January 10, 2005
Four CBS staffers found to be at the center of the flawed memo that led to the expose questioning President George W. Bush's National Guard service are forced to resign their positions with the discredited news organization.
To refresh your memories:
CBS fires 4 over Bush Guard story By Peter Johnson, USA TODAY 1/11/05
CBS News let four staffers go Monday for their role in last fall's disputed story about President Bush's National Guard service.
The dismissals did not include anchor Dan Rather, who reported the story, or the executive who supervised all involved, CBS News President Andrew Heyward.
An independent panel, led by former attorney general Richard Thornburgh and retired Associated Press chief Lou Boccardi, concluded that producers failed to follow basic journalistic principles in the preparation and reporting of the Sept. 8 piece.
But the panel, in its report Monday, concluded that there was no sign of political or anti-Bush bias in the production of the story, as Bush supporters have charged.
Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie praised CBS for issuing the report but said, "We should remember that today's report would not have come about without a vigilant public." Said White House spokesman Scott McClellan: "We appreciate the steps CBS has taken to hold people accountable, and we hope it will take further steps to prevent something like this from happening again."
The panel, without naming names or handing out sanctions, also said CBS News compounded that failure with a "rigid and blind" defense of the 60 Minutes Wednesday report.
Asked to resign were Betsy West, a CBS News senior vice president who supervised prime-time programs; and John Howard, executive producer of 60 Minutes Wednesday, and his senior producer, Mary Murphy. Rather's producer, Mary Mapes, was fired. (Rather announced in November that he'll step down as anchor of The CBS Evening News in March.)
"We deeply regret the disservice this flawed 60 Minutes Wednesday report did to the American public, which has a right to count on CBS News for fairness and accuracy," CBS President Leslie Moonves said.
At the root of the reporting fiasco, the panel said, was a "myopic zeal" to be the first news organization to break new ground about Bush's Guard service. That, the panel said, was key in explaining why CBS News had produced a story that was not fair or accurate and did not meet the organization's standards.
The report said at least four factors that some observers described as a journalistic "perfect storm" had contributed to the decision to broadcast a piece that was seriously flawed. "The combination of a new60 Minutes Wednesday management team, great deference given to a highly respected producer and the network's news anchor, competitive pressures and a zealous belief in the truth of the segment seem to have led many to disregard some fundamental journalistic principles."
The piece was aired at the height of the presidential race between Bush and Massachusetts Democratic Sen. John Kerry, prompting charges of political bias.
But while the panel found that some actions taken by CBS News encouraged such suspicions, it "cannot conclude that a political agenda at 60 MinutesWednesday drove either the timing of the airing of the segment or its content."
The story relied on four documents purportedly written by one of Bush's Texas Air National Guard commanders in the early 1970s by the late Lt. Col. Jerry Killian. Questions about the authenticity of the documents arose immediately. The panel said it could not prove that the documents were forged. But it said CBS failed to authenticate them and falsely claimed that an expert had done so.
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Comments: 52
In my opinion, the Bush family used their influence to make sure that the president would never see combat action. There's been many stories stating that Bush trained on a fighter jet would never be used in action in Vietnam.
I think, for the sake of our soldiers and for his own critiques, that George Bush should come clean and tell the American people about his military service.
This is all it says for that time period for Ms. West on the www.journalism.columbia.edu. site. So she's teaching our kids. Things that make you go Hmmmmmm.
I have a habit of trying to trace major decisions I make a few years to even several decades ahead--try to think of any potential obstacles or problems I could encounter. I pictured myself working really hard and finally getting an anchor position--something that generally pays well compared to other positions and is very competitive to reach. What if I found myself one day reading a teleprompter with something I knew was not right--either from an accuracy or bias standpoint. Would I have the guts and the integrity to stop mid-sentence--to say, "No, I'm not going to read this"--and walk away if my job was threatened?
The thing is however is people don't get that way overnight--it's in small compromises and inches at a time. To a certain degree I have sympathy for them because they are in environments where there are pressures to be a certain way and think a certain way and if you don't, you're going to get pushed out of the game. I think a lot of people start off thinking they can pretend to go along just long enough to get that good position, but internally they end up changing to be like the people around them anyway.
I'm ready to let both of 'em go.
The sad fact is that Clinton is a draft dodger and Bush served. Bush flew fighter jets and Clinton studied overseas, protesting his country. I don't believe Clinton is a bad human being and he wasn't a bad president in my opinion but you can't compare the two in regards to military service.
What's the reward on a document that proves Bush was AWOL?
Sounds like Lt. Col. (Ret.) John "Bill" Calhoun will get $10,000:
Lt. Col. (Ret.) John “Bill” Calhoun was a pilot with the 187th Tactical Reconnaissance Group at Dannelly. Calhoun was with Bush “8-10 times” when he attended drills.
Calhoun told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Newspaper, "The truth is George Bush came to Alabama. He asked for weekend drills with us. He was assigned to me.” “I saw him each drill period,” Calhoun told AP writer Allen G. Breed, “He (Bush) was very aggressive about doing his duty there. He never complained about it. ... He was very dedicated to what he was doing in the Guard. He showed up on time and he left at the end of the day.” Breed wrote, “Bush and Calhoun had both been trained as fighter pilots, and Calhoun said the two would swap “war stories” and even eat lunch together on base.” “He sat in my office most of the time he would read,” Calhoun said. “He had your training manuals from your aircraft he was flying. He'd study those some. He'd read safety magazines, which is a common thing for pilots.”
Sounds like Master Sgt. (Ret.) James Copeland will get $10,000:
Master Sgt. (Ret.) James Copeland was the full time Disbursement Accounting Supervisor at Dannelly.
On February 16, 2004, Eric Fleischauer of The Decatur Daily, an Alabama newspaper, wrote:
“Copeland, 65, remembers meeting Bush on two occasions. He does not remember the precise dates. On one occasion, Copeland said, Bush and Lt. Col. John "Bill" Calhoun came to Copeland's office with a question about Bush's pay. Copeland is not sure, but he believes the question had to do with where to mail Bush's checks . . . The other time Copeland remembers meeting Bush was at the base canteen. Bush was there drinking coffee or a soft drink, Copeland said.” In the same article, Copeland lamented, “You hear people saying that everybody (at Dannelly) knew the Bushes. Well, that's just a lie,” Copeland said. “He (George W.) was just another pilot. No one paid any more attention to him than to anyone else. There was no hoopla.”
Sounds like James Anderson will get $10,000:
James Anderson, was a 187th Tactical Reconnaissance Group physician.
Anderson recalls giving Bush a routine physical at Dannelly, in 1972.
Speaking through his son, Noble Anderson, who is also a physician, James Anderson gave an interview to the Montgomery Advertiser, an Alabama newspaper. According to the Montgomery Advertiser, “The military doctor says that Lt. Col. John "Bill" Calhoun brought Bush by his office for an exam . . . James Anderson could not remember which month he saw Bush, only that it was some time in 1972 . . .”
James Anderson remembered that Bush mentioned he was from Texas, “ . . . and I think that's one of the reasons it stuck out in his mind,” his son related.
Sounds like Joe LeFevers will get $10,000:
Joe LeFevers was a member of the 187th Tactical Reconnaissance Group at Dannelly, in 1972.
LeFevers learned that Bush was in Alabama for work on Winton “Red” Blount’s Senate campaign.
The Birmingham News wrote that Lefevers, “. . . remembers seeing Bush in unit offices and being told that Bush was in Montgomery to work on Blount's campaign.” “I was going in the orderly room over there one day, and they said, `This is Lt. Bush,'" LeFevers said. "They pointed him out to me . . . the reason I remember it is because I associate him with Red Blount.”
In conclusion, during the May 1972- May 1973 year, Bush met his service obligations in Alabama. As a Guardsman on inactive duty, Bush would earn a point (day of credit) for every training period, up to a limit of 60 per year. He would also earn a point for every day of active duty performed, which would include runway alert tours, annual training, exercises, and deployments. Lost in this debate about “minimum” points is the fact that most Guard aviators put in many days above the 60 point maximum for which they were not given credit, so Bush’s records actually understate his performance. During the May 1972- May 1973 year, Bush earned 56 points when only 50 were required.
Also good point. If Bush's service in the Military is so vital to all things presidential what does Obama have to offer on that front?
"There is no doubt that ... Saddam Hussein has reinvigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies." Letter to President Bush, Signed by: -- Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), and others, Dec 5, 2001
"We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandate of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and th! e means of delivering them." -- Sen. Carl Levin (D, MI), Sept. 19, 2002
"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country." -- Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002
"Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power." -- Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002
"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction." -- Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002
"The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons..." -- Sen. Robert Byrd (D, WV), Oct. 3, 2002
"I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force -- if necessary -- to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security." -- Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9, 2002
"There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years ... We also should remember we have always underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction." -- Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D, WV), Oct 10, 2002
"He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do" -- Rep. Henry Waxman (D, CA), Oct. 10, 2002
"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members ... It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons." -- Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002
"We are in possession of what I think to be compelling evidence that Saddam Hussein has, and has had for a number of years, a developing capacity for the production and storage of weapons of mass destruction." -- Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), Dec. 8, 2002
"Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime ... He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation ... And now he is miscalculating America's response to his continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction ... So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real..." -- Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Jan. 23. 2003
Sorry, spartan, you need to get out more!
Bush enlisted in the ANG knowing that he and his unit could be sent to Vietnam.
Critics and opponents of George W. Bush have accused him and others of “hiding” in the Air National Guard (ANG) to avoid service in Vietnam. Such an accusation is invalid. If the ANG was a “haven” from the war, tell that to the New Mexico ANG, the Colorado ANG, the Iowa ANG, and the New York ANG. These states sent F-100 fighter-bomber squadrons to fight in Vietnam during the spring of 1968; simultaneously, Bush, then a student at Yale, took the Air Force tests to enlist in his state’s ANG.
History shows that individual ANG units had been flying supply mission in Vietnam since 1965. During Bush’s tenure in the Texas ANG, his unit could have been sent to fight in Vietnam on a moment’s notice. However, such an order to further mobilize the Guard or Reserves would have had to come from President Johnson and/or Secretary of Defense McNamara. According to Lt. Col. William Campenni, who flew with Bush, “Johnson and McNamara . . . deliberately avoided use of the Guard and Reserves for domestic political calculations, knowing that a draftee only stirred up the concerns of one family, while a call-up got a whole community's attention.”
While Bush could have chosen a desk job in the Guard, he chose to become a fighter pilot, a duty imbued with risk, and, as illustrated above, potential for a combat assignment.
Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, California)
Statement on US Led Military Strike Against Iraq
December 16, 1998
"Saddam Hussein certainly has chemical and biological weapons. There's no question about that."
Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, California)
During an interview on "Meet The Press"
November 17, 2002
"I come to this debate, Mr. Speaker, as one at the end of 10 years in office on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, where stopping the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction was one of my top priorities. I applaud the President on focusing on this issue and on taking the lead to disarm Saddam Hussein. ... Others have talked about this threat that is posed by Saddam Hussein. Yes, he has chemical weapons, he has biological weapons, he is trying to get nuclear weapons."
Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, California)
Addressing the US House of Representatives
October 10, 2002
Congressional Record, p. H7777
For me the issue is about integrity and accountability. Neither can be found in any area of our government be they democratic or republican. Honest people in our government are too few.
Corporate Boards of National and International Corporations Interlock with Corporate Media
New York Times:
Carlyle Group, Eli Lilly, Ford, Johnson and Johnson, Hallmark, Lehman Brothers, Staples, Pepsi
Washington Post:
Lockheed Martin, Coca-Cola, Dun & Bradstreet, Gillette, G.E. Invenstments, J.P. Morgan, Moody's
Knight-Ridder:
Adobe Systems, Echelon, H&R Block, Kimberly-Clark, Starwood Hotels
The Tribune (Chicago & LA Times):
3M, Allstate, Caterpillar, Conoco Phillips, Kraft, McDonalds, Pepsi, Quaker Oats, Shering Plough, Wells Fargo
News Corp (Fox):
British Airways, Rothschild Investments
GE (NBC):
Anheuser-Busch, Avon, Bechtel, Chevron/Texaco, Coca-Cola, Dell, GM, Home Depot, Kellogg, J.P. Morgan, Microsoft, Motorola, Procter & Gamble
Disney (ABC):
Boeing, Northwest Airlines, Clorox, Estee Lauder, FedEx, Gillette, Halliburton, Kmart, McKesson, Staples, Yahoo
Viacom (CBS):
American Express, Consolidated Edison, Oracle, Lafarge North America
Gannett:
AP, Lockheed-Martin, Continental Airlines, Goldman Sachs, Prudential, Target, Pepsi
AOL-Time Warner (CNN):
Citigroup, Estee Lauder, Colgate-Palmolive, Hilton