The real aim of Kerry's constant references to his service in Vietnam some 35 years ago is to deflect attention from his lack of accomplishments during the last 19 years while he has been in the Senate. The Swiftboat Vets are pointing out that Kerry hasn't exactly been truthful with his descriptions of his time in Vietnam.

Kerry says he will improve health care. Fine. He should be able to point to specific things he has done in the Senate to improve health care. Are there any?

Kerry says he will strengthen the military. Fine. He should be able to point to specific things he has done in the Senate to strengthen the military. Are there any? (Some say his record is exactly the reverse).

Kerry says he will improve US intelligence services. Fine. He should be able to point to specific things he has done in the Senate to improve the intelligence agencies. Are there any, or is his poor attendance record for Senate Intelligence Committee (an oxymoron if there ever was one) an indication?

In short, for everything Kerry is saying he will do as President, he should be able to point to specific things he did while in the Senate that show how he has tried to improve these things. Instead, he has talked about his 4 months in Vietnam, some 35 years ago. Something tells me his list of accomplishments in the Senate must be mighty thin.

It's all well and good that John Kerry served in Vietnam some 35 years ago. If that's all he has in the way of accomplishments, then he hasn't done much with his life. There are over 2 million Vietnam vets in the US and many of them had much more distinguished service records than John Kerry. If combat service in Vietnam is his primary qualification for office, then I'm pretty sure there are a lot of people far more qualified than him for the job.