As was to be expected, from the likes of the Bush camp, as soon as Kerry became the de facto nominee the personal attacks on him began. Oh sure, to divert suspicion away from the RNC they use surrogates but the timing is too coincidental to be anything but a smear campaign.

The latest effort on this front is one of Kerry's former Vietnam shipmates who claims that Kerry ran from engaging the enemy.

John Kerry, the Democratic challenger for the White House, is embroiled in fresh controversy over his much-vaunted Vietnam war record, after one of his crew members accused him of cowardice and making strategic mistakes in battle.

The testimony of Steven Gardner, a gunner's mate on the first patrol boat commanded by Mr Kerry in the Mekong delta, contradicts accounts of the senator's military career that depict him as a brave and aggressive lieutenant who won three Purple Hearts and which are a key element of his campaign against George Bush.

"He absolutely did not want to engage the enemy when I was with him," Mr Gardner said in an interview with the Boston Globe, which contacted him about the presidential candidate. "He wouldn't go in there and search. That is why I have a negative viewpoint of John Kerry.

"His initial patterns of behaviour when I met him and served under him were of somebody who ran from the enemy, rather than engaged it."

Oh really Mr.Gardner. I don't suppose the fact that you are a staunch Republican has anything to do with these remarks. I guess the Pentagon has precogs on staff that knew all the way back in the 60's that Kerry would one day be a serious contender for the office of POTUS so they awarded him 3 purple hearts and a citation for bravery just to curry future favours. I guess the entire remainder of the crew on Kerry's boat must have been suffering from mass hallucinations, since they rebuke all of your claims.

How does it feel Mr. Gardner to be the RNC's patsy? You haven't done your party any good all you've done is destroy whatever credibility and integrity you might have once had.