corrente

Here are some highlights. Of the records released today by the WhiteWash House:

[These] documents seem unlikely to resolve questions about whether Bush shirked his duty during his tour as a fighter-interceptor pilot for the Texas Air Guard during the Vietnam War. That is because some of the dates on the service list fell during a period in the fall of 1972 when Bush was reassigned to a guard unit in Alabama. The commander of the Alabama unit has said Bush did not appear for duty at his assigned unit there.

The next document to be released won't get Bush's nuts out of the wringer either. It's the "torn document" (back):

The document that Bartlett has and plans to release is a short list of retirement points earned by Bush for training days in October and November 1972 and in January, April, and May 1973.

A partial, torn copy of that document was made available to the news media by Bush aides in 2000, when questions about his Guard service were raised. The torn copy listed the number of training days, but showed neither service dates nor Bush's name -- both were in the torn-away portion. But Bush's Social Security number was visible on one copy obtained by the Globe.

No explanation has been offered for how the document was torn or why an undamaged copy was not available in 2000.

Nor will the next one:

The second document, which Bartlett said the White House had not yet obtained, is Bush's personnel record card for the period of May 27, 1972, to May 26, 1973. As is the case with Guard members, Bush, the card shows, was generally given 2 points for each day of weekend training.

But this card, unlike those for the other years of Bush's service, does not itemize Bush's individual day of service; it gives only a total. The personnel record card also indicates that Bush was on flying status, even though he never flew for his unit after April 1972.

And the famously on-top-of-it WhiteWash House press operation admits they still don't have a handle on the situation:

[WhiteWash House communications director Dan] Bartlett said he could not explain why [democratic activist Bob] Fertig's group had access to more documents than the White House.

One acronym, Bob: FOIA. And the next story:

In September 1972, Bush was removed from flight duty for failing to have his annual physical.

Right. What's that all about? And what's this about Bush working at some inner city poverty program? (back) Is that what Bush meant by "pushing paper" during his time in Alabama? Was this community service for some as-yet-unspecified infraction?

I think aWol's still got some 'splainin' to do...