SwiftVets.com

[Beatrice1000]

SwiftVets/veterans called to duty once again. I heard on TV last night someone say "both the dems and the republs are scared to death of 'these guys'." What is that all about??

I am a sister of a Nam vet and lived through those times and the aftermath.. I am appalled at the negative media on this issue and boiling mad. I asked C-Span to re-air the video of the Cavett Show debate where O'Neill challenges Kerry and the audio of Kerry's 1971 testimony - but they won't and "have no plans to." (Said NBC has the video rights and to see them about it...)

I put together a quick list of simple, basic information that I've emailed to TV shows and various people - I tried to make it short, but was unable to contain myself from including some personal "editorial comments." I'm just including this here to encourage people to bombard everyone with emails and demand these vets be allowed to be heard -- and to bring to the media and the public's (& politicians!) attention that they must stop insulting these guys and accusing them of all sorts of ridiculous things without knowing ANY of the facts. [What I hear over & over is that "this group" is a Bush group, a Karl Rove plan to attack Kerry, and I can't stand it anymore.]

‘HOW CAN YOU ASK A MAN TO BE THE LAST MAN’ TO KEEP SILENT AND LIVE WITH THE ACCUSATIONS OF WAR CRIMES AND DISHONORABLE SERVICE PLACED UPON HIM BY A FELLOW SOLDIER?

Anyway, here's a sample of things that I think these media folk should read before they shoot their mouths off:

DUE DILIGENCE:

Five items below suggested as beginning research to get backround information on WHO the Swift Boat Veterans For Truth are and WHY they have come forward at this time to speak out against John Kerry’s campaign for president:

1· Listen to AUDIO --or read the transcript of:
Kerry’s 1971 testimony before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
(regarding Kerry’s movement against the war and his charges against our military)
TRANSCRIPT LINK: http://www.c-span.org/vote2004/jkerrytestimony.asp

2· Read Transcript of: Dick Cavett Show 1971 Debate between John O’Neill and John Kerry. (Video is held by NBC)
(regarding O’Neill’s challenge to Kerry for his charges against US military)
LINK: http://www.seanrobins.com/kerry/kerry_1971_06_30_Dick_Cavett.htm

3· Watch video on C-Span of:
Swift Boat Veterans For Truth -- Press Conference 5/4/04
(explains who the SwiftVets are, what they think & where they stand)
LINK: (after reaching link, click on the Press Conference video)
http://www.c-span.org/Search/basic.asp?ResultStart=1&ResultCount=10&BasicQueryText=swift+Boat+Veterans+Press+Conference

4· Read John O’Neill’s new book: “Unfit For Command”

5· Go to the Swift Boat Vets website and get the facts: http://swiftvets.com/_____________________________________

COMMENT:
John Kerry portrays himself as a Vietnam hero in 2004, surrounding himself with his “band of brothers” in Boston Harbor at the Democratic Convention: [PHOTO] [Photo is in email/not incl. here - I don't now how to do it!]

In 1971 he condemned all military personnel as war criminals in Vietnam and threw away (or pretended to throw away) his medals at a peace march in Washington, DC.

Kerry’s memories of the event: (photo of medal toss not found):

1971: "I gave back, I can't remember, six, seven, eight, nine medals," Kerry said in an interview on a Washington, D.C., news program on WRC-TV called Viewpoints on Nov. 6, 1971, according to a tape obtained by ABCNEWS. Kerry was asked if he gave back the Bronze Star, Silver Star and three Purple Hearts he was awarded for combat duty as a Navy lieutenant in Vietnam. "Well, and above that, gave back the others," he said.

1996: Kerry said while he did throw out his ribbons, he didn't throw out his own medals because he "didn't have time to go home [to New York] and get them," he told The Boston Globe.

April 2004: Kerry's most recent claims on the disputed subject: "I never ever implied that I did it, " Kerry told the Los Angeles Times, responding to the question of whether he threw away his medals in protest.
____________________________________________________

[i]AN AMERICAN CITIZEN’S QUESTION TO MR KERRY: YOU WERE NOT ABLE TO STAND BY YOUR SOLDIERS-AT-ARMS IN 1971, ARE YOU CAPABLE OF BEING TRUE TO ANY FRIENDS?

4/21/71: HERE’S KERRY WITH HIS NEW FRIEND, TEDDY KENNEDY, AT A PROTEST: [PHOTO - anti-war march/Washington]

We can see the answer to the above question: Kerry has remained true to a friend: [PHOTO - 2004: Teddy campaigning for Kerry.]

AN AMERICAN CITIZEN’S QUESTIONS TO MR KERRY IN HIS BID FOR COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES:

‘WHAT DOES IT MEAN’ WHEN A MAN CHANGES THE TRUTH OF HIS PAST?

‘WHAT DOES IT MEAN’ WHEN YOU ASK A MAN TO BE SILENT ABOUT THE TRUTH? (i.e., Kerry’s lawyers attacking the SwiftVets TV ad).

AGAIN: ‘HOW CAN YOU ASK A MAN TO BE THE LAST MAN’ TO KEEP SILENT AND LIVE WITH THE ACCUSATIONS OF WAR CRIMES AND DISHONORABLE SERVICE PLACED UPON HIM BY A FELLOW SOLDIER?




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[hankholmes]

Here's another C-SPAN video that might be of interest. It's a 30 minute C-SPAN Washington Journal interview with John O'Neill from 4/21/2004 that covers many of the same issues that are being discussed now.

rtsp://video.c-span.org/project/c04/c04_wj042104_oneill.rm

(RealPlayer is required)

If it disappears in the future, let me know because I've archived a copy.

[4moreyears]

Beatrice1000

Number 4 should be number 1
_________________
kerry returned to the United States on July 22, 1971, held a press conference publicly calling on President Nixon... for the surrender of the United States to North Vietnam.

[Me#1You#10]

Admin note:

The outpouring of material from "energized" supporters is remarkable.
In order to both encourage and support this type of activity, we will be starting a new forum shortly...

"Resources and Research"

Hopefully it will be a gathering spot where all of this energy can be focused and channeled to enhance your impact.

Stay tuned, and thanks for the overwhelming support for the SBVFT mission.

[Beatrice1000]