Rising Hegemon
As recently as his interview with Russert earlier this year, Bush has been saying things about his service that are flatly contradicted by records. The written records clearly show that time after time; Bush violated direct orders, such as 8/1/02 being ordered to take a physical, or upon going off to Harvard to failing report to a Massachusettes Guard Unit as promised.
As Eric Boehlert notes in Salon, they reflect a man who not only was able to capitalize on political connections and powerful friends to avoid service in the regular military, but also was able to pull strings to avoid any real consequence (until now perhaps) of not even meeting the minimal requirements of National Guard Service.
On Oct. 1, 1973, Bush received an honorable discharge from the Texas Air National Guard in order to move to Boston and attend the Harvard Business School, where he was still obligated to find a unit in Massachusetts to fulfill his remaining nine months of duty, or face being placed on active duty. Once again, Bush made no such effort. But the Air Force in Denver, acting retroactively, in effect overturned Bush's honorable discharge and placed him on "Inactive Status" effective Sept. 15, 1973. When Bush left Texas, his personnel file was sent to Denver for review. The ARPC quickly realized Bush had failed to take a required physical exam, his Texas superior could not account for his whereabouts covering nearly a 12-month period, and due to absenteeism Bush had failed to "satisfactorily participate" as a member of the Texas Air National Guard. Bush's "Inactive Status" meant his relationship with the Air Force (and the Guard) was severed and he was therefore eligible for the draft.
Soon afterward, large gaps began appearing in Bush's paper trail. Lukasiak concludes that only last-minute intervention, likely from Bush's local Houston draft board, saved him from active duty, as well as finally securing his honorable discharge, removing his "Inactive Status." Ironically, that means strings were pulled to get Bush out of the Guard in 1973, just as they were pulled to get him enrolled in 1968.
Meanwhile, as uber Josh Marshall points out, the only person capable of carrying water for Bush in saying "I saw him in Alabama", John (what no "C".?) Calhoun. Like his namesake undoubtedly would be, a dyed-in-the-wool Republican. Just like the Swift Boat Liars, Mr. Calhoun is shown to be, well, erroneous on the record about his defense. In other words it is no defense at all.
The dates Calhoun said he saw Bush at the air base do not correspond with the dates on payroll records released by the White House this week to show that Bush attended training in Alabama. The White House could offer no explanation Friday.
Damn that contemporaneous documentary evidence, the truth and facts are really buggering up "re-lose and still win 2004".
Bush has been lying about his National Guard service for years. The White House, undoubtedly on his orders, has been lying about what records they have for several months. Before that, the same methods were used when Bush was Governor of Texas, or a candidate for either office.
The contemporaneous documents show deceitfulness, and certainly the manner in which they have handled the records indicates a coverup.
I'm sure conservatives will start screaming about Kerry's medical records or his diaries again any minute now...or maybe they will just wait until October...but Bush has constantly lied about actual documents, parsed out only most begrudgingly and in violation of FOIA.
I know that a few months ago there was an allegation of Bush's records being cleaned out when he was governor. If anybody remembers that send it to me and I promise to do something on it and make it suitably snarky.
No comments:
Post a Comment