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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JDN who wrote (600597)	8/6/2004 9:01:56 AM
From: Andrew N. Cothran	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 769670

MEDAL MUDDLE: Kerry's Fake Awards or the War Over Truth By DEBORAH ORIN New York Post, WAR OVER TRUTH: John Kerry, decorated in '69, is accused in a new book of getting a "fake award." August 6, 2004 -- WASHINGTON — John Kerry got his first Purple Heart fraudulently for a minor wound in Vietnam at a time when he faced no enemy fire, according to a bombshell upcoming book by anti-Kerry Vietnam vets. Questions have been raised before about Kerry's Purple Heart, but the new book, "Unfit for Command," provides new witnesses and new details to contend that it was a "faked award" rather than the result of Kerry's heroic action. The book also accuses Kerry of fabricating his often-repeated claim that he was sent to Cambodia on Christmas Eve 1968 in violation of President Nixon's assurances that there was no combat in Cambodia. "Even without minimal investigation, a critical press should have been able to spot the story as a total fabrication. Richard Nixon did not become president of the United States until 26 days [later]," the book notes. The book is part of an escalating anti-Kerry attack by hundreds of Navy Vietnam vets who formed a group called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and just launched their own tough TV ad painting Kerry as a cowardly liar. Kerry cites his four months of Vietnam service as the heart of his White House bid, buttressed by 13 crewmates. But the anti-Kerry vets are seeking to undermine his claim to be a war hero and thus undermine his campaign. "Unfit for Command," published by Regnery, is due out Aug. 15 with an Aug. 17 news conference by the anti-Kerry vets. One chapter was released yesterday by conservative Human Events magazine, part of the same company as Regnery. Kerry spokesman Chad Clanton declined to address specific points, but said the critics "have a partisan political agenda" and are "financed by Bush allies in Texas . . . It's wrong for others to try and smear an American war hero." The book alleges that a normal Vietnam tour was at least 12 months, but Kerry came in as a "Purple Heart hunter" eager to have three wounds in the record time of four months so he could use "an obscure rule" to escape Vietnam. A Purple Heart is supposed to be granted only for a wound that requires medical attention suffered during an engagement with the enemy. The book says Kerry got his first Purple Heart on Dec. 2, 1968, but crewmates, his commander and a Navy doctor who treated him say it was a tiny injury — a ricochet off a grenade that Kerry fired too close into a rock. William Schachte, the officer commanding that mission, "berated Kerry for almost putting someone's eye out. There was no hostile fire of any kind," the book says. Kerry's wound was so minor that in sick bay, Navy Dr. Louis Letson asked him, "Why are you here?" and used tweezers to take out a 1- or 2-centimeter metal fragment that barely stuck into his skin. The Kerry camp has previously challenged Letson's account by noting that another medic signed the sick-bay report. Letson says both of them were on duty. Kerry's commander, Grant Hibbard, is quoted as saying that Kerry came to see him the next day to seek a Purple Heart, but "I told Kerry to 'forget it.' " Asked how Kerry got a Purple Heart, Hibbard replied, "It beats me." Later that month, was ordered to more dangerous duty on inland waterways at a place called An Thoi but fellow Swift Boat veterans say he loudly bellyached until he got transferred out within a week, showing that he had "very little nerve for facing serious combat." The book quotes fellow Swiftee William Franke as saying Kerry complained that he "had volunteered only for coastal patrol and not for the far more hazardous duty of missions within the inland waterway." The book, by Vietnam vet John O'Neill who served with Kerry, adds: "What [Kerry's] fellow Swiftees concluded was that Kerry had a very high regard for his own wellbeing and very little nerve for facing serious combat."

To: JDN who wrote (600597)	8/6/2004 3:34:01 PM
From: Karin	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 769670

Un-American At a recently held reception in Massachusetts, Mrs. Teresa Kerry stated "We need to turn back some of the...un-American traits that are coming into some of our politics." When questioned further on her meaning of un-American, Mrs. Kerry denied she had used that term, and ultimately told an inquisitive reporter to "shove it". Since Mrs. Kerry seems so unwilling to acknowledge her statement and define the meaning of it, I will do it for her. Someone is un-American when, during a time of war, they not only oppose the efforts of the current administration, but they actively campaign against it, empowering our enemies and weakening our resolve. John Kerry has done this not once, but twice. His tour to Vietnam in the '60's was overshadowed by his anti-war protests: protests that came at a time when victory was within our reach and our POW's (like Mc Cain) were being brutalized and murdered by the North Vietnamese, who had found new strength through the anti-war movement here in the States. The recent conflict in Iraq gave Mr. Kerry an opportunity to redeem himself. Initially he did the right thing in supporting the war. Then, true to his character (or lack of it), he reversed himself and became a shill for the new anti-war movement in this Country. Mr. Kerry aligned himself with our sunshine allies (France, Germany and Russia), against our country and the current administration. Once again, he empowers our enemies and does his best to weaken our resolve in this war. The positives are overlooked and the negatives are blown out of proportion. Terrorist activity is encouraged, as the brutal deaths of Nick Berg and Paul Johnson have demonstrated. This my friend is un-American. It is also un-American to decry the loss of American jobs to overseas manufacturers, when your wife's company has exported 70% of it's manufacturing jobs. It is un-American (and hypocritical) to campaign for the poor, the downtrodden, the "just getting by" when you live in the very lap of luxury and cannot even bring yourself to admit that you (not your family) own a SUV. It is un-American to claim that you support our troops while working to cut their funding! In essence, since John Kerry fits the bill on each of these, he is un-American. And now you know, why Mrs. Kerry was so quick to acnoledge it - and then having to expound on it - she would have had to criticize her husband for activities that are unquestionably un-American. It's not difficult to define what being un-American is; it can be summed up in two words: John Kerry. Finally, it is un-American for someone who is un-American to seek the Presidency of the United States. Such an important and critical job can not be given to one who does not deserve it. I suggest that when Mr. Kerry asks you for your vote, you take a line from his wife and tell him to "shove it"!