Their idiotic program showed Kerry to be a Liar if you believe its content. If you don't it showed ABC to be biased AND incompetent. Koppel is really stupid and O'Neill made that clear.
All in all a great show. Let's have some more Ted.
Posted on 10/15/2004 4:59:25 AM PDT by 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."
'Nuff said.
Of course. Koppel took his crew all the way to Vietnam when all Nightline had to do was 'go to the videotape'.
Too bad O'Neil didn't mention that - a 'twofer' slam.
BUMP
SBVT bump
Isn't today the day? (Oct 15)
I've spent a lot of time in contemporary Vietnam, and I can assure you that Nightline went to the Delta with the full accompaniment of Communist Party translators, spies, and minders.
That is the way Hanoi works. Even today.
The Nightline press release on the topic - that first Hanoi said "no interviews" then "oh, OK, go right ahead and interview the locals" - is so transparently false that it's right up their with a Dan Rather statement. To wit, not plausible.
I thought it was a cousin. I saw it on a few threads, however I don't remember the particulars.
Yeah, it figures the last thing these totalitarians would do is allow foreigners unfettered access to anything or any one.
No. They are not. Western news organizations must be registered in Hanoi. While resident journos are pretty much left alone, the presence and request of Nightline to visit the Delta would be a red flag to the Hanoi gov.
And, would the Vietnamese government allow these villagers to say anything that contradicted their American hero, John Kerry?
I suspect not. And it's not like they'd have any difficulty convincing the villagers to be compliant.
O'Neill had him on the run as soon as he opened his fat mouth. What a moron.
bttt
Sounds like it might worth spending $4.95 to get ABC News On Demand, which might have the archive from last night.
Wow! O'neill made him look terrible.
"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."
John O'Neill
It sure got my attention
O'Neill would not say something he couldn't back up
Hmmmmmmmm
Ted Koppel, you condescending, arrogant little POS.
I hope there's more than one October surprise to help bring down JfnK.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.