AWOL and then some

From Josh Marshall...

It's long been known, for instance, that in the late spring of 1973, Bush's commanding officers in Texas reported that they couldn't write an evaluation of him because "he has not been observed" at the base in Houston. That didn't raise any red flags because, though, because they believed he was then serving in Alabama.

Yet these new records seem to say that Bush actually was doing drills in Houston.

In fact, as the Washington Post notes, on the very day that his commanding officers were writing that he hadn't been seen on base -- May 2, 1973 -- these new payment records say he was actually on base logging in hours.

Go figure.

The president could clear this up by just authorizing the release of all his service records like he said he would. Now we're on to day three. But he still won't do it.  article

And, Josh reprints much of the long, painful press conference about the records that have miraculously shown up.

We're not interested in getting a full look at the Bush 2000 archive on the president's military service. We're interested in the United States government's archive on the president's military service.

And it seems the president still refuses to allow this. To make this happen what he would have to do would be to formally waive the rights he enjoys under the Privacy Act which prohibits the Pentagon and its various subdivisions from releasing certain classes of information about his service.

Tim Russert asked the president the question directly. The president answered it unequivocally: he said he would release everything. Now his press secretary is trying to nullify the president's promise with silly word games. If my friends in the White House press corps fall for this one it will almost be beyond belief.

Well, Josh, be prepared.

And finally, from Josh, the Wilson-Plame affair. He says we are very close to finding out who's being targeted, as Grand Jury information is trickling out. And, he says that there's a bombshell waiting to be dropped on who forged the "yellowcake" documents. Be sure to read this Marshall post.

I have a web page keeping track of Josh Marshall's articles keeping track of Plamegate. And another keeping track of the affair. (As best I can.)