My apologies go out to Mr. Kerry—I've been saying for some time that I thought it was odd that he embellished the account of his whereabouts over Christmas of 1968. But I think Fred Kaplan has the Occam's razor accounting of where he was—right there in Cambodia, like he said. We certainly can't know the full details of that adventure, since it was an extralegal operation, but Kaplan certainly helps with a bit of context for the chopped quotes that SBVT have been floating. If you wondered where Kerry was, do yourself a favor and read the column.
Kaplan—he makes it look so easy!
Posted by Kriston at August 24, 2004 1:32 AMWait. Kaplan says Kerry was in Cambodia on Christmas Eve but KERRY HIMSELF says, in a recent campaign retraction, that he WASN'T in Cambodia on Christmas Eve. Either Kaplan is spreading baseless lies against Kerry or Kerry is lying. Which is it?
See Kaplan debunked:
http://idleryet.blog-city.com/read/786715.htm
Kerry wasn't in Cambodia on Christmas. That's behind us.
Posted by: j.scott barnard at August 24, 2004 2:20 PMScott (or anyone), would you mind pointing to the Kerry retraction? I've heard Brinkley's claim that he went into Cambodia in January and February rather than December, but I don't recall the Kerry camp denying the Christmas claim.
Posted by: Mike D at August 24, 2004 3:12 PMKaplan's theory, paraphrased:
1) Kerry biography said he was near Cambodia on Christmas Eve;
2) The US ran some boats into Cambodia around that time;
3) Kerry theoretically had time to pilot the boat back from Cambodia to where he spent the night; therefore
4) Kerry was in Cambodia on Christmas Eve.
Even though he now says he wasn't.
Got it. Thanks for clearing that up.
Posted by: BTD Steve at August 24, 2004 4:33 PMAgain, where did Kerry say that he wasn't there on that date?
Posted by: Mike D at August 24, 2004 8:04 PMWhat an idiotic debunking that was, Scott. This Adams guy relies almost entirely on the fact that Sa Dec and the Cho Chien-My Tho junction are 30 to 40 miles away from the Cambodian border. But the top speed of a swift boat is 28 miles per hour. So in other words, Kerry both started and ended the day somewhere between 65 and 85 minutes away from the Cambodian border. And that's somehow supposed to debunk Kaplan's analysis. Sorry, I think I'll put more stock in the word of the highly respected defense policy reporter than in "Bill Adams." What a total hack that guy is. No wonder why you like him so much.
Posted by: JP at August 24, 2004 9:24 PMMike D: Kerry Campaign Advisor Jeh Johnson made the following statement...
JOHNSON: John Kerry has said on the record that he had a mistaken recollection earlier. He talked about a combat situation on Christmas Eve 1968 which at one point he said occurred in Cambodia. He has since corrected the recorded to say it was some place on a river near Cambodia and he is certain that at some point subsequent to that he was in Cambodia. My understanding is that he is not certain about that date.I'd call that a retraction. Thanks. Posted by: j.scott barnard at August 25, 2004 8:29 AM
(source: http://www.lesjones.com/posts/001147.shtml)
Posted by: j.scott barnard at August 25, 2004 8:30 AM"What a total hack that guy is. No wonder why you like him so much."
JP, Please stop being such an ass. You're starting to become boring and redundant. --s
Posted by: j.scott barnard at August 25, 2004 8:32 AMDo you have an actual response to my point or not? 28 miles per hour. It's just simple math, Scott.
Posted by: JP at August 25, 2004 11:09 AMJP, I'm relying on the Kerry campaign's statement that they were not in Cambodia on Christmas Eve. It's just simple english, JP.--s
Posted by: j.scott barnard at August 25, 2004 11:27 AMWell, gee, if "Bill Adams" and "Les Jones" say it's true, it must be true. How can anyone question sources like that? [snicker]
And oh, by the way, who the hell is Jeh Johnson? I googled his name and there are no references to him on the NY Times, Washington Post, USA Today, CNN, or Kerry campaign websites. The only hits I got were on right-wing hack sites and on foxnews.com (but I repeat myself). The FOX site describes him as: "a former Air Force general counsel and informal adviser to Kerry." In other words, someone with no official connection to the Kerry campaign. Get it? He's not a campaign spokesman! So the answer is no, that was not a retraction. Do you really think the Kerry campaign would send an "informal advisor" to make a public retraction on the candidate's behalf, and to do it on FOX News, of all places? Was that really the best theory you could come up with?
You're pathetic, Scott. You obviously don't even care whether your statements are true or false. All you care about is passing around Republican Party talking points like a little whore.
Posted by: JP at August 25, 2004 4:26 PMNow, now, this is a family site. Though I would kind of like to see the GOP start recruiting little whores to pass around brochures. Big tent and all.
Posted by: susan at August 25, 2004 5:37 PM