AWOL Bush issue is alive w/ data -not proven a lie - so fight the media!

[papau]

Bush was honorably discharged without ever being officially accused of desertion or being away without official leave. True

Nice to have a rich powerful dad.

But when did the game become that truth is defined by if you did not get charged, it never happened!

The facts are easy to show - so why is W and the media hiding them? Or is the Media using a Bush spokeperson's word - and only that word - as a way to put down Dems and Vet's in general that believe Bush to be a deserter?

There is no record of Bush attending required Air National Guard drills for a full year in 1972-73, or if the Times and Post and George Mag did see such records, it should not be hard to show the public from the media photo copies - Right National Media?

Bush says he missed some weekend drills during the period in question, but attended others and later attended extra drills to make up for those he missed.

The Globe also said that those that trained with him said that period between the end of his flight training and his move to Alabama, Bush logged numerous hours of duty, well above the minimum requirements for so-called "weekend warriors."

But can you bank hours this year to cover next year ??? Folks, you can't - sothen what the hell is this all about??

Bush with two years still to run on his six-year commitment gave giving up flying for good in 1972, moved from Houston to Alabama in May of 1972, and was supposed to report to the 187th Tactical Recon Group in Montgomery Alabama, but the unit’s commander, retired Gen. William Turnipseed, says he had no recollection of Bush showing up. "I had been in Texas, done my flight training there. If we had had a first lieutenant from Texas, I would have remembered," the Globe quoted him saying.

So the ABC News organization finds the Bush spokesman's (Dan Bartlett) claim that Bush did non-flying duty, performing “odds and ends” under supervisors whose names he could not recall, credible?!

Bush says "I made up some missed weekends." - but golly gee there are no records that show that!

So ABC NEWS is OK with the former Republican county chairman memory that "It was pretty well-known that he was in the Guard while we worked on the campaign." ( which does not say he was not AWOL at that time), and a girl friend, Emily Martin, recalling that George mentioned that "He told us that he was having to do his Guard duty in Alabama while he worked on the campaign."

Of course Bush Spokesman Bartlett said that in Houston in May, June and July of 1973 Bush made up for weekend drills he was too busy to attend in Alabama = but - alas - there are no records!

Then they say Bush requested and was granted special permission to end his six-year hitch early (but do not tell you the out date requested was May 1973), and that he was released in October 1973 (a 6 month punishment - for what?).

George Magazine was told and reported in October of 2000 that he did accumulate the days of service required of him for his ultimate honorable discharge - but - sorry folks - folks at George just can't find a copy of the record of the accumation of days.

And the New York Times found, and reported Nov. 3, 2000 that while there was a 7 month unauthorized gap (AWOL), after that gap he appeared for duty in late November 1972 at least through July 1973 - but again we can not find records - and although both the Times and the Washington Post are willing to assert they reviewed the records - seems they just forgot to make copies that they can show us.

Michael Moore, in his bestselling book Stupid White Men, included an open letter to President Bush calling him "a possible felon, an unconvicted deserter, and a crybaby."

Moore. and AWOLBUSH, and Bob Fertik's "George Magazine is Wrong" article at this site have it correct - until and only if someone comes up with copies of those records that the Times and the Post "reviewed" will any honest media say that Bush was not AWOL.

THIS MUST BE AN ISSUE IN 04.

Walter V. Robinson “One-year gap in Bush’s Guard duty : No records of airman at drills in 1972-73,” Boston Globe 23 May 2000: A1.

Wayne Slater "Records of Bush's Ala. Military Service Can't Be Found," Dallas Morning News 26 June 2000: A6.

The Associated Press "Friends from Alabama days back Bush's military claims," Houston Chronicle 5 July 2000: A17.

Peter Keating and Karthik Thyagarajan “The Real Military Record of George W. Bush: Not Heroic, but Not AWOL, Either ,” George Magazine October 2000.

Jo Thomas “The 2000 Campaign: Military Service; Bush’s Guard attendance is Questioned and Defended,” New York Times 3 Nov. 2000: A27.

Bob Fertik “George Magazine is Wrong,” Democrats.com website, no date given.

George Lardner Jr.; Howard Kurtz “2 Democrats: Bush Let Guard Down; Gore Surrogates Revive Issue of Apparent Laxity in Candidate's Military Service,” The Washington Post 3 Nov. 2000 : A22.

[StClone]

1. Deserter vs AWOL

Bush was not a Deserter: he was an AWOL! Well not really, several posters noted that in a time of war (Vietnam) even if you were in the National Guard after being AWOL for a length of time you are considered a deserter. Is this true, who knows.

[papau]

2. Korea "points toward discharge" was controlled by an E-5!

A friend had that duty in Korean War - laughed about how if someone pissed him off he would lose the record of a few months of service (points was the term he used) - but for a few dollars more he would add points.

I would just like to see the paper work on Bush - hell - even if doctored up that paperwork should exist.

The fact that Bush has not made it public gives one the "Bush Texas driving lic #" feeling that something is covered up (Bush remains the only person that the press has found that has gotton by the Texas law that all law breaking berecorded on your drivers lic - Bush had his drivers lic re-issued under a new number that begins the law breaking record at the re-issue date - thereby losing what was no doubt an interesting history).

[papau]

3. Memory lapse - points were to leave Korea - not discharge

Man - I hate getting old!

:-)

[papau]

4. misleader.org posts at its site copies of Bush military paperwork

Despite Mr. Jennings characterization, the facts relating to the president's
military service, beginning in 1968, and abruptly ending in 1972 -- two
years prior to his six-year commitment -- are not at all clear.

* Investigative reporters with the Boston Globe looked into Bush's
service during the 2000 presidential campaign, in an article that appeared
on July 28th.

* A retired member of the Air National Guard has obtained several memos
and official letters regarding Mr. Bush's military service, and provided an
analysis of whether the president "did the duty necessary," as he
maintains.

* A scanned copy of President Bush's request to be transferred to an
inactive postal Reserve unit in Alabama (he requested the transfer to work
on a U.S. Senate campaign) can be viewed here:
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1338421&l=15658

* A scanned copy of the denial of Bush's transfer order can be viewed
here: http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1338421&l=15659

* A scanned copy of the memo confirming Bush's suspension from the Air
National guard for "failure to accomplish annual medical examination can be
viewed here: http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1338421&l=15660

* The full analysis can be viewed here:
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1338421&l=15661

[Mecil]

5. Great stuff

Thanks for the links Papau.

Never knew Bush had a BA in history (seen from the first link), he sure doesn't give off the impression of having that.

[Poseidon]

6. Of course it's true

Bush got out of Vietnam and let others die in his place. If he had opposed the war, that's fine, I understand. But Bush's family members were vocal supporters of the war, and that makes me sick!

[reprehensor]

7. Bush’s War Stories Simply Don’t Fly - Joe Conason

http://www2.observer.com/observer/pages/conason.asp

George W. Bush lied about his military service record. The lie can be found in his own 1999 campaign autobiography (as written by Karen Hughes), where he dramatically describes his experience as a pilot in the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War.

On page 34 of A Charge to Keep, Mr. Bush claims that, after learning to fly the F-102 fighter jet, he was turned down for Vietnam duty because "had not logged enough flight hours" to qualify for a combat assignment. Before going on to recall the "challenging moments" that involved close formation drills at night during poor weather, he adds: "I continued flying with my unit for the next several years."

In light of what journalists and other researchers have learned since the publication of Mr. Bush’s book, his account is unmistakably fraudulent.

The issue is again relevant because Michael Moore, the author and filmmaker who supports Wesley Clark’s Presidential campaign, recently impugned the President as a "deserter." During the final Democratic Presidential debate in New Hampshire, moderator Peter Jennings called Mr. Moore’s statement "a reckless charge not supported by the facts," and demanded that General Clark repudiate his celebrity backer.

More at link.