Why didn't George Bush go to Vietnam?

Question

He could have volunteered out of the Guard (Champagne Division) and went to Nam-there was a shortage of pilots during that conflict-as noted Admiral Zumwalt-but many young pilots were off limits.

Answer 1

Because at the time, his dad was head of the CIA. You can't have the child of a high-positioned official in war-that would make him a target for kidnapping, and would have put his dad in a conflict-of-interest situation. The kidnappers would be making demands contrary to the policy of the war, and Bush 41 would have been likely to do whatever he had to for his kid.

PS- This is a classic liberal line-if they're the ones that are so against the Vietnam War, shouldn't they be praising Bush for not serving in war?

Answer 2

I thought you knew, Bush shouldn't be held accountable for his actions. All these "what about Clinton", the concept is that Bush is infalliable, or so they think. As for his little stint in the National Guard, last I remember, he went MIA and yet somehow, due to who he knows (same with Yale), he was given Honorary Discharge, which is quite odd, seeing he never even stepped on the field.

Answer 3

This isn't something that I hold against Bush. (there are plenty of more important issues to disagree with him on). Clearly- he came from a wealthy, well connected, privileged family. That's no secret. Also not a secret were his partying, alcoholic ways as a young man. So- his family used their connections to get their boy a safer and more interesting military gig, flying jets in the National Guard, rather than being a foot soldier in Nam. Sounds reasonable to me. Heck- I'd consider it smart.

Now- where I have the problem is when you compare Kerry's Nam service to Bush's. Here's a guy who also was priviledged, and could have gotten out of it, but instead he volunteered and served with distinction and was a bonafide hero. Then- when he saw the indescretions of the american forces- he did the american thing and legally and non-violently spoke out against things that he felt were wrong. Kerry was testifying in front of congress at an age when Bush was partying his *** off, and barely showing up for duty.

the whole 'swift boat veterans for truth' is an abomination and an embarassment to Republicans. It was dirty politics at its worst.

Answer 4

Um no Bush did not SERVE in the guard, he was ENLISTED thank to his father and James Baker. He just you know, collected the paychecks are rarely bothered to show up. Also Cheney himself had 5 deferments to get out of Viet Nam

Answer 5

the reason Kerry joined and Bush did not replaced into because Bush got here of age proper even as the conflict replaced into the most unpopular and the biggest backlash hostile to it. Had he been Kerry's age, he would were sucked into the void, yet when you consider that he replaced into many years youthful than he got here to the age the position maximum persons prevented the draft.

Answer 6

Where was Clinton in Vietnam??, at least Bush served in the National Guard, and if he didnt have to go why would he??/

Answer 7

Who are we to judge the reasons why someone went and didn't go in a war that started more than 40 years ago?

Fodder for trolling and flaming.

Answer 8

Why didn't Clinton? At least Bush served in the Guard - Clinton fled the country.

Answer 9

Because he was trained to fly a type of aircraft that was not used in Vietnam.

BTW - if you have not volunteered to go to Iraq. You are a hypocrite.

Answer 10

Daddy's bucks kept him out of Vietnam.