Questions about President Bush's military service were raised at last night's Democratic debate by Peter Jennings who called charges of desertion from the Texas Air National Guard "reckless" and "not supported by the facts." However, meticulously collected evidence suggests that there are continuing questions.

ABC News anchor Peter Jennings questioned General Wesley Clark about whether he should have disputed supporter Michael Moore's assertion that President Bush was a "deserter" from the Texas Air National Guard in 1972. Mr. Jennings said, "At one point, Mr. Moore said, in front of you, that President Bush - he's saying he'd like to see you, the general, and President Bush, who he called a 'deserter.' Now, that's a reckless charge not supported by the facts. And I was curious to know why you didn't contradict him, and whether or not you think it would've been a better example of ethical behavior to have done so."

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=1208987&l=15658

* A scanned copy of the denial of Bush's transfer order can be viewed here: http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1208987&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=1208987&l=15660

* The full analysis can be viewed here: http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1208987&l=15661

* This url also contains copies of available Bush military records: http://users.cis.net/coldfeet/document.htm

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