1. Tries to avoid Vietnam by applying to study in France and get a deferral.
He wrote to his local recruitment board seeking permission to spend a further 12 months studying in Paris, after completing his degree course at Yale University in the mid-1960s.
The revelation appears to undercut Sen. Kerry's carefully-cultivated image as a man who willingly served his country in a dangerous war - in supposed contrast to President Bush, who served in the Texas National Guard and thus avoided being sent to Vietnam.
He tried to continue his studies but wasn't able to. He then volunteered to go to Vietnam. I still see nothing wrong with that, it's much more than anyone else did in the current admin. Still shows he did more than he had to, he could have joined the National Guard.
2. He served in Vietnam only 4 months (I honor this service and praise him for doing his duty), getting an honorable discharge after questionable injuries (probable self-inflicted wounds in at least one instance - his own biography stated that they hadn't come under enemy fire until days later).
His injuries were well documented and have been found to be earned honorably from a recent Navy investigation as well as eyewitness accounts (Not The swift boat vet who never actually saw anything). Also don't forget the Bronze and Silver stars. I wouldn't try to downplay what he did, he saw more action in 4 months that most saw in a year.
3. Returns to the US, says he (and EVERYONE else there) committed atrocities (and never reported any of these "atrocities" during the war, which, as a commander, was his responsibility), appears to throw away his medals (actually keeps them and throws away someone elses', now has his mounted on his office wall - WHY?).
This was more b.s. that came from the swift-boat liars. He never said he committed atrocities, he said other veterans had told him what they had seen, which was the case in the winter soldier investigation. He said there were violations in the Geneva conventions with the "Free-fire zones"
4. Went to Paris to meet with representatives of the enemy (N. Vietnam) and continued to espouse their propaganda upon his return, effectively prolonging the war.
You call it propaganda but it’s been well documented that atrocities occurred. In fact I think Kerry’s comments and the winter solider investigation put pressure to end the war.
5. Now says he is proud of his service (committing atrocities and protesting be damned).
Why wouldn't he? He did his part, he didn't agree with war but he's still proud of his service.
Also, get this quote:
Saying there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq doesn't make it so.
Kinda conflict with his other statements I referenced, doesn't it?
The guy just keeps changing his tune to fit the political times, truth be damned.
Since we have invaded Iraq the truth has come out about the war. That the evidance was exaturated and minpulated and in most cases just made up or wrong about WMD and the truth is they didn't exist. Anyone who still thinks that the reasons for going to war with iraq are the same now as they were in 2002 and 2003 are just plan stubborn.
This comment was edited on Oct 4, 01:55.