Here:
Some of the mystery surrounding exactly what happened on the Bay Hap River in March 1969 could be resolved by the full release of all relevant records and personal diaries. Much information is available from the Web sites of the Kerry campaign and Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, and the Navy archives. But both the Kerry and anti-Kerry camps continue to deny or ignore requests for other relevant documents, including Kerry's personal reminiscences (shared only with biographer Brinkley), the boat log of PCF-94 compiled by Medeiros (shared only with Brinkley) and the Chenoweth diary.
Although Kerry campaign officials insist that they have published Kerry's full military records on their Web site (with the exception of medical records shown briefly to reporters earlier this year), they have not permitted independent access to his original Navy records. A Freedom of Information Act request by The Post for Kerry's records produced six pages of information. A spokesman for the Navy Personnel Command, Mike McClellan, said he was not authorized to release the full file, which consists of at least a hundred pages.
or the Boston Globe:
Of note: The Globe has its flaws, but failing to pursue Kerry's military records is not one of them. Beginning in May 2003 the Globe sought, in writing and in person, all documents relating to Kerry's military service. Not satisfied with what was initially available, it asked Kerry to sign a Privacy Act waiver, which would have made public the records kept by the military. He refused. Separately, Globe reporter Michael Kranish combed the Naval archives.
"We've asked for everything again and again," says Kranish. The result of the Globe's research was published in two biographical efforts on Kerry -- a June 2003 series and a spring 2004 book. The Globe kept up the pressure, publishing in late April a story calling attention to unreleased records. That prompted the campaign to make public another round of documents.
"We have pursued both candidates' records with equal vigor . . . " says Globe Editor Martin Baron. "The book, series, and various stories were based on extensive research into Kerry's military records and an unrelenting pursuit of every record we could get our hands on." The Globe, he added, "gave in-depth, front-page treatment to questions surrounding Kerry's first Purple Heart in mid-April, well before other media. . ." All together, the military records obtained by the Globe have provided more detail than revelation about Kerry's service years. They confirmed the relatively minor nature of the wounds that won him Purple Hearts in Vietnam, and documented the acts of bravery that won him the Silver and Bronze stars.
The Kerry campaign says it has now released all relevant documents. Without Kerry's Privacy Act waiver, there's no way to confirm that. But if the Globe has not seen everything worth seeing, it's not for lack of trying.
What's the most laughable is how the Kerry campaign, in its Vietnam fixation, seems to believe that events of 30+ years ago are somehow more relevant than what is happening in the world today and what should happen in the future. For millions of voters, Vietnam is ancient history. You might as well be talking about World War I for all they care. It's a stupid campaign being ran by people heading for a wipeout.
Current Events » in reply to Concidering what is "real" to you I don't thinlk it much matters what Kerry says... And Kerry has 10 x as much data out there on his military record than Bush. Your point?
Tell that to the Washington Post
The whole thread (11 posts)
- My problem with argument about Intel for WMD...
- Lets take a trip down memory lane to 1998 and Operation Desert Fox
- re: Kerry was on the intel committee. Why didn't he warn Bush.
- Has Kerry come up with a real policy or released his military records? Didn't think so. (n/t)
- Concidering what is "real" to you I don't thinlk it much matters what Kerry says... And Kerry has 10 x as much data out there on his military record than Bush. Your point?
- re: Kerry is for education.
