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| Bush Says He's Proud of Guard Service
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Presidential Elections - AP Bush Says He's Proud of Guard Service Tue Sep 14, 3:33 PM ET
By RON FOURNIER, AP Political Writer Quote:
LAS VEGAS - President Bush (news - web sites) told veterans Tuesday he was proud of his time in the Texas Air National Guard and sought to deflect questions about his Vietnam-era service by turning the subject to what he said were rival John Kerry (news - web sites)'s equivocations on the Iraq (news - web sites) war.
"It is critical that the president of the United States speak clearly and consistently at this time of great threat in our world, and not change positions because of expediency or pressure," Bush told his applauding audience in a speech to the National Guard Association of the United States.
He did not address questions that have been raised about his service three decades ago in the Guard or respond to accusations from Democrats that he used family ties to avoid the Vietnam War. Kerry, a Vietnam veteran, addresses the same group Thursday and has directed his allies in the national Democratic Party to make an issue of Bush's service.
"Nineteen individuals have served both in the National Guard and as president of the United States," Bush said, "and I'm proud to be one of them."
The president then outlined the history of America's citizen-soldiers and touted his efforts to improve living and work condition for today's Guard. Then he turned to Iraq, noting as he does in almost every campaign stop, that Kerry and Democratic running mate John Edwards (news - web sites) joined most members of the Senate to give him authority in 2002 to wage war.
He said Kerry and Edwards later voted against money for the war, not mentioning that his own administration once threatened a veto of the funding measure or that Kerry had supported one version of the bill. He noted that Kerry has both called for more money for Iraq and asserted that Bush has squandered money there that could be spent in the United States.
After casting his rival as indecisive, Bush said, "Our troops, our friends and our allies, and our enemies, must know where America stands and that America will stand firm. We cannot waver because our enemies won't."
It is a major part of Bush's re-election strategy to convince voters, especially those wary of his economic and Iraq policies, that he is the only candidate in the race steady enough to lead the nation at war.
"As we saw on Sept. 11, as the people of Russia saw in the terrible massacre of innocent children there, we are up against people who show no shame, no remorse, no hint of humanity, and we must confront them clearly and consistently, not just some of the time but all of the time," Bush said.
Bush holds a commanding lead over Kerry among veterans and their families. An AP-Ipsos poll last week found he was the choice of 58 percent and Kerry 38 percent. In the poll, veterans and their families said Bush was stronger and more honest than Kerry.
His appearance Tuesday came less than a week after the White House released memos saying the president was suspended from flying fighter jets for failing to meet the standards of the Texas Air National Guard three decades ago. Though questions have been raised about their authenticity, the documents helped rekindle long-unanswered questions about Bush's service. Did any member of his prominent family pull strings to get him in the Guard? Was he ever disciplined while serving?
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Bush voters are concerned about the future, not such questions. The bottom line, he said, is that Bush was honorably discharged.
Democrats say the documents show that Bush lied as president when he said that he did his Guard duty. Under the direction of the Kerry campaign, the Democratic National Committee (news - web sites) launched "Operation Fortunate Son" on Tuesday, releasing a video criticizing Bush's actions during Vietnam.
"I think it shows the Kerry campaign and Democratic Party is determined to throw the kitchen sink at us," McClellan said.
Kerry received three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and a Silver Star during his four-month tour of Vietnam, and has made his service a cornerstone of his campaign to unseat the incumbent commander in chief. Bush has taken a lead in polls after a successful nominating convention and efforts by his GOP allies to question the legitimacy of Kerry's combat honors.
First lady Laura Bush was the first in the campaign to say the latest documents were probably forged. McClellan said: "There are serious questions that are being raised and they should be looked into" by the media.
The Pentagon (news - web sites)'s reliance on the National Guard and Reserve grew quickly after Bush authorized a partial mobilization of reserve forces following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and they currently comprise about 40 percent of the U.S. force in Iraq.
The combat duty that some Guard units are doing in Iraq is their first since World War II, and they are suffering large numbers of casualties. At least 175 Guard and Reserve troops have died in Iraq since the invasion was launched in March 2003 — more than a third of them in the past five months.
| He's proud of what, not showing up??
Looks like he lied again! He says he was there - when exactly?!? __________________ Nikki Heat made my Icon
Last edited by LaraCroft01; 09-15-2004 at 12:12 AM.
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