This latest AP story demonstrates that the Navy has military records for John Kerry that have not been disclosed. John Kerry promised to fully disclose his military records in an appearance with Tim Russert, and claims that he has fulfilled that pledge. However, he has refused to sign the Form 180 authorizing the Navy to release files protected by his privacy rights so that his claim can be independently verified. We now have compelling new evidence that his file has not been fully disclosed.
The story in question is titled "Navy Says Kerry's Service Awards OK'd", and tells us this:
WASHINGTON Sept. 17, 2004 — The Navy's chief investigator concluded Friday that procedures were followed properly in the approval of Sen. John Kerry's Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals, according to an internal Navy memo.
Vice Adm. R.A. Route, the Navy inspector general, conducted the review of Kerry's Vietnam-ear military service awards at the request of Judicial Watch, a public interest group. The group has also asked for the release of additional records documenting the Democratic presidential candidate's military service.
..."Our examination found that existing documentation regarding the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals indicates the awards approval process was properly followed," Route wrote in the memo sent Friday to Navy Secretary Gordon England.
"In particular, the senior officers who awarded the medals were properly delegated authority to do so. In addition, we found that they correctly followed the procedures in place at the time for approving these awards."
Do tell. Let us reflect upon Kerry's first Purple Heart for a moment - areas of controversy include a question of who approved the application (Kerry's CO at the time of the incident says he did not), and the contents of the eyewitness statement. Both the approval of a superior officer and an eyewitness statement would be part of a normal Purple Heart application, as explained by Newhouse News.
Well, this latest announcement tells us that the documentation for the medals was in place and acceptable. It does not say that no paperwork could be found for the first Purple Heart other than the notification letter and the citation itself, yet that is all we see at Kerry's website.
For this announcement to make any sense at all the Navy must have looked at a more complete file, which has not yet been publicly disclosed. Why can't we see it, too?
We know Kerry has not fulfilled his pledge. The media is diligently seeking court orders forcing the Pentagon to redouble their efforts to track down Bush's military records. This is possible because Bush has waived his privacy rights and ordered everything to be disclosed. Meanwhile, the Kerry campaign stonewalls - both the Washington Post and Judicial Watch, having filed FOIA requests, have been denied access to documents in the Navy's possession because of Kerry's privacy rights.
We know the Kerry people are holding stuff back. We know it could be damaging to Kerry. And the media is silent. I believe it, but I don't believe it.
And it is worthh noting - Don Imus asked Kerry about this recently, the Corner commented on this yesterday,the WaPo has been involved with this - there is no doubt that the lying, crooked Republican Attack Machine is aware of Kerry's disclosure problems, with his medical records, his wife's tax returns, and his military records.
My guess - this disclosure puzzle isa pie on the windowsill for Karl Rove, there when he wants it. If Bush stumbles in the polls, or has a slip in the debates - even if Karl simply wants to roll up the score - he will encourage Dick Cheney to bring this into the news at every stump speech. It will be an October non-surprise.
MORE: Excerpt from Newhouse News Service description of the Purple Heart application process below:
Purple Hearts, lesser awards given for wounds received under fire, are even more subjective. Anyone can fill in the paperwork and forward it to a supervisor, who checks it and sends it up to an "approving authority." This may be a battalion commander, ship's commanding officer, or a medical officer in a combat hospital.
Army regulations specify that medals must not be given for such "wounds" as frostbite, battle fatigue, accidents or food poisoning (unless "caused by enemy agent"). Purple Heart citations "should be" supported by eyewitness statements.
Who signed off on it, John? Who prepared the eyewitness statement? What did it say?
And for the truly committed, one wonders what might be in Kerry's war diary for December 2 - Douglas Brinkley did not make reference to the diary in recounting the events of what Kerry called his most froghtening night in Vietnam. His first combat, his first Purple Heart, and Kerry wrote nothing? Puzzling. We would all like to see it.
You all just cant stop lying
story said nothing about missing paperwork
Posted by: bskiller | September 19, 2004 at 12:52 AM
"story said nothing about missing paperwork"
On the contrary, it said all the pertinent paperwork was present . . . in the file. But key documents were not among those released to public scrutiny by the Kerry campaign. Gee, I wonder why?
Posted by: Cecil Turner | September 19, 2004 at 01:05 AM