SWIFT BOAT VETERANS FOR "TRUTH" v. THE TRUTH
Last updated 8/16/04
INTRODUCTION
Many media outlets have been providing a relatively easy opening for the so-called "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" (SBV for short; more appropriately described as the Swift Boat Veterans Who Have a Problem With The Truth or as Swift Boat Veteran Flip-Floppers for Bush or as Smear Boat Veterans for Bush or even as Swift Boat Liars for Bush as Hesiod has fondly and appropriately described them). Since our media has been parading these folks before viewers (or readers), often without critically examining the breadth of their egregiously false charges against Senator John Kerry (some media, "journalists", and serial liars are far worse than others on this), I wanted to get a clear picture for myself on what is being said and what is really the truth.
What emerges from a review of all the data is simply the fact that this is the beginning of Part II of The Hunting of the President - orchestrated by ultra-right-wing partisan Bush supporters and Kerry haters, while creating the appearance of being an "independent" group.
What is even more remarkable is that SBV's hateful mendacity is nothing other than a direct attack on the integrity of the American Armed Forces - something that Republicans like them claim to hold dear.
As Digby has eloquently noted:
It has struck me lately what a terrible indictment of the military these charges are and how once again the Republicans have absolutely no limits in terms of how fully they are willing to trash the American institutions they allegedly love in order to win. What these people are saying is that the US Navy awarded some of its highest medals for bravery to a coward. The many officers who signed those glowing fitness reports and awarded those citations are either liars or they are incompetent. The word of his shipmates, even the man whose life he saved, are worth nothing. You can't believe military documentary evidence. It was all bullshit, every last piece of it.
And because of this it can now be said that all medals awarded for bravery are suspect. A superior military record is no longer a recommendation. Who can ever believe the government on this issue, now?
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The conservative attack on the military is, on the other hand, so small minded, so parochial. For puny, partisan reasons they are accusing the military of widespread corruption --- merely to excuse the behavior of their less than stellar candidate.
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Too bad for the men and women who are risking their necks as we speak for Junior's Big Adventure. Any act of bravery on which the military might bestow a medal is now subject to interpretation. Nothing is sacred to these people.
http://www.eriposte.com/media/liars_inc/swiftboat.htm#5E
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