On Sun, 11 Jul 2004 09:19:56 -0700, "Rude Dog"
wrote:

I'm not certain who is worse. A person who joins the Air National Guard to
avoid going to Vietnam or a person who goes to Vietnam to obtain political
status and power.

It is well documented that Kerry was assigned to relatively save duty to
obtain "combat" experience, then used his contacts among high ranking Navy
officers to manipulate his way out of that duty.

There are a couple of things Bush-gashers are overlooking in their
zeal to bash Bush.

First, military aviation is not a "safe" occupation, in wartime or in
peacetime. Ask anyone who's actually served.

Second, that famous "Mission Accomplished" banner aboard the carrier
where Bush landed in the S-3 has been used to ridicule Bush and the
war effort. The "Mission Accomplished" referred to the ship's
deployment.

How many aircraft carrier deployments, in peacetime or in wartime,
have been conducted without loss of life?

The Ship's Company had every right to declare its mission
accomplished, and would have done so had Bush been there or not.