Clear Choice

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION
by Rollie Hicks, Member of Citizens for Honest Fighter Pilots

The two choices we have in the 2004 presidential election are clearer than in any other election in my lifetime. On the one hand you have John Kerry, a courageous war hero and on the other you have George W. Bush, a draft dodging, chicken hawk.

Official records and all verified accounts show that John Kerry demonstrated great leadership through brave acts and aggressive, innovative military tactics while commanding men in Vietnam. On the other hand, official records and verified accounts show that George W. Bush dodged the draft through favoritism to his father's influential friends in Texas and chose not to serve in Vietnam by entering the Texas National Guard even though he supported the war through other actions.

Official records and verified accounts show that John Kerry saved a fellow crewman's life and saved many more lives by helping shorten the war through his accurate testimony regarding counter productive military actions being unofficially encouraged and condoned in Vietnam. Nearly anyone of us who lived through that era has friends and relatives who can backup his testimony.

On the other hand, official records show that George W. Bush was absent without leave (AWOL) for a large portion of his tour of duty in the Texas National Guard -- he was in Alabama helping a Republican run for office on a pro-war platform. Not one person has been able to verify that he served duty in Alabama.

Furthermore, official testimony indicates that George W. Bush's military records were cleansed at the request of Republican campaign officials in 1996. What wasn't cleansed shows that he was stripped of his flying status for failure to pass a medical exam.

There you have it. The choice is pretty clear, isn't it?! John Kerry who won two medals for bravery and 3 purple hearts for being wounded in action or George W. Bush who was discharged early after being stripped of his flying status and being AWOL for a large portion of his tour of duty.

Why is this important? It is important because George W. Bush's record as president for the last 3 years mirrors his Vietnam era service record. He started and favored a preemptive war, yet not one member of his, or any high administration appointee's family is serving in a combat zone in either Iraq or Afghanistan. George W. Bush has been "misunderaccountable" all of his life -- he has never suffered the consequences of his radical, aberrant behavior. Unfortunately our children and grandchildren -- yours and mine -- will be the ones who reap the consequences of his actions.

Rollie Hicks
Eau Claire, WI

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION

The Citizens for Honest Fighter Pilots Compendium