Would you call Bush a coward for going AWOL?

Question

It's now well established that George W. Bush never showed up for National Guard duty for a period of approximately one year, possibly more, in 1972-1973. Despite all the talk about "honor and dignity," Bush seems to have a problem meeting his commitments.

Bush says he's released all his records...if that's true, then has anyone seen:

Any pages from Bush's flight log
Records from the Flight Inquiry Board convened after Bush was suspended as a pilot
Any evidence of Bush's reclassification into another AFSC after suspension as a pilot
Any photos of George Bush in a military uniform after 1972
Anything at all from any Alabama unit with Bush's name on it
Any copies of form 44a from the Alabama National Guard certifying attendance
Air Force Form 142 (Aviation Service Audit Worksheet)
Anything proving service (not just receipt of pay) by Bush between May 1972 and May 1973?

Answer 1

I think arrogant is the word. He avoided combat by being part of the champagne squadron. But he was so very arrogant that he didn't bother to report for duty.

He was AWOL long enough to be classed as a deserter.

The so-called proof that he was not AWOL hinges on the testimony of an old woman who says that even though GSA says that unit was supplied with IBM Selectric II typewriters, she never got hers (even though her supervisor signed for it). That would have made one character in the documentation Rather presented impossible. Based on her perjury, it all went away...

Bush considered himself above everybody else then just as he considers himself above the Constitution ("just a piece of paper") now. But the crime and cowardice are in his playing games with people's lives. He has neither the intelligence nor the experience to be "Commander in Chief" (seen the special jacket he had made up?), he has never had a clear and achievable strategy in Iraq and believes that the horrible mathematics of war* will make him seem to have had one.

*that being it does not matter how many of our soldiers die so long as we can keep sending them longer than the other side can.

Answer 2

Try nominating someone who can actually beat somebody so inept next time. If such a supposed imbecile can beat the supposed best the Democrats could muster, what does that say about the Democrats? Oh, and no, he wasn't AWOL. The National Guard has a different way of doing things. He made up the missed assignments to the satisfaction of his commanding officers and was granted an honorable discharge. That is the bottom line whether you like it or not.

Answer 3

Ok, lets spell it out very slowly for you.

You cannot go AWOL from the National Guard.

AWOL is a UCMJ charge and the National Guard is not under the UCMJ.

The National Guard does not earn leave, so just how could you be absent without leave ??

DUH HUH !!!!!!!!!

And before you start whining about it, yes, if the National guard is federalized and called to ACTIVE DUTY, then a National Guardsmen is under the UCMJ and can go AWOL.

But Bush's National Guard Unit was never called to active duty.

so no such thing as Bush going AWOL.


and to your point about proving service, I have my dd-214 to prove my service, but there is no way I could prove that I was actually on the AFB's that I was stationed on. I couldn't prove that I was there in any specific year. so your point is moot.



and by the way, why didn't john kerry ever release his military records to the media ?

Answer 4

The person above me said it was slander... but its actually liable... unless of course its true.... I don't think its right to call you a coward because you called bush a coward... you never sent troops to do what you were signed up to do but didn't have the balls for it so you hid relying on you family name to keep you safe... which it did. and not he continues to send troops, and saying there will be more death like its nothing to him, as if soldiers aren't people as if they are little green men and he's ok with sacrificing them to save face... I think that is the coward part...

Answer 5

Bush's enemies say all this proves he was a cowardly deserter. Nonsense. He was a pampered rich kid who took advantage.
No better and no worse than Bil Clinton and his draft-dodging escapades.

Bill Clinton was the only man of his prime draft age classified 1-A by the draft board in 1968 whose pre-induction physical examination was put off for 10.5 months. This delay was more than twice as long as anyone else and more than five times longer than most area men of comparable eligibility. And no, it didn't stop there! Read on ...
http://www.1stcavmedic.com/bill-clinton-draft.htm

Answer 6

Gee let's see 1972 to 1973 that was when the war was ending right? The USAF had stopped shipping NG pilots to Vietnam in about 1970.
I beg to differ on the "receipt of pay." Having been a member of the National Guard if you do not show up for drill you do NOT get paid. Period. So the fact that he has pay stubs PROVES he showed up for drill. Case closed.

Answer 7

Are you aware that your ignorant accusation is actually SLANDER? Good thing you live in America, because in many countries you would get a visit in the night, be dragged from your home and never be seen again for making slanderous comments about the leader of those countries.

Answer 8

No, I haven't. But I also call him a coward for not going and looking in the faces of the families he has destroyed as president with his bombing of Iraq and Afghanistan who have lost family and livelihoods because of him. I also call him a coward for not forcing his daughters into military service when all around him the people of America have had husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, daughters, sons and lovers that have gone and died. While his live in perfect contentment financially and emotionally. He's a coward and worse!

Answer 9

Unlike you I have read Bush's log and I actually read the forged report. Pentagon made that public at Bush's request. It shows Bush completed his tour of duty honorably and got his ticket punched.

Dan Rather was proven to be unethical and Mary Mapes has lost all her credibility from the very cheap and very obvious forgery.

I cannot believe you are still banging that drum. That is so 2004.

Missing from your diatribe is that John Kerry got a bad conduct discharge from the Navy and would not release his military records until after the election. Those show the Navy court-martialed him and that he applied for and got a pardon from the Carter administration.

Answer 10

I would not call G.W. a coward. I also would not say he was AWOL. He may not always be right but he has the courage to do the unpopular deeds that need to be done to protect the American public. I thank God that he was in office on 9/11 rather than our other choices. Why not take your antagonistic crap to a political site and save us all from having to read uninformed, unintelligent, biased, and all around slanderous drivel.