You’re talking about the National Guard, whose equipment budget is primarily funded by the State. Back in those days, I hardly think that they are going to buy the latest and the greatest for all of their units.

On the other hand, rank has its privileges (RHIP), so it wouldn’t surprise me if the Tx National Guard Bureau HQ in Austin did get the best for their executive staff, so Flight Ops might rank a machine somewhere between WWII vintage and IBM selectrics.

This is only typical of most bureaucracies. To wit, FBI HQ working amongst wood paneling and luxury trim while field offices run on DOS and Win 3x even in the 21st century.

Even if proven to be legit, you can’t discount the context of the time frame.

A unit typist typed up a form to be signed by the OIC. In this particular example, I believe it was just a case of routine paperwork, with no intention of enforcement, unless there was a verbal understanding of “or else”. Rather than ordering GW to take a physical, it was an authorization if he so chose to do so.

Why?

F102s were being phased out, transistioning to a F101 Voodoo (hmmm, voodoo economics?) training unit. In other words, winding down interceptor operations, of which reservist pilots maintain their hours by flying missions and bringing on full-time instructors to train pilots for the Air Force.

Plus the war was winding down, so pilots were de facto being given early-outs if it suited them, or if they were determined to stay in, it was up to them to find a way or a unit that would take them in.

Yes, orders are orders, but sometimes they can be optional, something to pull out when challenged, otherwise nada. In those cases, it is something that is between the person holding it and the person issuing it.

That’s nothing unusual. I’ve had commanders issue me orders so I could take advantage of something that otherwise might be denied to me based on my status.

My favorite example would be the time when several of us that were “ordered” to take a 3-day Alaskan King Salmon fishing vacation. The orders entitled us to fly roundtrip 1st class on a military plane and to stay in on-base billeting.

In my case, they returned without me because, after the second day, I left them to spend the rest of the summer camping out in the Prince William Sound–so sue me .

Another example would be friends of mine who were regularily “ordered” to be on a plane flying down & back to the Virgin Islands for the weekend every month or so. Once there, they were on their own. So what happens if they didn’t go?

Bottomline, those making the most noise about AWOL don’t have a clue about how the Guard operates or chose to gloss over it.

Also, If I were the Bush team I would be getting my lawyers together and sue the pants off of CBS for libel, because I believe that they could make a great case that malice was involved.

But they didn’t even flinch at the flagrant lies of “Fahrenheit 9/11″, and numerous other liberal fabrications. That just shows that the Bush family is better than their accusers.

Just my opinion.

“In addition, the documents are backed up not only by independent handwriting and forensic document experts but by sources familiar with their content,” the statement continued. “Contrary to some rumors, no internal investigation is underway at CBS News nor is one planned.” (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/09/06/politics/main641481.shtml)

Looks like Dan Rather & Co. are going to continue to slam Mr. Bush no matter what cost to their credibility.

Like you, La Shawn, I’m concerned that the WH (or let’s be real, the flunky who decided to release this) didn’t argue the veracity of these documents simply because they conflicted with the official story. That makes it look like they aren’t convinced of their own story.

Better to give them to the press with no comment beyond “Here’s what CBS gave us” than to make a comment when you haven’t had a chance to investigate.

they didnt actually release them, they have never had them. They only handed out to the press, what was given to them. No comments were added.

I think there are a few possible explanations. One. If the White House had atatcked the documents directly, it would have been seen as a Rep vs Dem thing. But by acting as if they are up front, and dont care what teh documents say, just give them to the public. It also contrasts with Kerry refusing to release his own records.

Now that third parties are the ones discrediting the documents, it is not seen as some White House coordinated attempt to discredit them.

This, if true, is serious business. I hope the FBI is checking into it. Whoever perpetrated this fraud should be locked up.