BillHobbs.com is a frequently updated blog of original reporting and commentary by Bill Hobbs, a longtime Nashville journalist and media relations adviser. I am currently serving as communications director for the Tennessee Republican Party, a job I began on Oct. 29, 2007.
I have received numerous emails from readers responding to recent posts regarding the question of whether George W. Bush was "AWOL" from his service in the Texas Air National Guard - and, specifically, about a recent post by blogger Kevin Drum over at CalPundit (which I commented on here) suggesting he'd found a "smoking gun" that proves Bush didn't complete his service commitment.
Here are two of those emails, which you'll find very enlightening...
Email #1 I know you're up to your ears in this Bush/AWOL stuff, but I wanted to draw your attention to this. My co-blogger McQ is a former military guy with a good understanding of the background involved. He discusses what some of the documents are, what they mean and what CalPundit - for example - is getting wrong.
Email #2 One of your posters or somewhere in the massive posts in comments section at Calpundit this may have been covered. My background is Navy Reserve, but this looks simple to me.
Calpundit [Kevin Drum] appears to try and make the leap that the documents are ARF doc's and therefore they have nothing to do with ANG service, i.e., Bush was transferred to ARF 'unit' [punished].
QUOTE from Kevin Drum: "My guess is the latter: they don't show much of anything related to the National Guard. Rather, they are records of something that counted as drills in the Air Reserve, although it's not clear what."
If you look at Calpundit: February 2004 Archives for 8 FEB, GWB's summary for MAY 68 - MAY 72 is on a "Air Reserve Forces Retirement Credit Summary". Also, why does it end MAY 72. May be copy of the document forwarded at end of year four. Does not mean no guard service was served after MAY 72.
Why ARF doc's? TITLE 10, Subtitle E, PART I, CHAPTER 1009, Sec. 10305.
There is in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force an Air Reserve Forces Policy Committee on Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Policy. The Committee shall review and comment upon major policy matters directly affecting the reserve components and the mobilization preparedness of the Air Force.
The Air National Guard falls under the policy of "Air Reserve Forces". Does the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard use the same documents for "Statement of Points Earned". I cannot say yes with 100% accuracy, but I'd bet a dollar or two on it.
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