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Gifts for all occasions in the Galleria! Subscribe to the "What is the Deal?" mailing list. The "What is the Deal?" Deal-of-the-Week: New Flavor! TABASCO brand Chipotle Pepper Sauce. August 22, 2004 What is the Deal with Kerry's War Service? By Jan A. Larson John Kerry has made his service in Viet Nam, some 35 years ago, the centerpiece of his campaign for the presidency. Now the Kerry campaign, being challenged on the true recollection of that service, is attempting to deflect the criticism in whatever way possible. The Kerry campaign has taken a, "How dare you question?" attitude toward Kerry's Viet Nam service and therefore it cannot be too surprising that the campaign is attempting to not only discredit the claims of the Swift Boat Veterans' for Truth, but has also tried to block television stations from carrying the group's ads and as well as trying to have their book removed from bookstores. This from the party that are such staunch advocates of freedom of speech? The campaign has tried to focus attention away from questions about Kerry's service by questioning President Bush's service in the National Guard and has painted the Swift Boat Veterans with a broad brush, suggesting that they are nothing but partisan liars. Kerry campaign spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter's remark that, "... he (Kerry) doesn't tolerate lies from others," ironically suggests that Kerry's own lies are acceptable. Now the Kerry campaign has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission claiming that the group behind the ads is illegally coordinating with the Bush/Cheney campaign. The real issue is not so much what happened 35 years ago, but rather how Kerry tells it. What matters is how Kerry handles himself when the going gets tough and it seems that the Kerry campaign is having a hard time working in the kitchen as the temperature increases. The American electorate has every right to know if Kerry's claims are truthful or not. So far, all we have are Kerry's claims and his support from his 12 or 15 "band of brothers." Telling the other side of the story are the some 250 Swift Boat Veterans. Those veterans need to be heard and the American people can then decide who they want leading the country into the future. Personally, I find it hard to ignore the Swift Boat Veterans out of hand, as some have done. Admittedly, at least some of these veterans have an axe to grind with Kerry over his anti-war activities after returning from Viet Nam, but when 250 veterans who served with Kerry claim that he is unfit to be commander in chief, there must be something to their story. Despite the Kerry campaign's belief that Kerry's service record must not be questioned, the mere fact that someone served in the military does not automatically make him or her a saint, witness Lynndie England. Not to classify Kerry with the likes of England, but it is entirely possible that Kerry's recollection and portrayal of events 35 years ago and halfway around the world are not 100% reflective of the truth. Might Kerry have a selective memory? Possibly. Might Kerry attempt to frame his actions in Viet Nam in the most favorable light? Quite likely. Are there things about his service that he hasn't revealed? That's what I want to know. The fact of the matter is that while John Kerry's in-country service in Viet Nam is subject to differing recollections and may or may not have been as honorable as Kerry presents, his full-color home movies notwithstanding, his actions upon returning from Viet Nam are not subject to interpretation. Kerry's demonstrated lack of conviction, some would say flip-flopping, during his years in the Senate suggests that he, in the spirit of the last Democratic President, Bill Clinton, might tend to present the "facts" in whichever way is most favorable for the day. Whether those facts are the same tomorrow is anyone's guess. If Kerry expects Americans to judge his worthiness for the Presidency based on his four months in Viet Nam, it doesn't seem like too much to ask to know the truth about those four months. -- Send feedback to the author. The "What is the Deal?" column will appears weekly on the Pie of Knowledge website. Guest submissions are welcome and encouraged. To submit an article to "What is the Deal?" click here. To subscribe to the "What is the Deal?" mailing list and receive early notification when a new column is available, click here. The Pie of Knowledge will never, ever divulge email addresses to any third party for any reason unless so ordered by a court of law. Contributions to the Pie of Knowledge are greatly appreciated. 
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