While I'm glad Kerry has responded strongly to the Swift Boat Hucksters and pointed out Bush's complicity in their slander, I think Kerry could take the attack one big step further.
Kerry has an opportunity to turn this issue on it's head and use it against Bush. His response would be even more effective if he would link the attacks on him to Bush's poor treatment of veterans (e.g., cutting veteran health benefits) and those currently serving (e.g., back door draft). He can call it part of a pattern of Bush's disrespect for those who've seen real combat.
Kerry's "Bring it On!" challenge would then be not only a defense of his own personal record of service, but of all men and women who have served and have been treated shoddily by this Administration. He has an opportunity to turn a personal issue into an issue of national concern, and he shouldn't pass that up.
While Wednesday's VFW conference would have been the perfect venue to make this case, it's not too late to take advantage of this argument. How about it, John?