AP: Lawsuit Gets Bush Guard Papers Out

[Nambe]

WASHINGTON (AP)

President Bush (news - web sites) was ranked in the middle of his Air National Guard class and flew more than 336 hours in a fighter jet before letting his pilot status lapse and missing a key readiness drill, according to his flight records belatedly uncovered Tuesday under the Freedom of Information Act.

"Out of an abundance of caution," the government "searched a file that had been preserved in spite of this policy" and found the Bush records, the letter said. "The Department of Defense (news - web sites) regrets this oversight during the previous search efforts." ..

Significantly, it showed the unit joined a "24-hour active alert mission to safeguard against surprise attack" in the southern United State beginning on Oct. 6, 1972, a time when Bush did not report for duty, according to his pay records. ..

[LauraK]

1. FIRING SQUAD - FIRING SQUAD We need you.

This looks big.

[dennis4868]

47. nothing is big....

when it comes to Bush...the corporate media will push it aside and move onto Kerry's "flip flops." Dont fool yourself....Bush can murder his mother obn national TV and the mainstreeme media will say he did to protect the american people from terrorism....

[demoman123]

61. Exactly. This is nothing. Nothing will stick to him.

His image will glow unblemished on the shimmering electronic screen.

[AlCzervik]

2. sorry, i'm stupid, does this mean he still wasn't there?

is this good or bad for him or no difference?

[DURHAM D]

Are we supposed to believe that these are legitimate? n/t

[VolcanoJen]

3. A warm-up for 60 Minutes? Big, Big, Big.

Ben Barnes is appearing on the 60 Minutes Wednesday edition, and Josh Marshall hints at bigger things vis-a-vis Bush's Guard service to come from the CBS show.

Also from the AP article above:

The records show his last flight came on April 1972, which is consistent with his pay records that show Bush had a large lapse of duty between April and October of that year, a time he says he went to Alabama to work on an unsuccessful Republican Senate campaign. Bush skipped a required medical exam that cost his pilot's status in August 1972.

A six-month historical record of his 147th Fighter Interceptor Group, also turned over to the AP on Tuesday, shows some of the training Bush missed with his colleagues during that time.

<snip>

Bush's lone service in October came at another air base an Alabama, where he sought temporary permission to train away from his assigned squadron.

As part of the mission, the 147th kept two F-102a jets - the same Bush flew before he lost his flight status for skipping a required medical exam - on ready alert to be launched within five minutes warning.

[mctrotter5]

10. We are going to nail this guy for all his lying ways..let's pile on!

[Nambe]

48. We don't have 'TV' but I won't miss this.

[LauraK]

49. Bring Sally and Ruth, Nambe. I'll cook your fave.

[Nambe]

51. Ruth wants to treat us, and then to your big screen!

McMinnimum's on the river. Call me.

[merh]

70. ABC mentioned this during its morning news segment on GMA

they actually mentioned it - you could have knocked me over with a feather. Something to the effect the "controversy regarding *'s failure to complete the guard still brewing".

[Kadie]

4. So he didn't protect us then either.

Am I reading this right?

[aquart]

19. Yes. He didn't care about protecting us then, either.

[MO_Dem]

5. Drip, drip, drip

I wonder if they will ever search ALL the files? It is amazing that they keep finding undiscoverd stuff!

[cthrumatrix]

6. time to get some lawyers together.... this is getting good

can we round up all the lies his admin said regarding service

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

7. Ok, next question:

What was the average flight time in his squadron, per pilot?

[wurzel]

8. "In spite of policy" the DOD will give you the "good news" anyway!

Yeah Right!!

[truthisfreedom]

9. rate this a 5. it's being freeped as we read.

[Tuttle]

11. Don't forget to rate it

early and often

Tut-tut

[speedoo]

12. It's being freeped...

It's currently at 3.18 but it was over 4 when I fived it.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

15. Down now to 2.8.

:mad:

[spotbird]

13. "This has all been covered over and over again before,

the president wants to get past Vietnam and talk about today" Rove said.

Seriously, why were these released?

[Jackpine Radical]

14. They probly had to release this stuff

because Kitty Kelley already has copies.

[speedoo]

16. The coward IS a deserter.

The coward was gone for SIX months:

"The records show his last flight came on April 1972, which is consistent with his pay records that show Bush had a large lapse of duty between April and October of that year, a time he says he went to Alabama to work on an unsuccessful Republican Senate campaign."

[LauraK]

22. Do AWOL from the Guard regulations contain 'deserter' wordage?

I hope so.

[bagnana]

56. can you be a "deserter" if you do not show up for

national guard duty? How does that work?

[LeftCoast]

17. Kick

Don't forget that "5" rating!

[foo_bar]

23. what do ratings do exactly?

do these numbers affect the yahoo site beyond that sorted page?

[Lindacooks]

30. The ratings get the stories and pix to the 'most popular page'

You get to the 'most popular page by clicking the link that says 'Other Highly Rated Stories' or 'Other Highly Rated Photos' that appears when you vote.

Here's a link to that most popular page:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=index&cid=1760

[foo_bar]

33. so you need to vote to get directed to the 'Other Highly' pages?

Seems to be preaching to the choir along with the evil choir.

[dreadneck]

18. Fishin accomplished

W was drinking and fishing and doing some blow. How I envy him.

[onehandle]

20. Kerry needs to get Max out there with this right away. nt

[thecrow]

21. Slowly, slowly, the worm turns....

YEE HA!!!
This is great stuff!

[Gregorian]

24. So, what laws did he break to get an "honorable discharge"?

It would seem that if he were AWOL, an honorable discharge would not be forthcoming. Maybe I just don't know how that stuff works.

[Jackpine Radical]

27. It works differently if you're properly connected.

Then the brass bend & break whatever rules they have to in order to get you what you need.

[leesa]

53. It works the same way his entry into the National Guard worked and the

way he got into Business School. It's called greasing the right palms.

[bpilgrim]

25. deserting your post in a time of war has no statue of limitations

Article 43. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS
(a) A person charged with absence without leave or missing movement in time of war, or with any offense punishable by death, may be tried at any time without limitation.

http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/ucmj/blart-43.htm

psst... pass the word :bounce:

peace

[hatrack]

39. Well, they're going after a 67-year-old deserter in Japan as we speak

Robert Jenkins, who defected/deserted to North Korea back in, what was it, 1965 or so, will turn himself in to US military authorities. He's old and sick, but that's not stopping the UCMJ in his case.

[rocktivity]

26. I may have to rethink my price on the buttons I'll start selling next week

Net proceeds to go to pro-Kerry causes, of course...

[Jackpine Radical]

28. Where were you, George?

Where were you on September 11, 2002?
Where were you on September 11, 1972?

[jimshoes]

29. At 8:45

Its current average rating is 3.25 with 448 vote(s). Just voted a 5.

[DS1]

31. Then it's going down, it was 3.64 a few minutes ago

[w4rma]

32. Imagine if big media talked about this as much as they talked about SBVfT.

"Liberal" media, indeed.

[MGKrebs]

34. What, do they have color coded files?

Pink is information to be released in July.
Beige is for August.
Blue is for September.

Is there a red file? What's in that one?

[frank frankly]

35. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

HA HA HA

AWOL! President FUBAR was AWOL!

HA HA HAHAHAHAHAHA!

[shraby]

36. After a certain number of days,

an AWOL becomes a desertion...30 days comes to mind.

edited for tpyy0

[goodboy]

38. and desertion in a time of war carries what penalty? eom

[TahitiNut]

58. Maximum penalty for desertion in time of war is death (by firing squad).

Pvt. Eddie Slovik, for example.

[Art_from_Ark]

64. The ironic thing is, Slovic DIDN'T desert

He was separated from his unit and ended up with a Canadian unit. But Eisenhower wanted to make an example of him, and authorized the execution-- the first-- and only-- execution of a "deserter" since the Civil War.

[TahitiNut]

65. Yup. I know.

It was a tragic scapegoating.

[goodboy]

69. Right...he should at the least be court martialed and imprisoned.

Then, he should be tried for war crimes, lying to the american people, and then handed over for general name-calling and humiliation.

[Disturbed]

37. McCain is a pathetic liar.

He keeps saying the GW Bush servered honorably.


I am a beaten dog. Please pet me W.

[SKKY]

59. I've lost all respect for John McCain as a politician...

...He's sold his soul for their support in 2008. I hope he sleeps well at night.

[Catshrink]

40. NOTHING about why he missed the flight physical and the repercussions

"The newly released records do not include any from five categories of documents Bush's commanders had been required to keep in response to the gaps in Bush's training in 1972 and 1973. For example, National Guard commanders were required to perform an investigation whenever any pilot skipped a medical exam and forward the results up the Air Force chain of command. No such documents have surfaced."


Where the hell are those records?

[reprobate]

68. Where the hell are those records? Scrubbed clean.

Like his new drivers license was clean.

[The Icon Painter]

41. Just rated it

Gave it a 5-of course. It's now at 3.25 with 519 votes.

[many a good man]

42. He's a traitor to Texas!

He left Texas vulnerable to surprise attack for all those months while he was AWOL. If I was from Texas I'd heap a heapin' helpin' of scorn on his sorry scrawny ass.

[Beetwasher]

43. Well, If This Doesn't Make A Splash

Then I don't know what to think...It will be very discouraging to say the least...

[TacticalPeek]

44. Updated (?) version of the same AP article:

Bush's 2000 campaign suggested the future president skipped his medical exam in part because the F-102A was nearly obsolete. Records show Bush's Texas unit flew the F-102A until 1974 and used the jets as part of an air defense drill during 1972.

snip

Bush has repeatedly said he is proud of his Air National Guard service. White House spokesmen said as late as last week the administration knew of no other records of Bush's military service.

"These documents confirm that the president served honorably in the National Guard," White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan said Tuesday night.

Democratic National Committee communications director Jano Cabrera disagreed. "For months George Bush told the nation that all his military records were public," he said. "Now we know why Bush was trying so hard to withhold these records. When his nation asked him to be on call against possible surprise attacks, Bush wasn't there."

more
http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBH0M6SUYD.html

[Myrina]

67. I feel an ad coming on ....

Pics of TANG-man George ...
(voiceover)"...Now we know why Bush was trying so hard to withhold these records. When his nation asked him to be on call against possible surprise attacks, Bush wasn't there."

.... then the August 2001 PDB flashes across the screen ... then shots of George golfing or clearing brush or WTF ever he was doing ...

then the planes hitting the towers. fade to black ...


Oh yeah. WHEN HIS NATION ASKED HIM TO BE ON CALL AGAINST SURPRISE ATTACKS, BUSH WASN'T THERE.

[ezekiel333]

45. USA Today picks it up

<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=766080&mesg_id=766080>

[LauraK]

46. County Joe, Where are you? And it's one, two , three...

What are we fighting for....

[Tight_rope]

50. Finally!

[mahatmakanejeeves]

52. no, no, no

From the article:

"Supporters of Democratic nominee John Kerry (news - web sites), a decorated Vietnam combat veteran, have criticized Bush for serving stateside in the National Guard."

That's not the problem. If he HAD served, it would have been one thing. The issue is that he did NOT serve, at least not to the extent required by the contract he signed.

Top that with the phony swagger, and you end up with the repulsive creature that is Bush.

[0rganism]

62. Exactly, they keep getting it backwards

The problem isn't that he served in the guard, it's that he DIDN'T serve in the guard.

[cal04]

54. The GLOBE claims

The GLOBE claims: "Twice during his Guard service - first when he joined in May 1968, and again before he transferred out of his unit in mid-1973 to attend Harvard Business School - Bush signed documents pledging to meet training commitments or face a punitive call-up to active duty.

"He didn't meet the commitments, or face the punishment, the records show."

After laying dormant for most of the summer, big media picks up where it left off on the Bush national guard issue in a post-Labor Day filing frenzy.

The upcoming reexamination of Bush's records by the GLOBE show that Bush's attendance at required training drills "was so irregular that his superiors could have disciplined him or ordered him to active duty in 1972, 1973, or 1974. But they did neither. In fact, Bush's unit certified in late 1973 that his service had been "satisfactory" - just four months after Bush's commanding officer wrote that Bush had not been seen at his unit for the previous 12 months."

[ezekiel333]

55. Kick

[LauraK]

57. Some people's kids. bush's brain was running that war.

This little group of criminals have made a joke of this country.

[SKKY]

60. Boy, the Clinton people Kerry brought in...

...don't waste any time do they? THIS IS HOW YOU RUN A FUCKING' CAMPAIGN! Sorry folks but I want blood. I'm tired of watching fat, nasty, ignorant fucks take pot shots from the peanut gallery at a man who served his country honorably. I personally thought we should have served "Jenna Tonics" at the after-hours parties in Boston.

[Catfight]

66. So very true! AWOL can't hide anymore! n/t

[BiggJawn]

63. Damn!! Who could have thunk it?

"...flight records were subject to retention for only 24 months and we understood that neither the Air Force nor the Texas Air National Guard retained such records thereafter," the Pentagon told the AP.
"Out of an abundance of caution," the government "searched a file that had been preserved in spite of this policy" and found the Bush records..."

I wonder who the poor clerk was who had to stick his/her hand up Karl Rove's ass and pull those files out?

Flight records were kept only for 24 months....EXCEPT the ones that show Dumbya actually could get a plane into the air and back down again....

But the records supposedly show that he DID blow-off the physical and not show up for drills.

This smells. This smells pretty putrid.

[reprobate]

71. This might be the uniforms at the pentagon taking down the neocons

Many of the carreer officers at the pentagon do NOT like the mess the neocons have us in. Could this be their plan to introduce his dishonorable service, not almost a year but less than 60 days before the election? The timing is good.

[BiggJawn]

72. Still leaves me puzzled, though...

Something's not right here. Either Bush's flight records were spared a routine purge from TANG files, or the TANG is blowing bullshit on just how long they really retain files.


Or are they trying to tell us that 30 years ago, some TANG file clerk was far-sighted enough to think "Hmmm..this guy's records could be important some day. I think I'll not send 'em to the furnace..."

That's all I'm asking, why were Chimpy's records "spared" in contradiction to TANG policy? Until we get a believable explanation, I'm inclined to believe the records are a complete fabrication.

It's a fish story, anyway you look at it.