Kerry's Heroism

I'm not questioning John Kerry's heroism and I have consistently refused to do so. I question his reasons for joining the Navy, his truthfulness about certain incidents (Cambodia in '68) and everything he did upon his return. The link above is a defense of Kerry's heroism by a special forces member that Kerry saved while captaining a Swift boat. The Swiftees have doubted the accuracy of Jim Rassmann's story because Rassmann himself was out of commission during the firefight in question. You can check out Rassmann's account and see what you think, then check on Captain Ed's blog and read the Swiftees' letter (scroll down a bit)to the TV stations that Kerry threatened when the Swiftees' ad was released. The incident where Kerry saved Rassmann is the one for which Kerry received a Bronze Star and the injury that earned Kerry Purple Heart #3.

UPDATE: Captain Ed fisked the Rassmann piece and noted this statement by Mr. Rassmann: "This smear campaign has been launched by people without decency, people who don't understand the bond of those who serve in combat." The Cap'n blasts Rassmann by noting that the Swiftvets are made up of more than 200 men who DID serve in combat -- that's part of their raison d'etre (pardon the French) and part of their credibility because they know whereof they speak.

But there's a more pernicious undercurrent to Rassmann's statement: that military vets lack the mental capacity, integrity or intelligence to just say no if they believe their status as veterans and/or their experiences are being used for purposes that are contrary to their beliefs. Say that a non-vet like The Monk and a cadre of non-vet conservatives approach a group of honorably discharged vets who served in the same capacity as a presidential candidate. Say also that the non-vet cadre wants the vets to speak out against the presidential candidate's story, experience and actions. Each and every one of those vets approached can tell The Monk and his acolytes to bugger off if the vet does not agree with the purpose and reason for The Monk's use of their stories. Each Swiftee had that chance and MADE A CHOICE to denounce Kerry.

Moreover, Rassmann's claim are an offhand swipe at unidentified members of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy because that's the group supposedly at the bottom of the Swiftees. That claim is demonstrably false: John O'Neill, head Swiftee and co-author of Unfit for Command, supported liberal cotton-candy candidate John EDWARDS.