Buried in today's letters at Eric Alterman's
Altercation:
Name: Paul Lukasiak
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Hi Eric!
For the past four months I've been examining Bush's military records within the context provided by the relevant statutes, DoD regulations, and Air Force policies and procedures of that era. (I've scanned them and posted them
here.)
I've finally started publishing my findings on Bush's military records.
My first piece is on what happened to Bush AFTER he left TXANG.
As it turns out, when you compare the records to the laws, regulations, policies and procedures of that era, there is only one conclusion to be drawn...
The Air Force itself designated Bush a deserter (technically, a "non-locatee", which is the term they used when, instead of court martialling someone who had a draft-deferment, they certified him for immediate induction through the selective service system).
This is the ONLY way to explain that AF 526 that shows that Bush was placed on "Inactive Status" effective September 15, 1973.
The piece is fairly long, because I figure I needed to cross all my t's and dot all my i's....
If Lukasiak is right, due to Bush's failure to show up for duty, his file was sent to his draft board for him to be placed on active status toward the end of Vietnam and someone there pulled strings to put him back in a safe place.
Here is a summary:
An examination of the Bush military files within the context of US Statutory Law, Department of Defense regulations, and Air Force policies and procedures of that era lead to a single conclusion: George W. Bush was considered a deserter by the United States Air Force.
After Bush quit TXANG, he still had nine months of his six-year military commitment left to serve. As a result, Bush became a member of the Air Force Reserves and was transferred to the authority of the Air Reserve Personnel Center (ARPC) in Denver, Colorado. Because this was supposed to be a temporary assignment, ARPC had to review Bush's records to determine where he should ultimately be assigned. That examination would have led to three conclusions: That Bush had "failed to satisfactorily participate" as defined by United States law and Air Force policy, that TXANG could not account for Bush's actions for an entire year, and that Bush's medical records were not up to date. Regardless of what actions ARPC contemplated when reviewing Bush's records, all options required that Bush be certified as physically fit to serve, or as unfit to serve. ARPC thus had to order Bush to get a physical examination, for which Bush did not show up. ARPC then designated Bush as AWOL and a "non-locatee" (i.e. a deserter) who had failed to satisfactorily participate in TXANG, and certified him for immediate induction through his local draft board. Once the Houston draft board got wind of the situation, strings were pulled; and documents were generated which directly contradict Air Force policy, and which were inconsistent with the rest of the records released by the White House.
I have looked at Lukasiak's data and he seems to be right. If he proves correct then the hypocrisy of forcing soldiers to stay longer than promised or forcing them out of retirement, etc., will be so glaring and distasteful that Bush, and his GOP co-conspirators, will be thoroughly trounced by Kerry in November.
This from the AP has already been mentioned today but will take on new meaning if Lukasiak proves his point:
WASHINGTON - Digging deeper for help in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Army is recalling to active duty about 5,600 people who recently left the service and still have a reserve obligation.
The Army is pinpointing certain skills in short supply, like medical specialists, military police, engineers, transportation specialists and logistics experts. Those selected for recall will be given at least 30 days' notice to report for training, an Army statement said.
The Army is so stretched for manpower that in April it broke a promise to some active-duty units, including the 1st Armored Division, that they would not have to serve more than 12 months in Iraq. It also has extended the tours of other units, including some in Afghanistan.
"It is a reflection of the fact that the (active-duty) military is too small for the breadth of challenges we are facing," Goure said.
The men and women recalled from the Individual Ready Reserve will be assigned to Army Reserve and National Guard units that have been or soon will be mobilized for deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan, unless they successfully petition for exemption based on medical or other limitations.
Members of Congress were notified Tuesday and a formal Army announced was scheduled for Wednesday.
Those in the Individual Ready Reserve are former enlisted soldiers and officers who have some nonactive-duty military service obligation remaining, under terms they signed when they signed on but who chose not to fulfill it in the Guard or Reserve.