I've gotten some emails challenging my earlier claim that I don't think there is any credibility to the claims of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. That statement refers to their efforts to undermine Kerry's medals. Yes, the SBVT'ers have pointed to some inconsistencies in the various accounts, but given the fog of war and the passage of 30 years, this is to be expected and none of these inconsistencies has done anything to undermine Kerry's record. Also, the awarding of medals is a sometimes arbitrary process. Some receive them for little reason, while others who display greater bravery or leadership, do not. Is John Kerry the Sargeant York or Audie Murphy of the Mekong? No. But his medals are clearly justified given the testimony of the men on his boat and by the official Navy records.
I do, however, think that Kerry can be challenged on his statements after coming home from Vietnam. At the time, Kerry publicly advocated a particular course of action and made predictions about what would happen if that action were taken. I see no problem in holding public figures accountable for the statements they make, even after 30 years. On the other hand, what people don't say should also be scrutinized. For good or for ill, John Kerry was speaking out and attempting to influence policy on the most pressing public issue of the day. What was George Bush doing?
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2 comments:
Palooka seems to really have a thing for Cambodia. Has there ever been an official recognition that we sent troops there?
It is not relevant whether Kerry lied/falsified his military records. Why? BECAUSE IT'S NOT TRUE. The ONLY verifiable claim that the SBVT have put out there is that they all were once in a picture with John Kerry.
Get off your soapbox. Join us here in the real world were the truth is relevant and your La Rouche like conspiracy theories that John Kerry was a 24 year old evil genius are bollocks. If you want to beat him, beat him on substance. Don't mug him and then call it a victory.
2) Not one of Kerry's crewmates, even his supporters, ever attests to being in Cambodia.You must have missed the Nixon tape in which Paul O'Neill, the liar who's the source of the smear on this point, attests in conversation with Richard Nixon to being in Cambodia on a Swift boat. Now, O'Neill wasn't, admittedly, a crewmate of Kerry's, but considering that the only basis for the accusation that Kerry is a liar on this point is O'Neill's claim that he knew, as a Swift boat commander immediately following Kerry, that the Swift boats never entered Cambodia, his contemporaneous contrary testimony is relevant -- to say the least.
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