AP sues for access to Bush Guard records

[gldstwmn]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/nation...tional%20Guard

WASHINGTON -- The Associated Press sued the Pentagon and the Air Force on Tuesday, seeking access to all records of George W. Bush's military service during the Vietnam War.

Filed in federal court in New York, where The AP is headquartered, the lawsuit seeks access to a copy of Bush's microfilmed personnel file from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission in Austin.

The White House says the government has already released all the records of Bush's military service.

Controversy surrounds Bush's time in the Texas Air National Guard because it is unclear from the record what duties he performed for the military when he was working on the political campaign of a U.S. Senate candidate in Alabama.

There are questions as to whether the file provided to the news media earlier this year is complete, says the lawsuit, adding that these questions could possibly be answered by reviewing a copy of the microfilm of Bush's personnel file in the Texas archives.

The Air National Guard of the United States, a federal entity, has control of the microfilm, which should be disclosed in its entirety under the Freedom of Information Act, the lawsuit says.

The White House has yet to respond to a request by the AP in April asking the president to sign a written waiver of his right to keep records of his military service confidential. Bush gave an oral waiver in a TV appearance that preceded the White House's release this year of materials concerning his National Guard service.

The government "did not expedite their response ... they did not produce the file within the time required by law, and they will not now estimate when the file might be produced or even confirm that an effort has been initiated to retrieve a copy from the microfilm at the Texas archives," the lawsuit says.



In the absence of any privacy objection by the president and in light of the importance of the file's release in advance of the November election, says the lawsuit, AP seeks a court order to compel the release of records "that are being unlawfully withheld from the public."

The released records were from the Texas Air National Guard at Camp Mabry and the Defense Financing Accounting Service in Denver.

Under Texas law, a copy of military personnel files of those serving in the Texas Air National Guard must be retained on microfilm at the Texas archives.

The lawsuit says that no one has looked at any of the Texas Air National Guard records maintained at the state archives since 1996.

Responding to AP's request, the Texas Air National Guard concluded that Bush's file was a federal record under control of the U.S. Air National Guard.

When the government did not produce the documents, AP appealed to the Pentagon, saying that by law, the microfilm copy should have been produced within 20 days. The Pentagon said it could not respond within the legally required period.

[strandinthewind]

They better hope they released it all!!!!!! Otherwise, it will be big trouble.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

They better hope they released it all!!!!!! Otherwise, it will be big trouble.

There's a man out there who literally witnessed Karen Hughes tell Bush's staff to trash any record that would make him look bad, and after the cronies left the room, he found Guard documents in the trash. He was on TV at the height of this back in January, I don't know why he wasn't taken seriously.

[Patti]

Hmmm, seems they're dragging their feet for some reason. Could there be a problem? Let's hope so!

Patti

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by dissention

There's a man out there who literally witnessed Karen Hughes tell Bush's staff to trash any record that would make him look bad, and after the cronies left the room, he found Guard documents in the trash. He was on TV at the height of this back in January, I don't know why he wasn't taken seriously.

I remember that guy, but he had no proof and if I remember correctly rhere were other problems. If the press had thought it credible, they would have pounced. I mean without proof, I rarely take anyone seriously. Maybe this stuff will shed some light. I do not remember what documents are missing from the information they released, which supposedly is all of it?

[dissention]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I do not remember what documents are missing from the information they released, which supposedly is all of it?

If it was all of it, the AP wouldn't be suing, though.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by dissention

If it was all of it, the AP wouldn't be suing, though.

That remains to be seen. Any buthead can file a lawsuit

Interestingly, how would AP know there is more, why now, what have they seen, who have they talked to? This will have to play out and I guess we will know more later.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

That remains to be seen. Any buthead can file a lawsuit

Interestingly, how would AP know there is more, why now, what have they seen, who have they talked to? This will have to play out and I guess we will know more later.

I think the main reason they filed the lawsuit is because they finally aren't taking Bush at his word and don't believe that what he released was all of it. It took him years to finally release what he did, and even then, a lot of it was pretty cryptic and vague. Now, the full records are being held and no one will give them up. The WH says everything has been released. If that's the case, why won't make a copy of the microfilm? If they're telling the truth, the press will only find what has already been out. But they won't make a copy and that obviously means something is being withheld.

[strandinthewind]

Time will tell. See, I think this is part of Rove's method. He leaks a little and gets everyone up in arms and then later lets it all come out and people are angry at the press and D who are left looking foolish. He is trying to do this with the torture stuff right now. I mean what other reason could there be for not releasing all of the docs., which apparently are not in his eyes harmful, when the initial ones are released. I think it is part of his plan and it has worked so far in the eyes of many people. I think it is very risky because the more he does it, the more transparent it is, at least to me.

Also, although I do not like him, I just think Rove is not an idiot and he clearly would not be so stupid as to say he has released all available records when he knows there are other damning ones out there that the press can have access to. But, stranger things have happened

[dissention]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Time will tell. See, I think this is part of Rove's method. He leaks a little and gets everyone up in arms and then later lets it all come out and people are angry at the press and D who are left looking foolish. He is trying to do this with the torture stuff right now. I mean what other reason could there be for not releasing all of the docs., which apparently are not in his eyes harmful, when the initial ones are released. I think it is part of his plan and it has worked so far in the eyes of many people. I think it is very risky because the more he does it, the more transparent it is, at least to me.

VERY good point. Unfortunately, though, it's only seen as transparent by those of us with any intelligence when it comes to politics. The majority of Americans could care less and therefore don't realize when they're being duped.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by dissention

VERY good point. Unfortunately, though, it's only seen as transparent by those of us with any intelligence when it comes to politics. The majority of Americans could care less and therefore don't realize when they're being duped.

And - the right wing pundits use it as an attempt to discredit all reporting outside of their shows. MANY people watch these shoes as their only source of news. They do not watch the actual news. These right wing pundits SCREAM that the press is once again making a mountain out of a molehill and that it unfairly is after W, who had to go to all of that trouble before when America should have just listened to W. I think after a while people will wisen up to this method - at least I hope so.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

And - the right wing pundits use it as an attempt to discredit all reporting outside of their shows. MANY people watch these shoes as their only source of news. They do not watch the actual news. These right wing pundits SCREAM that the press is once again making a mountain out of a molehill and that it unfairly is after W, who had to go to all of that trouble before when America should have just listened to W. I think after a while people will wisen up to this method - at least I hope so.

The pundits. Argh.

The worst ones have to be Novak and Tucker Carlson. I am so happy that poor Tucker's show is on its way to being cancelled before it even airs on PBS. Have you heard about it?

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by dissention

The pundits. Argh.

The worst ones have to be Novak and Tucker Carlson. I am so happy that poor Tucker's show is on its way to being cancelled before it even airs on PBS. Have you heard about it?

Novak is a creep. He should be prosecuted for divulging that state secret and putting that woman in danger. But, that will never happen.

As for Tucker, he is not my fav. I used to love it when James Carvelle would call him "son" just before he went off on him

[dissention]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Novak is a creep. He should be prosecuted for divulging that state secret and putting that woman in danger. But, that will never happen.

As for Tucker, he is not my fav. I used to love it when James Carvelle would call him "son" just before he went off on him

Tucker wanted to devote his entire first show on PBS to torture and why it was a good thing. Two days before the taping, the guests found out about what he really had planned and cancelled immediately. PBS was none too happy and is reportedly ready to axe it.