Evidence suggests Bush disciplined in Guard, aides scrubbed records

Calpundit's excellent post on the Col. Burkett allegations agrees with my impressions. I have known about this story for months and found Burkett and Harvey Gough credible. To me at least they seem justified in being very angry with Bush.

If we believe their story then it follows Bush aides were scrubbing something from the records. I suggested last October 5th that Bush's supporters scrubbing of the records had left large gaps and holes that may only give the appearance of Bush being AWOL.

The gaps and holes exist, evidence that the 'cleansing records' story is true.

What could they have been covering up? So far, there are two embarrassing accusations that I believe remain - contradictory evidence that he actually showed up in Alabama and evidence of a disciplinary hearing but with no records.

All of the pages of records do not show him being at an Alabama Guard facility except for a dental appointment in 1973.

Some pages released show him earning inactive duty points for attendance in late October and November of 72. Some do not. If my theory is true that records were scrubbed that could be the case, they were destroyed in one location but not another. He probably did attend those days, avoiding being officially Red Zone AWOL by two weeks, but it is not clear in what location.

The evidence of a disciplinary hearing is mounting. At least two documents now show that Bush's tour of duty was extended by six months. There is a record of Bush and his commander both signing a document that breach of obligations can result in more time being added to length of service. Now it is suspected that the code for him being assigned to the Obligated Reserve Service (subject to immediate active duty call-up if needed) may be a punishment code.

Evidence both of a scrubbing and a disciplinary hearing are the direct disobedience of four written orders: to report back to Ellington after his first transfer was denied, to take his annual physical, and to report to the approved Alabama location on two sets of dates - neither attended. As Guard generals have pointed out, the failure to take the flight physical alone should result in a hearing that is not in the records.

The logical conclusion is that Bush was punished and his followers thought this was embarrassing and cleaned his records. No records where his attendance after April 1972 took place now remain. No records of the punishment and hearings remain except for his time in service and the evidence that a hearing should have taken place.

It is embarrassing for me that no reporter is really covering this story. Just by looking at the documents available and being able to subtract dates questions should be raised. However, all media reporters had already been proven math challenged by not reporting that the person who added up Bush's points for the last year of service had 19 points for "Active" duty, 16 points for "Inactive" duty, and 15 "gratuitous" points for service totaling to 56.

The correct number is 50. Minimum to meet service obligation is 50.

In 2002 Bush's Texas roommate reported to USA Today that Bush's first three years were outstanding, his final two were "troubled." There is nothing wrong with this. However, the evidence that aides of Bush deleted military records, a federal crime, is growing.