QandO

August 22, 2004

Questions Without Answers
Posted by Dale Franks

The ditors of Investor's Business Daily editorialize that, since Kerry himself made his service in Vietnam a central issue in his campaign, it's appropriate to question him about that servce.

The presidency of the United States is too important to give to someone with something to hide. Questions about Kerry's fitness to be commander in chief won't go away if he simply stonewalls and makes baseless charges of political bias.

After all, it was Kerry himself — with the smart salute and "reporting for duty" opening of his convention speech — who made his military service the keystone of his campaign. And it is Kerry who has repeatedly compared himself favorably with President Bush on that score.

In so doing, he's all but ignored his undistinguished 20-year career in the U.S. Senate and his decade as an anti-war activist.

Fair enough. Now we have questions about Vietnam.

Three questions, specifically:

Did Kerry commit war atrocities? This charge would seem unduly harsh to level at someone who fought in a war more than three decades ago — except for the fact that he himself made it.

In a 1971 appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press," Kerry said: "There are all kinds of atrocities, and I would have to say that, yes, yes, I committed the same kind of atrocities as thousands of other soldiers have committed . . ."

So, Senator, what exactly were the nature of the war crimes you committed? Please describe them in detail, then, if you'd be so kind, perhaps you should turn yourself over the the ICJ, so that the UN can decide upon a fitting punishment. I mean, since, you're so keen to see us sign on to the ICJ, and all, what better test case?

Did Kerry lie about "Christmas in Cambodia"? This is a story Kerry has repeated over and over as explanation for his later metamorphosis from decorated hero into staunch anti-war activist.

"I remember spending Christmas Eve of 1968 five miles across the Cambodian border being shot at by our South Vietnamese allies who were drunk and celebrating Christmas," Kerry wrote in the Boston Herald in October 1979. "The absurdity of almost being killed by our own allies in a country in which President Nixon claimed there were no American troops was very real."

A couple of problems. Nixon wasn't president on Christmas Eve 1968. Lyndon Johnson was. In fact, official records of his service show Kerry was never in Cambodia — as his campaign now concedes.

Well, not so fast. Even as I write this, the head of Veterans for Kerry is on FOX News with Chris Wallace, explaining that Kerry was, in fact, in Cambodia, at some unspecified point in time, that he was confused about where the border was, and that he's further confused about exactly what it is that's "seared" in his memory.

So, Kerry's gonna stick with the Cambodia deal, apparently, even if he's gonna have to give ground on what, precisely, is seared into his memory.

Kerry's medals. Kerry returned from his 4 1/2 month stint in Vietnam with three Purple Hearts for wounds, a Bronze Star and a Silver Star for gallantry.

But some of those who served with him cast doubt on how he earned his medals — and whether he deserved them. Harsh charges, to be sure. O'Neill's book, however, raises serious evidence to support the charges. Kerry must respond.

There are, I think, only real controversies of any merit. Whether or not his first and third Purple Hearts were the result of enemy action. And whether his Bronze Star for the Rassman rescue took place under the circumstances described.

I'm perfectly willing to grant that he deserved his Silver Star, and I think the questions surrounding that are primarily questions of judgement about it's merits, on which, Kerry deserves the benefit of the doubt.

As for the other charges, Kerry could answer them by releasing the totality of his service records. And so, for that matter should George W. Bush, although having said that, Bush hasn't made his TANG pilotage a central point in his campaign.

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