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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