"Declined"?

Is it just me, or are the first six paragraphs of this WaPo article completely pointless?

Meanwhile, there's this:

He would not be flying in Alabama, because he was not trained on the aircraft at that base. Still, around the same time, records indicate that Bush declined to undergo a physical exam -- a requirement to maintain his flying status. By August, he was suspended from flying and never again took a military physical or flew for the Guard.

White House communications director Dan Bartlett said that Bush declined to take a physical because he was not flying in Alabama and that when he returned to Houston, his unit was phasing out the F-102s that Bush flew.

That's two uses of the word "declined" in the span of three sentances. What the heck is that? It makes it sound like the physical was completely optional. Like he "declined" a second glass of milk with dinner.

Anyway: it's a pointless article, all in all. Skip it.