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
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