"My maker was some geek in a lab coat"

http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20031120&slug=breach20

The Seattle Times

Thursday, November 20, 2003

London reporter poses as footman in palace

By Tom Hundley

Chicago Tribune


Three months ago, Parry, 26, replied to a job posting on the Buckingham Palace Web site. On the application he gave two references — one real, one bogus. On the section that asked about employment history, he neglected to mention he was a journalist.

He got the job.








http://articles.latimes.com/1988-04-19/news/mn-1394_1_persian-gulf/2

Los Angeles Times

(Page 2 of 3)

U.S. Sinks or Damages 6 Iran Ships in Persian Gulf Clashes : Tehran Strikes Back After Oil Rig Shellings

April 19, 1988 JAMES GERSTENZANG Times Staff Writer

In a separate incident, the Iranian frigate Sahand fired on an American A-6 aircraft, the Pentagon said. In response, three A-6 jets fired Harpoon missiles and laser-guided bombs at the ship, steaming in the Strait of Hormuz at the entrance to the gulf. A Harpoon missile fired by the U.S. destroyer Joseph Strauss struck the Sahand as well, starting a fire on the 310-foot warship, which reportedly had closed in on three U.S. ships near Larak Island and had refused to change course.

"It ignored warnings from U.S. aircraft and was then attacked," a Pentagon spokesman said. "All (missiles and bombs) seem to have hit the frigate, and it is heavily damaged."

The Iranian frigate Sabalan also fired on an A-6, which struck back with a laser-guided bomb. The Pentagon said that as darkness fell over the gulf, the ship was "down by the stern, with tugs fore and aft."

Jets Fired On

In addition, four Iranian F-4 jet fighters--supplied to the pre-revolutionary government of Iran by the United States--took off from the Iranian air base at Bandar Abbas at the beginning of the action but were airborne only a few minutes before returning to their base, Fitzwater said. During the time they were aloft, the aircraft bore down on the U.S. cruiser Wainwright, which launched two missiles at the Iranian jets.








http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=35700

The American Presidency Project

Ronald Reagan

XL President of the United States: 1981 - 1989

Letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate on the United States Military Strike in the Persian Gulf

April 19, 1988

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)

On April 14, 1988, the USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS struck a mine in international waters of the Persian Gulf. Lookouts on the ROBERTS had spotted three mines lying perpendicular to the ship's course and about 700 yards away. The ROBERTS struck a mine set deeper than the others and not visible from the ship. Ten servicemen were injured. The detonation caused a nine-foot hole in the ship's hull near the main engine room, below the water line; a split in the ship's bulkhead between the main engine room and an auxiliary machinery room; and a fire. The ROBERTS is now safely in a repair facility.

An examination of the mines remaining in the water established that they were M08 mines, the same type Iran was caught placing in the water from the IRAN AJR on September 21, 1987. They had been freshly laid in an area transited by U.S. convoys. No barnacles or marine growth were on the mines. Most important, the mines bore markings of the same type and series as on those laid by the IRAN AJB. No doubt exists that Iran laid these mines for the specific purpose of damaging or sinking U.S. or other non-belligerent ships. We have warned Iran repeatedly against such hostile acts.

In response to this attack on the ROBERTS and commencing at approximately 1:00 a.m. (EDT), April 18, 1988, Armed Forces of the United States assigned to the Joint Task Force Middle East, after warning Iranian personnel and providing an opportunity to escape, attacked and effectively neutralized the Sassan and Sirri Platforms, which have been used to support unlawful Iranian attacks on non-belligerent shipping. While these events were taking place, an Iranian helicopter and small boats attacked an oil rig and the U.S.-flag vessel WILLI TIDE in the Mubarak oil field. In response, U.S. A-6 aircraft attacked three Iranian Boghammar small boats, sinking at least one.

Subsequently, U.S. Forces were attacked by the Iranian PTG JOSHAN, FFG SAHAND, and FFG SABALAN. In response to these attacks, U.S. Forces severely damaged or sank the Iranian vessels. Iranian F—4 fighters also approached the USS SIMPSON and the USS WAINWRIGHT in a threatening manner; the SIMPSON and WAINWRIGHT fired at the aircraft, causing their retreat.

Search and rescue efforts were undertaken to locate a missing AH-1 Cobra helicopter from the WAINWRIGHT. The helicopter had two men on beard. As of 7:00 a.m. (EDT) today, the search and rescue efforts were continuing.

These necessary and proportionate actions by U.S. Armed Forces were taken at my specific direction in the exercise of our inherent right of self-defense, recognized in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, and pursuant to my constitutional authority with respect to the conduct of foreign relations and as Commander in Chief. We have completed these serf-defense actions and consider the matter closed. Since March 1987, I and members of my Administration have provided to Congress letters, reports, briefings, and testimony in connection with developments in the Persian Gulf and the activities of U.S. Armed Forces in the region. In accordance with my desire that Congress be kept fully informed on this matter, I am providing this report consistent with the War Powers Resolution. I look forward to cooperating with Congress in pursuit of our mutual, overriding aim of peace and stability in the Persian Gulf region. In this connection, I regard the continued presence of U.S. Armed Forces to be essential to the achievement of that aim. Our Forces remain prepared to take any additional action necessary to protect themselves, U.S.-flag vessels, and U.S. lives. Sincerely,

RONALD REAGAN








http://www.salon.com/2004/09/09/bush_guard_duty/

SALON

THURSDAY, SEP 9, 2004 04:45 PM PDT

Stung!

A swarm of new media stories on young George W. Bush's dereliction of duty pops his heroic-leadership bubble.

BY ERIC BOEHLERT

TOPICS: GEORGE W. BUSH, TEXAS, NEWS

On Feb. 13, as controversy swirled around President Bush’s service in the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War, the White House released more than 400 pages of documents on the press corps, proving, it claimed, that Bush had served honorably and fulfilled his commitment. The sudden rush of records, often redundant, jumbled and out of chronological order, generally left reporters baffled. From Bush’s point of view, the document dump was a political success, as the controversy cooled and the paper trail ran dry.

In retrospect, it’s doubtful that even White House aides understood all the information embedded in the records, specifically the payroll documents. It’s also unlikely they realized how damaging the information could be when read in the proper context. Seven months later, the document dump is coming back to haunt the White House, thanks to researcher Paul Lukasiak, who has spent that time closely examining the paperwork, and more important, analyzing U.S. statutory law, Department of Defense regulations, and Air Force policies and procedures of the 1960s and 1970s. As a result, Lukasiak arrived at the overwhelming conclusion that not only did Bush walk away from his final two years of military obligation, coming dangerously close to desertion, but he attempted to cover up his absenteeism through swindle and fraud.

Lukasiak’s findings, detailed on his Web site the AWOL Project, have since been bolstered and augmented by independent research by the Boston Globe and the Associated Press. On Wednesday, CBS News reported what may be among the most damaging details yet: that Bush’s squadron commander, the late Col. Jerry Killian, complained he was being pressured by higher-ups to give Bush a favorable evaluation after he suspended him from flying for failure to take his annual physical exam. Titled “CYA,” Killian’s memo concluded, “I’m having trouble running interference and doing my job.”








http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/25/1085393/-Dan-Rather-got-it-right-George-W-Bush-DID-go-AWOL#

DAILY KOS

WED APR 25, 2012 AT 01:33 PM PDT

Dan Rather got it right George W. Bush DID go AWOL

byLefty Coaster

I always suspected something like this was the case. The new issue of Texas Monthly delves into the long neglected story of George W. Bush less than stellar military career in the Texas Air National Guard. The Texas Monthly lays out the surprisingly complicated mechanizations that led to the Junior Bush landing this plumb spot in the T.A.N.G.

That George W. got special treatment at a time when draftees were likely to end up slogging through the jungles of Viet Nam shouldn't come as too much of a surprise to anyone who knows how America routinely gives special treatment to the offspring of the 1%.



- posted by Kerry Burgess 11:25 PM Pacific Time Spokane Valley Washington USA Friday 09 November 2018