FactCheck.org on Bush Service documents

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Paul Saffo <pls () well com>
Date: September 10, 2004 12:47:33 AM EDT
To: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Subject: FactCheck.org on Bush Service documents

Fact Check is an unbiased non-partisan source that is extremely 
reliable. If the rumors that the documents are fake were true, 
FactCheck.org would be the first to confirm it.  Note that nothing in 
this mail indicates that they believe the documents are anything but 
true.
-p

Begin forwarded message:

> From: <SubscriberServices () FactCheck org>
> Date: September 9, 2004 3:16:38 PM PDT
> Subject: New FactCheck.org Document: Update on Bush's Guard Sevice: 
> New Evidence of Preferential Treatment
>
> Update on Bush's Guard Sevice: New Evidence of Preferential Treatment
>
> 09.09.2004
>
>
>  
>
> We have updated our Feb. 8 article on the "Texans for Truth" ad to 
> include new evidence that Bush received preferential treatment while 
> serving in the Texas Air National Guard.
>
> In documents released after our original article was posted, Bush's 
> squadron commander Lt. Col. Jerry B. Killian describes pressure from 
> his superiors to give Bush a satisfactory performance rating despite 
> Bush's failure to attend drills and failure to take a flight physical 
> "as ordered."
>
> Killian died in 1984. His memos were first obtained by CBS News and 
> afterward also released by the White House.
>
> We have posted copies of all four memos in the "supporting documents" 
> section of our article. The article now includes the following new 
> section:
>
> The Squadron Commander: Bush's "failure to perform"
>
> New evidence emerged Feb. 8 that Bush had received favored treatment 
> during this period. In four memos obtained by CBS News, Bush's former 
> squadron commander in Houston describes Bush's desire to "get out of 
> coming to drill," Bush's refusal to take a flight physical "as 
> ordered," and subsequent pressure from an Air National Guard official 
> to give Bush favorable performance ratings despite his leaving the 
> squadron with a "critical" pilot vacancy and failing to perform to 
> standards required of pilots.
>  The author of the memos was then-Lieutenant Colonel Jerry B. Killian, 
> who died in 1984. CBS didn't say how it had obtained the documents. 
> The White House later released copies of the same memos.
>
>
> The Killian memos:
> 	• 	May 4, 1972: In a memo addressed to Bush, Killian says "you are 
> ordered to report" by May 14 "to conduct annual physical examination 
> (flight)" in accordance with regulations. Bush never showed up for 
> that exam.
> 	• 	May 19, 1972: Five days after failing to report for the physical, 
> Killian wrote a memo regarding a telephone call Bush made to him. 
> "Discussed options of how Bush can get out of coming to drill from now 
> through November. . . .  We talked about him getting his flight 
> physical situation fixed before his date. Says he will do that in 
> Alabama if he stays in flight status. . . . I advised him of our 
> investment in him and his commitment" (This is an apparent reference 
> to the Guard's investment in Bush's flight training, and Bush's signed 
> commitment to attend drills and to serve a full six years in the 
> Guard).  Killian said he told Bush he would need a written document 
> accepting Bush into an Alabama unit before he would approve a 
> transfer, and added, "think he's also talking to someone upstairs." 
> (emphasis added).
> 	• 	August 1, 1972: "On this date I ordered that 1st Lt. Bush be 
> suspended from flight status due to failure to perform to the 
> USAF/TexANG (US Air Force/Texas Air National Guard) standards and 
> failure to meet annual physical examination (flight) as required. . .  
> Officer (Bush) has made no attempt to meet his training certification 
> or flight physical.  . . .  I also suggested that we fill this 
> critical billet with a more seasoned pilot from the list of Vietnam 
> pilots that have rotated." (emphasis added).
> 	• 	August 18, 1973: (a year later) Killian says Col. Buck Staudt, the 
> man in charge of the Texas Air National Guard and a supporter of the 
> Bush family, is applying pressure to "sugar coat" the annual 
> evaluation of Bush. "Staudt has obviously pressured (Bobby) Hodges 
> (Killian's immediate superior in the Houston Guard unit) more about 
> Bush. I'm having trouble running interference and doing my job. (Lt. 
> Col. William D.) Harris (another of Bush's supervisors) gave me a 
> message today  (regarding Bush's annual evaluation) Staudt is pushing 
> to sugar coat it: Bush wasn't here during rating period and I don't 
> have any feedback from 187th in Alabama. I will not rate. . . . I'll 
> backdate but won't rate. Harris agrees." Bush's annual evaluation, 
> signed by Harris and Killian, says "Lt. Bush has not been observed at 
> this unit during the period of report. " It is dated May 2, though 
> this new memo suggests that it was actually written later and the date 
> was falsified to dress up Bush's file as he was preparing to leave the 
> Guard to attend graduate school. Killian was clearly not happy with 
> the situation: he wrote the subject of the memo was "CYA," military 
> slang for "cover your ass." (emphasis added).
>
> The White House response to these memos came from White House 
> Communications Director Dan Bartlett, as quoted by CBS:
>
> Bartlett: At every step of the way, President Bush was meeting his 
> requirement. Granted permission to meet his requirement. And that's 
> why President Bush was honorably discharged.
>
>  
> Please visit http://wwwfactcheck.org/miscreports.aspx?docid=255 to 
> view this announcement in full.
> To unsubscribe from future FactCheck.org emails, please visit 
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