Chic Trib: Sniping escalates on war service (Info on Rood contact)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/specials/elections/chi-0408230193aug23,1,6884852,print.story?coll=chi-news-hed

<snip>

The first-person account by Vietnam veteran Rood in Sunday's Tribune came about after he was contacted by a supporter of Kerry named Thomas Vallely, a Marine during the Vietnam War and a former Massachusetts lawmaker who is director of the Vietnam program at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.

Read article to find how Vallely found Rood.

<snip>

"I basically said, `Would you talk to Sen. Kerry?' Then we had a little bit of a private conversation, then John Kerry called him. This all took place within 15 minutes, maybe a half an hour. called me a half an hour later. He was talking to Bill Rood."

Vallely added: "John Kerry mentioned to me, `They're going to make their own decision about how to do this.' That was fine with him."

"They" referred to the crew of Rood's swift boat. "We had no idea what they were going to do," Vallely said. "They never showed their hand to us."

Vallely recalled that Rood provided him the name of Jerry Leeds, who was the senior enlisted man on Rood's boat. He said Rood indicated that Leeds and other members of his crew had been following the swift boat controversy.

[realFedUp]

1. I'm glad Rood came forward

as well as Langhofer
and Russell.

[Dhalgren]

2. How can Bush continue to do these things?

He has no shame, no pride, no center of humanity. How can anyone continue to support this faux human being? Bush is a sick, criminal, puke and beneath contempt. Anyone who supports this dreg is scum. I am sorry if that's "devisive", it is how I feel.

[lottie244]

3. He can continue because he has like-minded people supporting him

they all have no shame and will stoop to the lowest tricks to defeat an opponent with lies and innuendo. It's the history of the Republican part since the late 60's.

[aquart]

4. I note that Rood knew about his crew's interest.

I wouldn't trifle with these men.

[Dhalgren]

5. Good observation.

It seems to me that a line has been crossed. There were cries of "foul" when Bush slimed McCain back in 2000, but nothing like this. I am a veteran and this kind of attack against vets for their service really pisses me off. Veterans from across the country should stand up against this kind of attack against all of us.

[Karenina]

6. *Crusader-in-chief bunnypants responds...

"Who cares what YOU think?"

He doesn't care what McCain or Cleland think either.

[TahitiNut]

8. 35 years later these guys keep in contact. (Who served with George?)

Even though Swift-boat duty typically lasted only 6 months, these people have kept track of each other over three-and-a-half decades. Junior Fly-Shit supposedly 'served' in Alabama for over 6 months. Where are all the guys who can relate, in detail, the times when they protected the rescued long necks from the predations of indigenous people? Where are all his nose-buddies? The nasal navy? Isn't it amazing that Amurika's #1 "guy I'd like to drink with" hasn't been able to dry out a couple of former drunkards and prop 'im up in front of the cameras?

[gratuitous]

7. Will the Trib find out what crossing the BFEE means?

Or will the BFEE be satisfied with making an example out of Rood?

You know someone will have to pay for this effrontery. The Boy Emperor doesn't suffer criticism.