is it real or a flipped photo?
My thought too but look at the Airman's uniform and US Air Force reads correctly
It's flipped. Kerry always hangs right and in the photo he is hanging left. ;-)
If the photo were flipped, the name tag would be over the soldier's other pocket.
To answer that question, you need the answer to another question:
Is the "US AIR FORCE" label on the other person's uniform in the right place? Does it belong above the left side pocket?
It's real. Check out the zipper on his coat.
The zipper on Kerry's coat is on the right side. I don't know if the pictures been worked over but it doesn't look to have been flipped.
That was my first thought too, but look at the details. The gentleman on the right is wearing fatigues and notice where the nametag is -- above the left breastpocket right where it belongs. If the picture were flipped, this would not be the case. Now look at kerry. Notice the way the shirt buttons. You can plainly see the buttons are on the right and the left side of the shirt closes over the buttons. This is the way ALL men's shirts button. If the pic were flipped, this would be obviously the other direction. (That's how you can tell the infamous tom dasshole "pledge allegience to the left" pic is doctored.) Also, not the zipper of kerry's jacket -- on the right side where it belongs. Therefore, the pic is not flipped. Now the question is: Is this a salute or is kerry in the process of picking his nose or scratching his brow or whatever? I don't know about that, but he is definitely standing there with his LEFT hand at his head in a pose that resembles a piss-poor bassackwards salute.
It's real. You can tell by Dufus' zipper on his coat and by the uniform's lapels and name tag.