Navy Commander/Chicago Trib Editor Breaks 35 Year Silence: Swifties LIED

[NightOwwl]

"The commander of a Navy swift boat who served alongside Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry during the Vietnam War stepped forward Saturday to dispute attacks challenging Kerry's integrity and war record.

William Rood, an editor on the Chicago Tribune's metropolitan desk, said he broke 35 years of silence about the Feb. 28, 1969, mission that resulted in Kerry's receiving a Silver Star because recent portrayals of Kerry's actions published in the best-selling book "Unfit for Command" are wrong and smear the reputations of veterans who served with Kerry.

Rood, who commanded one of three swift boats during that 1969 mission, said Kerry came under rocket and automatic weapons fire from Viet Cong forces and that Kerry devised an aggressive attack strategy that was praised by their superiors.

link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/specials/elections/chi-040821kerry,1,6814873.story?coll=chi-news-hed

[Cha]

1. Imagine staying out of it for 35 years and

the bushes bringing him out of the cold.

[NightOwwl]

2. And now that he's stepped up to the plate, others will follow n/t

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Fleshdancer]

4. Poor guy is about to get ripped to shreds by the Rove machine

I can only imagine how many freepers will be calling for the resignation of this editor because of this. We'll have to show our support.

[ochazuke]

5. Battle tactics then and now

In keeping with Kerry's Thursday morning speech, this quote from the article seems worthy:

Ambushes, Rood said, "were a virtual certainty."

Before this day's mission, though, Kerry, the tactical commander of the mission, discussed with Rood and Droz a change in response to the anticipated ambushes: If possible, turn into the fire once it is identified and attack the ambushers, Rood recalled Kerry saying. The boats followed that new tactic with great success, Rood said, and the mission was highly praised.

^^^^end quote^^^^

Now, with the Republicans, ambushes are an absolute certainty. And Kerry's response to take on the swift boat liars with a full-frontal assault may mark a turning point in this campaign.

The Democratic National Convention's emphasis on Our Man's Vietnam experience may not have been overblown after all!

[NightOwwl]

7. Great analogy.

RoveCo thought Kerry wouldn't have the money, support, or balls to fight back. Instead, it's turning into, as Jim Jordan said yesterday, the mother of all backlashes.

[reprehensor]

6. Kick for the truth.

I hate the Smear Boat Vets.

[NightOwwl]

8. Great photo of Kerry and Rood

http://prn.newscom.com/cgi-bin/pub/s?f=PRN/prnpub&p1=20040821/CGSA002-a&xtag=PRN-prnphotos-40398&redir=preview&tr=1&row=1

Sorry I can't post the image directly. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.

[Placebo]

9. They ARE Swift Boat Liars For Bush