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Sunday, September 5, 2004
MISSION: IMPLAUSIBLE
Kerry biographer urging: Release military records
Brinkley warns Navy medals probe could be 'death knell' for
campaign
Posted: September 5, 2004
10:06 p.m.
Eastern
© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com
John Kerry's biographer today called on the presidential candidate to
release his military records and warned a Navy investigation into his
medals could prove to be the "death knell" of his campaign.
In the past, Kerry has said he could not release some documents because
of contractual obligations to Douglas Brinkley, author of "Tour of Duty."
Brinkley said he has no contractual claims to any of the papers.
"Clearly some of these military records should be made available to the
press," he said on Steve Malzberg's WABC New York radio show today.
Brinkley also said that if the Navy investigation reveals deception in
connection with Kerry's medals, it could be the "death knell" for Kerry's
campaign. Professing uncertainty about what to make about the Swift Boat
Vets' claims, Brinkley said: "Right now it's unclear. So we have to just
wait to see what all this adds up to."
"Is it sloppiness, is it purposeful intent, is there an easy
explanation for it?" Brinkley wondered.
The Pentagon ordered an official investigation into the awarding of
five Vietnam War decorations to the Massachusetts senator.
The London Telegraph says the inquiry is being carried out by the
inspector general's office of the U.S. Navy.
"It is the responsibility of all personnel to correct errors in
official records," a Navy spokesman told the paper. Another official said
privately: "There's a feeling that it's time to deal with this thoroughly,
once and for all."
As WorldNetDaily
reported last week, the Department of Defense informed Secretary of
the Navy Gordon R. England of a formal request to investigate alleged
military code violations in Sen. John Kerry's Silver Star award.
The request was made by the public-interest group Judicial Watch after news reports
revealed Kerry's campaign website displays a document listing a "Silver
Star with combat 'V'" even though the combat "V" device is never given
with the nation's third highest award for heroism.
Also, there are three citations for the award, with the third, issued
more than a decade after the event, bearing the signature of former Navy
Secretary John Lehman.
Lehman, however, says he had nothing to do with the citation.
"It is a total mystery to me," he told the Chicago Sun-Times. "I never
saw it. I never signed it. I never approved it. And the additional
language it contains was not written by me."
The Telegraph says Lehman endorses the investigation of Kerry's awards,
stating the relevant records need to be "thoroughly researched and the
facts established."
Kerry's campaign is firing back, calling the Navy probe an expensive
waste.
"The facts are clear," Kerry adviser Michael Meehan told the Telegraph.
"The Navy awarded John Kerry the Silver Star, a Bronze Star with Combat V
and three Purple Hearts. This is a waste of taxpayers' dollars and the
Pentagon's time, especially during wartime."
Though Judicial Watch is hoping for a report before the Nov. 2
presidential election, the Navy thus far is remaining silent on any
timetable.
Jerome Corsi, author of "Unfit
for Command," the New York Times No. 1 best-seller by Swiftboat Veterans for Truth, told
WorldNetDaily he considers the Judicial Watch complaint "an important and
serious investigation."
"We believe the secretary of the Navy will validate the charges we've
made in 'Unfit for Command,'" he said.
In a letter responding to Judicial Watch's complaint, the inspector
general of the Defense Department, John R. Crane, cited Section 8(d) of
the Inspector General Act of 1978, which states "the IG of the Department
of Defense shall expeditiously report suspected or alleged violations of
chapter 47 of title 10, United States Code (Uniform Code of Military
Justice), to the Secretary of the military department concerned or the
Secretary of Defense."
Related offers:
"Unfit
for Command: Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out Against John Kerry"
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slashed! "The Many Faces of John Kerry"
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White
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Vets:
Kerry lied to get Silver Star
Kerry's
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