To serve or not to serve...

...that was a big question for lots of us back in the day. How to serve was just as big a question for many, and I'm loathe to question anyone's answer. There were a lot of honorable ways, and all of us weighed our options carefully. I don't think many made their decision lightly.

Whether you served as a combat grunt or a draft resistance convict, there was a potential for honor in every choice. There was also a potential for dishonor, and it's becoming more and more clear that George W. Bush did an exemplary job of fulfilling the latter potential.

I really don't fault him for using whatever pull he had to get a coveted spot in the Air National Guard. Not many people got those precious Guard and Reserve assignments without a little pull in those days. What he did with the opportunity?

Another story altogether.

Jesse Berney at Kicking Ass outlines the conclusions we can draw from last night's 60 Minutes segment on Bush's service...

There is no doubt now that George Bush got special treatment getting into the Guard through family connections.

Bush went over his supervisor's head to avoid fulfilling his service.

Bush's supervisor had to write a note to himself titled, "CYA" explaining that he was getting pressure to "sugar coat" Bush's record.

Bush was grounded from flight status for not only failing to take his required medical exam per a direct order, but also because of his "failure to perform to (USAF/TexANG) standards."

...and the Boston Globe investigation on the same subject...

In 1968, Bush uses a family friend's connections to get into the Texas National Guard, avoiding service in Vietnam. He commits to six years' service with the Guard.

In 1972, Bush gets permission to serve with a unit in Alabama from September through November so that he can work on a Senate campaign. Pay records show a five-month lapse in duty between April and October, during which time Bush misses a "24-hour active alert mission" and fails to appear for a required medical examination.

In May 1973, Bush's supervisors in Houston report that they can't rate him for the prior 12-month period because he hasn't been there.

In July 1973, Bush leaves Houston for Harvard Business School and pledges to fulfill his remaining year of service with a unit in Boston, but never does.

From 2000-2004, the White House asserts multiple times that it has made all of Bush's military records public. In September 2004, the Pentagon releases more documents.

No matter what you think of what decision Bush made, or why, in regards to military service, how he acted after his decision is a disgrace.