Thursday, September 09, 2004
Bush's National Guard duty, or lack thereof
The US president, George Bush, was today under growing scrutiny over his Vietnam-era service record after several different sources questioned his time in the Texas and Alabama air national guards.
In one of the most damaging attacks, Ben Barnes, the former lieutenant governor of Texas, said he had helped Mr Bush dodge the Vietnam draft by securing him a sought-after place in the Texas air national guard.
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The claims came as CBS reporters unearthed personal memos kept by Mr Bush's squadron commander in Texas, who said he had failed to meet national guard standards and had flouted an order to take his annual flight physical.
Lt Col Jerry Killian, who died in 1984, ordered Mr Bush to be suspended from flight status for those infractions. The memo goes on to note that Mr Bush was trying to transfer to non-flying status with a unit in Alabama, and recommends that the Texas unit fill his flying slot "with a more seasoned pilot from the list of qualified Vietnam pilots that have rotated".
Story.
UPDATE: Kos breaks down the lies Bush has told about his service and the facts revealed in these new documents. Good stuff.
posted by chris at 8:47 AM
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