lol

I have heard him criticize Kerry's anti-war rhetoric and the harm it caused.

Franks is a good Okie.


193 posted on 08/08/2004 7:08:08 PM PDT by wardaddy (Fox News has jumped the shark......God save Hannity)
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To: Steven W.

After Al Gore you'd think the Dems would learn their lesson about supporting candidates that so obviously lie.

Not that I'm complaining.


194 posted on 08/08/2004 7:08:44 PM PDT by Brytani (Stop, hey, what's that sound, it's just John Kerry flip-flopping around!!!)
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To: Soul Seeker

I agree with you 100%! When McCain talks though, I will be holding my breath!

These Swift Boat people need to be heard -- like they told McCain they knew Kerry then -- he didn't.


195 posted on 08/08/2004 7:08:56 PM PDT by PhiKapMom (AOII Mom -- Oklahoma is Reagan Country and now Bush Country -- Win Another One for the Gipper!)
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To: cyncooper
It is not and should not be confused with the Bush political campaign, either by Kerry supporters or handwringing Bush supporters who worry too much

Exactly! Thanks for posting that!

196 posted on 08/08/2004 7:11:20 PM PDT by PhiKapMom (AOII Mom -- Oklahoma is Reagan Country and now Bush Country -- Win Another One for the Gipper!)
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To: PhiKapMom

Thank you PKM!


197 posted on 08/08/2004 7:12:21 PM PDT by cyncooper ("We will fear no evil...And we will prevail")
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To: Soul Seeker
Slight correction: Long overdue "Thank You."
198 posted on 08/08/2004 7:12:37 PM PDT by Soul Seeker
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To: Cboldt

The nice thing about this part of his Vietnam "saga" is that we don't need SVFT to prove him wrong. We have his own account to the Senate and the Globe book saying he was in Cambodia, and his account in Brinkley's book says he was not. There are two types of vet who went on "secret missions." The ones who actually went on secret missions and don't talk about them and the ones who talk about them and are full of s#$t. Kerry is one step removed from Al Hubbard, his side kick from the VVAW that claimed to be a military pilot and turned out to be an enlisted man, never assigned to Vietnam


199 posted on 08/08/2004 7:12:57 PM PDT by USNBandit (Florida military absentee voter number 537.)
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To: rwfromkansas
When did he say Nixon sent him? I have heard that, but haven't really followed this aspect of the story much.

Just read back thru the thread a bit. He used Nixon's name in a discussion witha Globe reporter, and he referred to being in Cambodia on Christmas 1968 in a speech on the Senate floor in 1986. Post 8 in this thread has the relevant passage from the Congressional Record, and one of my messages has the passage he gave to the Globe (mentioning Nixon).

Careful to not get mired in details, the point is that Kerry made up the whole story, and repeated it on more than one occasion.

200 posted on 08/08/2004 7:14:30 PM PDT by Cboldt
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