Letters to the Editor – The Washington Times: Editorials/OP-ED COL. WILLIAM CAMPENNI (retired), U.S. Air Force/Air National Guard

George Bush and I were lieutenants and pilots in the 111th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (FIS), Texas Air National Guard (ANG) from 1970 to 1971. We had the same flight and squadron commanders (Maj. William Harris and Lt. Col. Jerry Killian, both now deceased). While we were not part of the same social circle outside the base, we were in the same fraternity of fighter pilots, and proudly wore the same squadron patch. …

Finally, someone who served with Bush comes forward. Mind you, they served together in Texas, not in Alabama. This is a very interesting letter to the editor, in part because it speaks so authoritatively and covers ever single aspect of the controversy (including the Radical Rights scurrilous claim that this whole issue is a slap at the current National Guard).

Well, as for abandoning his assignment, this is untrue. Lt. Bush was excused for a period to take employment in Florida for a congressman and later in Alabama for a Senate campaign.

This is the first mention of Florida I’ve seen (who was the congressman?). This also claims Bush was ”excused” from duty? Then why are they trying so hard to prove he was on duty?

GOP chief says press aids Democrats’ dirty campaign – The Washington Times: Nation/Politics

Democrats are mounting the “dirtiest” presidential campaign in history, and the press is playing along, Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie charged yesterday. …

Mr. Gillespie contrasted Republican tactics with those of Democrats.

“We highlight policies, and note Senator Kerry’s long Senate record,” he said. “They accuse the president of desertion, a military crime punishable by death — as the [Wesley] Clark campaign did — or accuse the president of being AWOL, which is a felony punishable by imprisonment, as [Democratic National Committee Chairman] Terry McAuliffe has done.”

Bush’s drills with the Alabama Guard confirmed – The Washington Times: Nation/Politics

In 1972, Mr. Bush left Texas to work on the Senate campaign and transferred to a squadron in the 187th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing in Montgomery. He apparently missed drills during the election campaign, and that is why he returned later in November.

It is interesting how what appears as a Letter to the Editor in one part of the paper ends up as a journalist source in another part. How often do you hear interviews with people who write letters to the editor? mjh