Text 1817, 109 rader
Skriven 2004-09-06 10:20:56 av John Hull (1:379/1.99)
Ärende: Kerry "Death Knell"?
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The Navy Department has begun a full scale investigation into the Kerry medal
situation, in light of the statements by John Lehman and at the request of
Judicial Watch.  This is not good for Kerry, and there is even the potential
for criminal charges depending on the outcome.


MISSION: IMPLAUSIBLE
Kerry biographer urging: Release military records
Brinkley warns Navy medals probe could be 'death knell' for campaign

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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. 

[Note: Initial reports from Judicial Watch only mentioned the Silver Star with
Combat 'V'.  Apparently, the DOD has decided to check ALL the medal citations!]

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." 



John 

America:  First, Last, and Always!
Go to www.madgorilla.us for all your Domain Name Services at the lowest rates.

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