By Julian Coman
Columbus, Ohio
September 6, 2004

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/09/...l?oneclick=true

(you have to register to receive this article, so I'm printing out the whole thing. I hate printing long articles so I apologize in advance)

The Pentagon has ordered an investigation into the awarding of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry's five Vietnam War decorations.

The highly unusual inquiry is to be carried out by the Inspector-General's Office of the US Navy. Senator Kerry served as a Swift boat captain for four months in 1968, serving two tours of duty in Vietnam.

He was wounded in action and awarded three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star.

But in the past month, details of his military service have become shrouded in a controversy that the navy has now decided warrants a full-blown search for the truth.

According to the group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, many of whom served in Vietnam during the same period, Senator Kerry exaggerated the significance of combat incidents and inaccurately reported the circumstances of his injuries, at least one of which was allegedly self-inflicted.

The accusations are repeated in the book Unfit to Command, which was published last month.

Last week the Kerry campaign attempted to leave the Vietnam debate behind, as signs appeared that the controversy was damaging Senator Kerry's standing in the polls.

But to the consternation of campaign strategists, the navy has agreed to a request by Judicial Watch, a bipartisan lobby group, for a full inquiry.

Judicial Watch wants the navy to report before the elections, but navy officials are so far refusing to give a timetable for the inquiry.

In an August letter to the Pentagon, group president Tom Fitton requested an inquiry into the "determination and final disposition of the awards granted to Lieutenant (junior grade) John Forbes Kerry, US Naval Reserve", in response to the Swift boat veterans' allegations.

Confirming the inquiry, a naval spokesman said: "It is the responsibility of all personnel to correct errors in official records."

Another official said privately: "There's a feeling that it's time to deal with this thoroughly, once and for all."

Among the records to be examined is a citation of Senator Kerry for bravery that was apparently signed by former navy secretary John Lehman and contributed to the awarding of his Silver Star.

The glowing citation states: "By his brave actions, bold initiative and unwavering devotion to duty, Lieutenant Kerry reflected great credit on himself."

But Mr Lehman denies all knowledge of the commendation. "It's a total mystery to me," he said last week. "I never saw it, I never signed it and I never approved it."

The inquiry will also investigate other reports and citations leading to the awarding of Senator Kerry's medals.

Mr Lehman endorsed the investigation, saying that the navy records needed to be "thoroughly researched and the facts established".

Mr Fitton said: "We hope this is the beginning of an actual investigation of the legitimacy of Senator Kerry's awards by the navy and the Pentagon."

In an angry statement from Kerry campaign headquarters, senior Kerry adviser Michael Meehan condemned the navy inquiry as an expensive waste of Pentagon resources.

"The facts are clear," Mr Meehan said. "The navy awarded John Kerry the Silver Star, a Bronze Star . . . and three Purple Hearts. This is a waste of taxpayers' dollars and the Pentagon's time, especially during wartime."

News of the inquiry came at the end of the worst week of Senator Kerry's campaign. The first opinion poll released since the end of the Republican Convention held in New York last week showed an 11-point lead by President George Bush.

To be published in this week's Time magazine, the opinion poll was taken during the first three days of the convention, which featured repeated attacks on Senator Kerry as an unreliable candidate to take on the role of commander-in-chief as Washington fights the war on terror.
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The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left. Ecclesiastes 10:2

Comments from those who've checked out Judicial Watch

Comments
I had a look at their site. There were lots of complaints against Democrats: Bill Clinton, Dick Gephardt, Sandy Berger, and others. No Republicans . . . none at all! Evidently, Republicans never do anything that causes concern to Judicial Watch.

These guys have a lot of nerve, calling themselves “nonpartisan.”


Posted by: Forrest at August 23, 2004 03:50 AM
Forrest : Agree with you 100%. If these guys are nonpartisan, so is MoveOn.org etc. That line does nothing for their credibility.

Posted by: aebrain at August 23, 2004 04:09 AM

There’s no better word for it: Fascism.

Thanks for reminding us about Sandy Burgler, we will hear more about him before this campaign is over. They oughta arrest him just before the election.

Oh, lamphun, stop whining!

If 5 medals in 3 months doesn't raise valid questions, i don't know what will. For Dems to deny the obvious deciet in this man shows how blind they are to the truth.