World Net Daily responds

[scottcsmith]

Note: edited to remove something mean I said about someone in my post. Don't want this thread locked!

I had posted earlier about Ann Coulter's libelous column of Max Cleland, where she said Cleland just stumbled upon a grenade as he was "about to drink beer with friends." I posted the account by Cleland's CO, Maury Cralle. I then got in touch with many of the web sites where Coulter's column is published. The first response came from World Net Daily. Here it is:

http://www.emory.edu/EMORY_MAGAZINE/summer97/max.html

"After finishing his course work at Emory, Cleland volunteered to serve in Vietnam. Promoted to the rank of captain in the Army, he worked as a Signal Corps officer helping set up and maintain communications systems in the field and saw action in the bloody battle for control of Khe Sanh. Toward the end of his one-year tour of duty, Cleland was getting off a helicopter when he noticed a grenade had fallen off his vest. Thinking that the pin was still in, he instinctively bent down to pick it up and was rocked by a
tremendous explosion."

Cleland clearly had no idea the grenande (sic) was live, regardless of whose grenade it was. While what happened to him is regrettable, there was no bravery involved in doing what he did, nor is he a hero for doing so. Coulter is 100% spot on for calling the Dems to account for trying to pump him up as a war hero when he was, in fact, just one of many tragic casualties of a war started by Democrats and grossly mismanaged by Democrats. If Cleland and Kerry are the best that the socialists have to offer in their bid to malign Bush, they are in a lot of trouble.

Tom Ambrose
Commentary Editor
WorldNetDaily.com

How's that for arrogance?. Ambrose of course ignored the account supplied by Cleland's CO on what really happened, in favor of the fantasy version provided by Coulter -- an account that Coulter does not even attribute to anyone.

I find it amusing that right-wingers expect us liberals to believe that George W. Bush was not AWOL from the Alabama National Guard based on what one man, Bill Calhoun, has said, in that he remembers spending time with Bush in Alabama. Never mind that Bush was not even based in Alabama during the time frame Calhoun remembers. But that's supposed to be proof enough for us. The likes of Coulter will, of course, ignore the account given by Cleland's CO, in favor of the version that paints a Democrat in the worst possible light. Typical.

[jmags]

1. That is incredible.

Absolutely incredible.

[RedSox02]

2. What's telling here is..

... the fact that the commentary editor at Worldnetdaily (which by the way claims to be an independent news site)
#1 Calls Dems "Socialists"
#2 Claims Coulter is "100% spot on".
#3 ignores the CO's account, which you pointed out.

A letter like this needs to be saved. It really exposes Worldnetdaily for what it is. Not that everybody didn't already know, but they will still try to claim to be independent.

[still_one]

3. Why didn't they mention how he got the silver star?

[Dimsdale]

4. It's simple really.

Nothing they spew is credible. What would these people be doing if there weren't a need for promoting a pack of lies in a vain attempt to maintain Chimpco's sacking of the country?

[ComerPerro]

5. Not only that

But Calhoun's statements also describe Bush as someone who didn't talk to anyone, was quiet, kept to himself, and that is why no one remembers him.

Obviously that is a load of shit, seeing as Bush was described by many as the "Texas Souffle"

[spanone]

6. There's your compassionate conservative. Kind heart eh?

F*ck him. and her.

[BigBigBear]

7. Cleland

1) Volunteered for Vietnam - didn't get a cush spot the NG like Shrub, nor 5 deferrments like Cheney.

2) was dropped into a combat zone.

3) received commendations from his superiors for heroism - what this snotnosed punk considers heroic is irrelevant.

This people are lying maggots, they're scared and morally bankrupt, and no one but delusional Bush sycophants take them seriously.

[kcwayne]

8. Nixon was one of the first advocates of sending troops to Viet Nam

when he was Vice President under Truman.

He campaigned on ending the war in 68, yet with his brilliant "management" of the conflict millions of people were killed as he and Kissinger expanded the war secretly and illegally into Laos and Cambodia.

Peace with Honor was the catch phrase used by the Nixon Administration. In the end they negotiated a surrender and left with no honor, and blood dripping off their hands.

[Johnyawl]

15. Nixon was not Truman's VP

He was Eisenhowers VP.

[kcwayne]

19. Oops, thanks for the correction. Memory fades with age...

[Brian Sweat]

9. Even if picking up the grenade doesn't take bravery, he is still a hero.

He give three lims in service to his country and that qualifies him as a hero in my book and that ignores that fact that he was awarded for bravery on several different occasions.

Ambrose is an asshole who intentionally ignores important facts to make his point.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[EarlG]

11. I think this thread may have been locked in error

Sorry about that. Unlocking.

[still_one]

12. Here is what really happened

Army General Order 4361, dated June 9, 1968, states that the Silver Star was awarded to U.S. Army Capt. Max Cleland "for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in Vietnam." In 1968, then Capt. Cleland was in action at the battle of Khe Sanh. Below is the language contained in his Silver Star Order:

"Awarded: Silver Star; Date Action: 4 April 1968; Theater: Republic of Vietnam

"Action: For gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Captain Cleland distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action on 4 April 1968, while serving as communications officer of the 2nd Battalion, 12th Calvary during an enemy attack near Khe Sanh, Republic of Vietnam.

"When the battalion command post came under a heavy enemy rocket and mortar attack, Capt. Cleland, disregarding his own safety, exposed himself to the rocket barrage as he left his covered position to administer first aid to his wounded comrades. He then assisted in moving the injured personnel to covered positions. Continuing to expose himself, Capt. Cleland organized his men into a work party to repair the battalion communications equipment which had been damaged by enemy fire. His gallant action is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

"Authority: By direction of the President, under the provisions of the Act of Congress, approved 9 July 1968."

The action cited occurred on April 4, 1968, four days before the grenade explosion that cost Sen. Cleland both legs and an arm.

As has been widely reported in the Atlanta Constitution beginning in 1968, then-Capt. Cleland, an Army Signal Officer, volunteered for infantry service to relieve the stranded Marines and members of the Army's 1st Cavalry at the battle of Khe Sanh.

While disembarking from a transport helicopter, Capt. Cleland reached for a grenade he believed had become dislodged from his web gear. Later it was discovered that the grenade belonged to a young soldier new to the theater. That soldier had improperly prepared the grenade pin for easy detonation and had dropped it while coming off the helicopter. The grenade exploded and severely injured Capt. Cleland.

The Silver Star is the third-highest valor decoration of the United States. Sen. Cleland also was awarded a Soldier's Medal, Bronze Star, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960), Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Parachutist Badge.

Thank you for your interest in Sen. Cleland and your interest in the campaign.

Tommy Thompson

[papau]

13. I also emailed - it will interesting if I get a response.

:-)

[Q]

14. The Fascists post these stories to distract...

...from the fact that the entire Bush* administration consists of cowards and chickenhawks. They did the same thing to Gore...belittling that as a journalist he never saw 'action'...another deflection from the fact that Bush* was too chickenshit to even go anywhere near Vietnam.

[scottcsmith]

18. I think the right has short-term memory issues

When Bob Dole was running for president in 1996, wasn't his status as a war hero brought up by right-wingers? All the time? Didn't Dole mention it a lot himself? Yet when we liberals mention a war hero who is a Democrat, we're doing so to "pump up" the Democrat as a hero when he doesn't deserve it? I hate the fucking right.

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

16. I feel dirty just reading his conceited, arrogant response.

I need a bath in sulphuric acid, to wipe the facist stain from my mind.

[Cat Atomic]

17. He's obviously a little nutty.

It's best to let guys like that talk. They just drive people off.