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There were reasons why the TANG was short of pilots. At the time GWB applied for a pilot slot, the 147th FIG was routinely deploying F-102 pilots to Vietnam to fly combat missions. These deployments came at a time when squadron pilot positions were not fully manned. In May 1968, the 147th FIG found it challenging to find qualified pilots due to: 1) stringent educational, security clearance and physical requirements to qualify for an ANG pilot slot and United States Air Force (USAF) pilot training; 2) a six-year service commitment; and 3) the "danger factor" (70 pilots were killed flying the F-102). A six-year commitment, stringent requirements and risky training (versus the alternative - serve 2 years of enlisted time) made pilot training a very uninviting option - if anyone were trying to avoid Vietnam.

Can it be validated that there was "no waiting list for qualified pilot applicants in May 1968" when GWB applied for the TANG? Yes it can. Four separate entities can confirm no waiting list: First, the pilots that were flying in the 147th FIG (111th Tactical Interceptor Squadron) in May 1968; Second, the TANG senior officers that were in the 147th FIG in May 1968; Third, the Director of Operations for the TANG (when GWB was in the TANG) Colonel Earl Lively says: there was no waiting list for qualified pilot applicants to get in the TANG as a pilot in 1968; and Fourth, the TANG history indicates no waiting list for qualified pilot applicants in May 1968. Even later, when there were waiting lists, practically all applicants were applying for TANG enlisted positions; not for officer pilot training.

Pre-election strategy was to malign President Bush's military service and undermine the peoples' trust in GWB as Commander-In-Chief. At the same time, Kerry was promoted as a war hero in a calculated effort to offset Kerry's anti-war activities and extreme anti-national security voting record. Promoters of the Leapfrogged Hundreds Hoax were LWM, the DNC, Terry McAuliffe, the Kerry Campaign, Left-Wing 527 Groups, Left-Wing supporters and Dan Rather' CBS 60 Minutes program.

The leapfrogged hundreds hoax was a progressive hoax. Once Left-Wing "credentialed" media duped the American people into "erroneously" believing that GWB was leapfrogged over hundreds of applicants, then the hoax was embellished with an assertion: that the only way GWB could have been leapfrogged over hundreds of applicants would be through the use of political influence, family intervention, favoritism and special treatment. Then the hoax manufacturers went in for the kill with Dan Rather's CBS 60 Minute interview with Ben Barnes. In this interview, Ben asserted how troubling it was for him to admit that it was he who got GWB leapfrogged over hundreds of ANG applicants. Ben, answer one question, how did you get GWB leapfrogged over hundreds of applicants if there was no waiting list (in the 147th Fighter Interceptor Group) for qualified pilot applicants in May 1968? This is a question that needs to be answered by Ben Barnes, Dan Rather, Mary Mapes and credentialed LWM. The Report of the Independent Review Panel validates my commentary. (Pg. 130 and 131)

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