Media believes Kerry over vets

The Herald ran a story by the Associated Press on Aug. 26 under the headline, “Navy Report Supports Kerry Claims.” Three points are made in that story: 1. The article claims an official Navy report supports John Kerry’s claim that his boat came under fire on March 13, 1969 while on patrol with other swift boats; 2. The article maintains the “anti-Kerry group has not produced any official Navy documents supporting its claim;” and, finally, 3. The veterans are basically smear artists put up to it by George Bush.

Regarding the official Navy report issued by Task Force 115 vindicating Kerry and contradicting the veterans, it must be born in mind the only basis of the report is Kerry’s own operations report. It could hardly be otherwise, since the other four swift boat commanders deny there ever was a firefight and say Kerry’s report is false. The reason contrary official Navy documents will never be found is simple: No swift boat commander would ever issue a report that said that nothing happened, that no firefight occurred.

So, the issue is why does the AP choose to believe Kerry over the other four officers who say otherwise? Finally, regarding the charge of the veterans being mere shills for George Bush, consider this: Their animosity goes back to April 22, 1971, when Kerry accused his fellow officers of war crimes without proof before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. It is Kerry’s dishonorable behavior toward his fellow war veterans, not Bush, which motivates them.

Finally, when is Kerry going to execute Standard Form 180 releasing his naval reserve records for public scrutiny, as he demanded of Bush last winter, thus answering with facts the swift boat officers’ accusations, instead of smearing them through the AP?

Charles Wikman

Granite Falls

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

toon
Editorial cartoons for Saturday, Feb. 8

A sketechy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

bar graph, pie chart and diagrams isolated on white, 3d illustration
Editorial: Don’t let state’s budget numbers intimidate you

With budget discussions starting soon, a new website explains the basics of state’s budget crisis.

Comment: Democracy depends on support of local journalism

A state bill provides funding to support local news outlets through a modest tax on tech businesses.

Comment: Love is intoxicating; romance doesn’t have to be

Navigating sobriety while dating, with Valentine’s Day coming up, is possible and fulfilling.

Comment: State attempt at single-payer health care bound to fail

Other states have tried, but balked when confronted with the immense cost to state taxpayers.

Forum: Requiem for a lost heavyweight: Sports Illustrated

SI, with Time and NatGeo, were a holy trinity for me and my dad. Now, it’s a world of AI clickbait.

Forum: Political leaders should leave trash talk to ballplayers

Verbal intimidation is one thing on the basketball court; it shouldn’t have a place in our politics.

The Buzz: Why, no, we have complete trust in Elon Musk

But whatever he and Trump are doing to the country, could they please wish it into the cornfield?

Curtains act as doors for a handful of classrooms at Glenwood Elementary on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Schools’ building needs point to election reform

Construction funding requests in Arlington and Lake Stevens show need for a change to bond elections.

FILE- In this Nov. 14, 2017, file photo Jaìme Ceja operates a forklift while loading boxes of Red Delicious apples on to a trailer during his shift in an orchard in Tieton, Wash. Cherry and apple growers in Washington state are worried their exports to China will be hurt by a trade war that escalated on Monday when that country raised import duties on a $3 billion list of products. (Shawn Gust/Yakima Herald-Republic via AP, File)
Editorial: Trade war would harm state’s consumers, jobs

Trump’s threat of tariffs to win non-trade concessions complicates talks, says a state trade advocate.

A press operator grabs a Herald newspaper to check over as the papers roll off the press in March 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald file photo)
Editorial: Push back news desert with journalism support

A bill in the state Senate would tax big tech to support a hiring fund for local news outlets.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Friday, Feb. 7

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.