Or the Kerry-Edwards ticket.

Or anything, for that matter.

Let's see. John Kerry was awarded a silver star "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action..." He demonstrated against the Vietnam War, which in retrospect looks like a brave and correct thing to do - it was a sinkhole. He's been in public service continually for nearly 30 years. Whether you like his politics or not, he appears to be an honorable man of genuine integrity.

Someone introduced him at the 2004 Democratic Convention. Now that person is doing time. Again: this has what to do with John Kerry? Or the Kerry-Edwards ticket? Or anything at all?

Talk about a slow-news item. C'mon Tom old friend: this really is BS.

Tom-

I know Wade Sanders.

I debated him on television (early in Iraq campaign). I have had dinner with him ten or fifteen times. He has been to my house. He was extraordinarily opinionated, and he was a vociferous advocate for Kerry and a virulent hater of Bush, which was bad enough but which I could respect because of their history.

I respect Wade, and John Kerry, for their service in Vietnam and for volunteering to get off of the ships on onto the boats upriver and into the fight. I supported the war in Iraq, in which I fought, and when I went on NPR and the Jim Lehrer NewsHour I made clear that I respected Kerry as a man who raised his hand when the nation called.

Wade was, however, the king of the ad hominem attack, particularly when it came to the Swift Boat veterans. He never addressed the charges the Swift Boat guys lodged against Kerry; rather, he attacked them and their credibility.

So this case proves that irony is not dead.

One note: Wade is a lawyer. That makes this even worse: he knows how the system works, which means he pled guilty because he was guilty.

Stan Coerr

I think a better question would be how the hell did he get the silver star in the first place? He was close friends with Kerry, ever since they were in Vietnam together and his bronze star was upgraded in 1992 to a silver star. Is it really a stretch to think that some political shenanigans were involved here?

I have no problem with judging a politician by the man he picks at his VP nominee, and well as the man he picks to introduce him to a national audience.

That's not McCarthyism, that's realism.

Best,
Tom

having to do with his policy positions and his own actions and voting record. On Edwards, agreed, but those were his own actions.

This child porn thing is a disturbing trend, while guilt seems most probable here- "research", bah- it appears to me that this country has a lot of people, in government, into kiddie porn or it is a useful tool to bring people down and/or blackmail them. Putting such materials on a person's computer, without their knowledge, is a pretty easy thing to do. And this country goes into hysterics anytime "the children" are involved, perhaps to assuage our guilt knowing the debt and mess we are leaving for them. "Little Billy, we've left you a broken, 3rd world country, where your every action and thought is monitored, and the infrastructure is non-existent, but we just wanted to keep you safe!"

I wonder if the naval captain in question may have retired with extraordinary heroism pay? Not generally known is that a Silver Star or Navy Cross recipient may petition the Secretary of Navy for such, if it’s felt the citation merits such consideration due to extenuating circumstances during the action cited . . .it is a one time shot, with no resubmits nor appeals, and if approved, later if one makes the service a career, upon retirement to the appropriate retired list, orders will indicate this.

I find it highly unusual to hear of a revocation of an award given for valor for a completely separate action, as repugnant has I find the captain's much later conduct to have been leading to his conviction. . .although I also gather there was some controversy surrounding Sen. Kerry’s award as well. . .a possible connection?

Again, I wonder if a review of the citation and attached endorsements with witness statements was prompted by a possible extraordinary heroism pay issue and someone with an ax to grind over the original awarding of the Silver Star raising the issue. . .Swift Boat'ed so to speak?

IMO the connection Sanders has with John Kerry is purely coincidental to this story. However, I do think the story is a newsworthy item because the Navy revoked the medal. I realize there are instances in the distant past of this happening, but in my own 19 years of service I do not know of any instance of someone's medal being revoked ex post facto. I would surely like to know more of the circumstances and justification behind it. Reprehensible as the crime Sanders committed is, it has absolutely nothing to do with what the man did in combat. If the Navy fabricated a reason to take his medal away because of the severe humilition of an unrelated event several years later then we have a right to uncover the truth. The man has been justly punished for his crime, but it would be just as wrong to invalidate an honorable act of courage in combat if unjustified. And yes, it would smack of political retribution. Maybe I'm wrong and the medal was deservedly taken away, but I believe it's fair to ask the Navy to justify itself publicly to those who served honorable that could be subject to similar acts in the future.

Listen: I believe Sanders's explanation is known as the Townshend Defense.

Tom, if this thread proceeds along the lines suggested by JoeJitsu's posts above, then it's just a flat-out political discussion with no end and no redeeming qualities. It'll be like your typical AM radio talk shows, taxi driver monologues, bar talk, etc., where political positions are stated and restated, with no real dialogue or exchange of good ideas. That would be such a disappointing come-down from the usual standard of your blog, where there has been genuine discussion, exchange of opinions, sharing of information, real learning, etc., about substantive topics like the military budget, military personnel and promotion policies, COIN, etc., etc. I can't understand the choice of this particular topic, but I guess it was a good way to shake up the troops and make sure they're not getting complacent and taking for granted the normally high level of discussion in this blog.

Sanders was among several Vietnam veterans who defended the nominee against criticism of his service by other 'Swift Boat' members. Several years after the campaign, Sanders was hit with the child pornography case in federal court in southern California. An FBI agent claimed to have found several images and videos of underage naked girls on his computer.He pleaded guilty and was sentenced in 2009 to more than three years in prison. At the time, Mr jenna haze and others officials presented letters to the court testifying on behalf of his character and service. Sanders' lawyers had argued that he obtained the graphic images because he was doing research on child pornography.

The whole world knew how weak Obama would as president. That is why he had world support. A weak United States President is good for Europe. RIO Kim Jong Il never made such bold statements when Bush was in office..