Zeev's Turnips Talk Politics (ZTTP)

[Chris McConnel]

From the SBV site


4. KERRY AND CAMBODIA

4.1 O'Neill in Cambodia or not? Was 50 miles from Cambodia border or 100 feet from border or at the border or inside Cambodia? Was the border with Cambodia watery or not? Impossible to go into Cambodia by Swift Boat or not? What is it Mr. O'Neill?

What is the swift boat veteran "truth" as of 5 minutes ago and what will it be 5 minutes later?

[NOW]

O'Neill and Corsi, today : "Kerry was never in Cambodia during Christmas 1968, or at all during the Vietnam War. ... Areas closer than 55 miles from the Cambodian border in the area of the Mekong River were patrolled by PBRs, a small river patrol craft, and not by Swift Boats. Preventing border crossings was considered so important at the time that an LCU (a large, mechanized landing craft) and several PBRs were stationed to ensure that no one could cross the border."

O'Neill, today : "How do I know he's [Kerry] not in Cambodia? I was on the same river, George. I was there two months after him. Our patrol area ran to Sedek, it was 50 miles from Cambodia. There isn't any watery border. The Mekong River's like the Mississippi. There were gunboats stationed right up there to stop people from coming. And our boats didn't go north of, only slightly north of Sedek. So it was a made-up story."

O'Neill, today : "I was never in Cambodia, and Kerry lied when he said he was in Cambodia."

[NOW AND THEN]

O'Neill, in 1971 :

O'NEILL: I was in Cambodia, sir. I worked along the border on the water.
NIXON: In a swift boat?
O'NEILL: Yes, sir.

O'Neill now :

"In an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, O'Neill did not dispute what he said to Nixon, but insisted he was never actually in Cambodia.
"I think I made it very clear that I was on the border, which is exactly where I was for three months. I was about 100 yards from Cambodia," O'Neill said in clarifying the June 16, 1971, conversation with Nixon."


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5. KERRY OTHER

5.1 Knew Kerry "well" or not?

[NOW]

Roy Hoffmann, today : " I knew him well, because I operated very closely with him."

[NOW AND THEN]

Roy Hoffmann, a little earlier : "...Hoffman acknowledged he had no first-hand knowledge to discredit Kerry's claims to valor and said that although Kerry was under his command, he really didn't know Kerry much personally. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ]"

Roy Hoffmann, a little earlier : " Well, I can tell you that I did not know Kerry personally. I didn't ride the boat with him."
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5.2 Swear based on personal knowledge or not?

[NOW]

Alfred French, earlier : " I am able to swear, as I do hereby swear, that all facts and statements contained in this affidavit are true and correct and within my personal knowledge and belief."
Alfred French, earlier : " I served with John Kerry. . . . He is lying about his record."

[A LITTLE LATER]

Alfred French, a little later : " I was not a witness to these events but my friends were."

http://swiftvets.eriposte.com/sbv_v_sbv.htm