Enemy Combatant
Sunday, September 05, 2004
Swift Boat Inspectors-General For Partisan Hatchet-Jobs
Homeland Security may be suppressing the information domestically (who knows), but according to at least one Tory rag from across the pond (where journalists, right and left, still seem to cling to the quaint notion that their job is to "ferret out the news"), the Pentagon is launching an investigation into whether Kerry earned all his medals in Vietnam. The nugget of the story -- what looks to be the trigger for the investigation -- is this:
Among other records to be examined is a citation of Mr Kerry for bravery that was apparently signed by the former Navy Secretary, John Lehman, and contributed to the award of his silver star. The glowing citation states: "By his brave actions, bold initiative and unwavering devotion to duty, Lt 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 award of Mr Kerry's medals.
Gosh, Bush's chief hatchet man on the Kissinger -- er, Keane 9/11 Commission, suddenly has an attack of Alzheimer's over a commendation he made 35 years ago, and the Bush campaign gets to enlist the U.S. military into the Swift Boat Veterans' Kerry-Sniper Brigade? That's "changing the tone" in Washington, all right -- to a Stalinesque march.
Naturally, the American media, wishing to get to the bottom of this, will immediately begin peppering former Navy Secretary Lie-Man -- er, Lehman, about: (a) how many commendations did he, in fact, make, during the Vietnam Era; (b) what were their names, and individual circumstances; (c) how did it come about that he was asked, and agreed, to make each commendation; and (d) what records does he have to contradict the existing Pentagon records?
And naturally, the American media (and more importantly, the American *public*) will insist that, if an investigation like this goes forward in the last 60 days of an election, there *MUST* be a tandem, equally-vigorous investigation into Bush's military records, and that any reports on both must be announced in tandem, as well.
Right?
{sigh}
I'm not holding my breath.
