Letter to the editor

Swift Boat financial backing suspicious

In Garin Hovannisian’s article “Kerry’s
Military Past Dubious (Viewpoint, Aug. 16),” Hovannisian
defends claims made by the “Swift Boat Veterans for
Truth” but omits important details.

Specifically, he neglects to mention that these claims have been
criticized by Vietnam veteran and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and
that the claims have been shown to be financed and backed by at
least one of the same individuals who made claims against McCain
during the 2000 South Carolina primary presidential election.

Hovannisian also omits the fact that only one of the Swift Boat
Veterans actually served on Sen. John Kerry’s swift boat
during his time in Vietnam and that the doctor who has made claims
against Kerry never actually treated him.

Hovannisian chooses to question Kerry’s war record based
upon claims made by this group and states that these
“facts” are much larger that the questions concerning
President Bush’s time in the military.

Perhaps Hovannisian should attempt to see past his partisan
feelings and see both candidate’s war records for what they
are ““ one who chose to serve his country and risk his life
and one who used his family connections to protect himself.

Landon Inge Graduate Student