In 2004, when the Swift Boat Liars for Bush came out in force against John Kerry's decorated military service, the men who served with him were there to defend. How the Liars got any traction is still a mystery to me. I guess if you tell a lie often enough and put enough money behind it, someone is bound to fall for it. But the guys who served with Lt. Kerry knew the truth, and they were there to defend the man who lead them through the dangerous waters of Vietnam and who helped bring them home alive. Today, the men of PCF 94 are fighting another battle, to defend their honor against the continued smears of someone who never served. The Band of Brothers is taking on the T. Boone Pickens challenge.

I can't imagine what it was like to live through what these men did, having myself spent much of the Vietnam era avoiding Sr. Mary Dominic's ruler, but I do understand loyalty. So, I was impressed but not surprised to see Sen. Kerry's crew return fire when T. Boone Pickens and the Swift Boaters least expect. As we reported at the time, Pickens put up the challenge, and now the men who served with Sen. Kerry have announced that they're taking his bet, and are armed to the teeth with military records and video to defend Senator Kerry's service and their own.

Scott Leigh of the Boston Globe reports:

T. BOONE Pickens, some angry Vietnam veterans would like a little of your time.

These are guys who served directly with John Kerry in Vietnam, and they have a T. bone to pick with you.

They're upset that you helped smear Kerry - and pollute the political discourse - in 2004 by donating $2 million to the inaptly named Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.

You need to sit down with them. And when you're done, it'll be time to reach for your checkbook once again - this time to give a cool million to the charity of their choice.

If you're a man of your word, that is.

Frankly, I have my doubts.

more at the Globe

What I don't get is how anyone believed they had the right to question the Senator's service to begin with. He served. In Vietnam. So if you didn't, you're disqualified. If you did, and you're questioning another person's service, official Navy records and the word of the people serving with him, just consider someone casting doubt on your own. It's strange, and I really wonder what kind of person does that.

I keep hearing during the current election campaign that John McCain's service is not to be questioned. That's true. I wouldn't, and I don't know many people who do. But what's with the double standard? Why was trashing a veteran's service OK in '04 but out of bounds in '08?

The answer is that it wasn't acceptable then or now. And the band of brothers is ready to set the record straight, for once and all, if Pickens has the guts to stand behind his words. Like Mr. Leigh, my guess is that he won't.