Posted on 02/20/2004 5:26:39 PM PST by Jackson Brown
Kerry's Denials at Odds With 1971 Book He Authored By Marc Morano CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer February 20, 2004
(CNSNews.com) - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry has denied ever accusing American troops of committing war crimes in Vietnam. But his remarks during an interview on CNN Thursday are at odds with the excerpts of a book Kerry authored in 1971, a copy of which CNSNews.com obtained this week.
The New Soldier, which is currently so difficult to find that it was selling on the Internet for about $850, featured the following passage by Kerry about his experiences in Vietnam. "We were sent to Vietnam to kill Communism. But we found instead that we were killing women and children."
In the book, Kerry stated that Vietnamese citizens "didn't even know the difference between communism and democracy" and he instead blamed the United States for causing chaos in Vietnam.
"In the process we created a nation of refugees, bomb craters, amputees, orphans, widows, and prostitutes, and we gave new meaning to the words of the Roman historian Tacitus: 'Where they made a desert they called it peace,'" Kerry explained.
But when asked by CNN anchor Judy Woodruff on Thursday about allegations that he had accused "American troops of war crimes," Kerry issued a denial.
"No, I was accusing American leaders of abandoning the troops. And if you read what I said, it is very clearly an indictment of leadership. I said to the Senate, where is the leadership of our country? And it's the leaders who are responsible, not the soldiers. I never said that. I've always fought for the soldiers," he said.
Kerry was referring to his testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in April of 1971 as part of his involvement with the anti-war group Vietnam Veterans Against the War.
But The New Soldier reveals Kerry's direct criticism of American soldiers, including charges that they committed atrocities against the Vietnamese while on patrol.
In the book, Kerry said he "saw Vietnam ravaged equally by American bombs and search-and-destroy missions, as well as by Viet Cong terrorism..." He added that his combat duty in Vietnam irrevocably transformed his outlook on the military.
"Because of all that I saw in Vietnam, the treatment of civilians, the ravaging of their countryside, the needless, useless deaths, the deception and duplicity of our policy, I changed," Kerry wrote.
The cover of the book displays long-haired, bearded men carrying an upside down American flag in an apparent mockery of the famous planting of the American flag on Iwo Jima during World War II.
Kerry's former brother-in-law and current campaign adviser, David Thorne and documentary maker George Butler were credited with editing the book.
A defiant Kerry told CNN's Woodruff that he did not regret his anti-war activism, but also shifted the conversation to his activities on behalf of veterans many years after his own service in Vietnam, his anti-war activities and the publication of his 1971 book.
"In fact, not only did we oppose the war, but we proudly stood up and fought for the additions to the G.I. Bill so that vets would be able to use it. We fought for the V.A. Hospitals. I wrote the Agent Orange legislation with Tom Daschle. I helped with the post-Vietnam stress syndrome outreach centers," Kerry said.
"...The fact is if we want to re-debate the war on Vietnam in 2004, I'm ready for that. It was a mistake, and I'm proud of having stood up and shared with America my perceptions of what was happening," Kerry added.
"...Sherman notes Kerry's work with Vietnam Veterans against the War. He writes: "Mr. Kerry became a leader in the VVAW and even testified before Congress on the findings of the [VVAW Winter Soldier] Investigation, which he accepted at face value. In his book 'Stolen Valor,' B.G. Burkett points out that Mr. Kerry liberally used phony veterans to testify to atrocities they could not possibly have committed. Mr. Kerry later threw what he represented as his awards at the Capitol in protest. But as the war diminished as a political issue, he left the VVAW, which was a bit too radical for his political future, and was ultimately elected to the Senate. After his awards were seen framed on his office wall, he claimed to have thrown away someone else's medals--so now he can reclaim his gallantry in Vietnam."
It was later proved these stories were out and out lies from VVAW who were not even there or veterans. Congress appeared to buy to lies just to appease a divided America; divided because of people like John Kerry. Mr. Kerry, you cannot have it both ways - this is what duplicitous people get - the gong!
The McAwful man was on FNC this evening spouting the same ole garbage. Even when he was confronted with Kerry's admonition to stop it, he said they will continue.
I say, "Bring it on!!!"
Possibly, but the *Dewey Canyon II* Demonstrations in Washington weren't until April, 1971, in response to the then-ongoing *Dewey Canyon II* incursion into Laos. Jan Michael Vincent's made-for-TV anti-war/USMC production Tribes [with Darren McGavin as the Marine Drill Instructor] aired in the US on 10 November 1970.
That's a long time to go without a shirt, even for Janny-Mike.
Gotta be real careful we don't get kerried away this fall Ern .... !
Stay Safe !
Oh, Squantos... Have I got the accessory for you...:
Company sells AK47 Magazine MP3 Players
Posted 2/14/2004 from Ananova printer friendly version
"A British-based company is selling MP3 players which can be attached to an assault rifle.
The 'AK-MP3' player is built into the ammunition clip of a Kalashnikov. It can be swapped with the real magazine carrying bullets and inserted into the weapon.
The device is being advertised on the internet by a Buckinghamshire-based company set up by a group of Russian businessmen.
It comes with enough storage space to hold 9,000 songs. Former Russian rock star Andrey Koltakov, a partner in the dotcom company offering the AK-MP3 for sale, said: 'This is our bit for world peace - hopefully, from now on many militants and terrorists will use their AK-47s to listen to music and audio books.'
The accessory costs just over 200 pounds. According to those marketing it the stainless steel body makes it 'uniquely suitable for outdoors'."
You can read the complete story at: http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_863993.html?menu=news.quirkies.
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