Rating: 
Summary: Penetrating..provocative...& painful
Review: This book is not a biography of Bob Kerrey. In the words of the author, "it is a story about war, memory, and the terrible corrosive power of secrets." If you are fond of Bob Kerrey, you may not want to read this book...because it will more than likely change your opinion of him. Author Greg Vistica clearly establishes himself as one of the finest young journalists in America with the publication of "The Education of Lieutenant Kerrey." This book is penetrating, provocative and painful. It is also bound to accumulate many journalistic laurels for its extraordinary fairness and maturity. The plot of this explosive nonfiction book is whether Bob Kerrey conducted an atrocity or orchestrated a war crime while leading an elite team of Navy SEAL commandos in Vietnam. The facts are straightforward. Vistica spends three long years putting the puzzle together. His big break takes place when the most credible member of Kerrey's Vietnam SEAL team admits the young Lieutenant from Nebraska ordered the brutal murder of unarmed civilians...mostly women and children. Some were carved up with knives and the others were riddled with bullets from point blank range. The evidence collected by Vistica is so compelling you will have to suppress the urge to vomit in horror. Unfortunately at the conclusion of this book one is left to think that Bob Kerrey is not a hero. In defense of the former Senator Americans must bear in mind...it was the poor decisions of politicians that created the Vietnam quagmire. In addition, the many brave soldiers that answered the nation's call were subjected to a sinister White House and Pentagon obsession with "body counts." Still and all, Bob Kerrey is his own worst enemy by authoring misleading and inconsistent explanations. Moreover, his employment of mercenary "spin masters" to control the damage of Vistica's journalistic investigation is absolutely dishonest. This is a book you make time to read and then pray that you find the moral strength to forgive. Nevetheless, as a lifelong Democrat dedicated to the protection of human rights...the bottom line of this book is that Bob Kerrey is probably not qualified to run for President of the United States.
Rating: 
Summary: Kerrey clearly did something to be ashamed of, but . . . . .
Review: this book is nothing more than the author's opinion. He never supports any of his claims/conclusion with fact. All he has is the claims of one man, Gerhard Klann, who he says he believes because, unlike others, his story never changed. Maybe the reason his story never changed is because it is not true. The stories of other members of Kerrey's team did change - perhaps because in thinking back on that horrific night, new insights arose. Also is it possible that, as Kerrey admits, that there is some blockage of those events. Vistica only mentions once (outside of quoting Kerrey) that Klann admittedly had a grudge again Kerrey because Kerrey got the medal of honor and Klann did not - despite that fact that Kerrey lobbied for that for his efforts in the Middle East. Why is that not pursued more? Perhaps because it does not fit with Vistica's preconceived plan to do a hatchet job on Kerrey. Bottom line: you will like this book if you hate soldiers or hate Kerrey because it will support those predispositions. But if you are looking for a balanced, fact-filled story, this is most definitely NOT a book for you.
Rating:
Summary: Why Kerrey, Why Now?
Review: This book is now all about the wrong Kerry / Kerrey. If this were a book about JOHN Kerry's military career, it might be timely and relevant. But, Robert Kerrey? This is old news. Under the guise of "pursuing the truth"--"honestly"--the author tries very hard to sell the reader on the notion that Robert Kerrey is war criminal. The big problem with the author's presentation: there is absolutely no evidence, whatsoever, that Kerrey intentionally, with premediation, set out to kill innocent civilians in Vietnam. Vistica relies heavily on innuendo and conjecture--and very few facts--to build a flimsy case for the idea that Robert Kerrey was an evil soldier. Unfortunately, innocent civilians do get killed in war. I suppose that a book could be written to indict every single American soldier who ever served his county in combat. Thankfully there are those who serve their country bravely in combat. And, then there are those who...write books about it.
Rating:
Summary: When WIll Justice be Served?
Review: Vistica's book, 60 Minute II's reporting and the confession of one of Kerry's teammates make a very strong case against Kerry.
He was the commander at the time and was responsible for what his men did and did not do. His logic for making his decisions is horribily flawed; such as; he ordered the throat cutting of three small children because they might give away their location but he then orders the machingunning of twenty woman and children.(Note: the sound of the weapons firing definately gave their position away.) What is interesting the SEALs used up 75% of their ammo murdering non-combatants. This resounds of a panicked, uncontrolled unit--not highly trained Navy SEALs. In a nation, sixty years after the fact, where we hunt down and imprison German and Ukrainian soldiers from WWII solely because they were GUARDS at a concentration camp--we allow OUR war cimminals not only to become senators--but American heros. There is no doubt in this old soldier's mind Kerry is a war crimminal and should have his "highly questionable" Medal of Honor revoked--by the very Congress and nation he has disgraced! In addition, his Navy SEAL organization should officially shun him. We either are or are not an honorable nation. I am a combat veteran having served with elite Special Forces A Teams and with MACV-SOG Command and Control North. As a combat peer of Kerry's--I hold him in the highest contempt. He is a disgrace to special operations personnel--past or present. Donald E. Zlotnik, Major (Ret.)
Special Forces
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