Mark Steyn: Who's to blame for nation's Vietnam wounds? Kerry

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | August 29, 2004 | Mark Steyn

[Puzzleman]

Every serious nation, in the course of history, loses a war here and there. You hope it's there rather than here -- somewhere far away, a small conflict in a distant land, not central to your country's sense of itself. During America's ''Vietnam era,'' Britain grappled with a number of nasty colonial struggles. Some they won -- Malaya -- and others they lost -- Aden -- or, at any rate, concluded that the cost of achieving whatever it was they wanted to achieve was no longer worth it.

[Peach]

And get a load of this one.

From the Washington Post, another Kerry lie is revealed:

The Kerry campaign has refused to release Kerry's personal Vietnam archive, including his journals and letters, saying that the senator is contractually bound to grant Brinkley exclusive access to the material. But Brinkley said this week the papers are the property of the senator and in his full control.

http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1201591/posts

[nikos1121]

This article says it all.

Here's my testimonial. I was in college, University of Idaho, when Kerry was ranting against the war. I think Nixon had started the lottery by then. I had a low number but the war was winding down. Still, I recall the campus was pretty conservative at that time as it was around the country.

Everyone was concerned about us being there. Everyone had at least one person whom they knew who had died or were injured there. Anyone who was not there fighting and in school shouldered some guilt.

I recall coming home from class each night, turning on the news and there would be Cronkite talking about 300 GIs dead yesterday, or 160 GIs or 480 or more. I can't remember the exact numbers, but they were bad. I can't begin to imagine if it were today, and those tolls were being reported from Baghdad. Though I would like to think this country still has the same resolve we had back then.

I recall the debates on campus being active about why we should be in Viet Nam based on historical and political theory. Like any debate should be.

Through it all I believe 95% of the country at that time were hanging together and believed that Nixon and Kissinger were going to get us out.

Then clearly and I believe truly because of Kerry's VVAW and others, (remember SDS students for a democratic society etc.?) the temper and arguments of the debate changed to "we need to leave because Americans are committing atrocities, burning babies etc." VERY SIMILAR TO ABU GRAEIB PRISON THING OF TODAY WITH THE MEDIA AND LEFT PUSHING US TO LEAVE IRAQ NOT BECAUSE IT IS BAD POLICY BUT BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE TREATED A FEW PRISONERS, (WHO APPARENTLY WERE CRIMINALS I MIGHT ADD AND NOT JUST DETAINEES.)

I disdain the idea of John Kerry as president of the USA. No doubt at some point in our history we will elect a "Kerry" but not now. He doesn't represent the thinking of my generation, (I guess I'm a slightly younger baby boomer than Kerry) only the fringe elements that hate this country.

I can't believe that this country is so soft and so to the left that they will vote for someone who has done relatively nothing in life other than to demean the milatary, vote to reduce our defense, and posture us to accept the mediocrity of social life in France and Germany and have us dependent on the UN.

During the Civil War when it looked like Lincoln was going to lose to McClelland, who had been a milk toast and inept Union General and like Kerry wanted to appease not beat the enemy to end the war. Something happened that is starting to happen again today. The ranks milatary came forth and voted Lincoln back in.

In this time The Swiftees woke America up again and exposed Kerry for who he really is.

Nick

[Incorrigible]

Bump

[maryz]

The only thing I wish is that they had come forward 30 years ago.

I saw on another thread that back in 1971 Fulbright turned down O'Neil's request to rebut Kerry's testimony.

[finnigan2]

"No doubt Kerry will be a big hit at the American Legion convention on Sept. 1 in Nashville... Hmmm... Was that meeting set up before or after the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth started making a splash?"

- I read a story a few days ago that when Kerry heard that Bush would be speaking to this group, he insisted that he be given time to speak as well - in keeping with his then habit of "shadowing" Bush on his campaign stops. I bet that's one appearance he now wishes he hadn't insisted upon. Will he appear? The chances are 50/50 I think, but if the Republicans were really smart they would be having some members of the group hold a press conference to state they didn't want to see him there. A Carville wouldn't think twice about pulling such a stunt if the situations were reversed.

[2nd amendment mama]

Text of Ollie North Letter

[television is just wrong]

Thank God for the Swift boat Veterans, they are bringing this alive to the younger generations. Otherwise, this JF'n Kerry might find himself in the White house.

[JesseJane]

I agree with you.. Is there a statute of limitation on treason though? Also, his comments about having support of 'foreign leaders' leads one to wonder if he is repeating his behaviour in the past.. To work against your country during a time of war is treason. He, by his 'private communications' MAY be undermining the war effort by making promises to foriegn leaders for 'deals' in Iraq, if they will just keep the pressure on this administration through the election.. in the meantime, more are needlessly lost.

Kerry has opened up a 2nd front on the war here at home.. the war we never were allowed to finish.. This time, it's to reclaim the honor of our veterans and military, and expose these lefty b*astards for the harm they do and have done! As a bonus, it has help expose the corruption of our old 'allies'. THANK YOU VETS FOR TAKING THE FIGHT TO THE REAL ENEMIES OF THIS COUNTRY.

BTW... Here is a GREAT article I found linked here at F/R..

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE VETERANS' VOTE {awesome}
http://www.raymalone.com/Aug252004.htm

[finnigan2]

"IMO the only reasons that Kerry was not indicted for treason was first, there was never a "declaration on war" in Viet Nam....."

- There have been recent stories that Kerry, upon his return from Viet Nam, was still considered a member of the Naval Reserve until around 1976 or 1977. First of all, this has raised questions as to why he would have stayed a member so long and some have guessed that perhaps he had not met the required service time following his quick Swiftie tour (Bush had to put in 5 years in the National Guard). Secondly, it would mean that when he went to Paris and had a number of secret meetings with the communist reps at the Peace Talks, he was officially still a member of the US Armed Forces. If so, what this might mean in terms of his legal status in dealing with an enemy (as opposed to his status if he were a civilian like a Jane Fonda type) I can't say, but I would guess that it can't be good.

[JesseJane]

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!


Dang, he does cut to the bone!

God Bless you Ollie! :)

[tioga]

American Legion convention on Sept. 1 in Nashville...

I wish I could freep that kerry appearance.

[EQAndyBuzz]

I still cannot see Kerry as the nominee. The MSM are still saying he is the presumptive nominee.

Wonder if the "From/To" om the memo is FROM: Hillary TO: Syncophants.

I still believe that Kerry was sent forward to hurt the Bush administration until Hillary or Edwards is ready to step in as the October suprise. Someone(re:DNC) will come out and suggest that this whole thing about Kerry's 4 months was a mistake. Right after Kerry announces that he is withdrawing due to his elevated PSA's.

He will then take time off from October till January, annouce he feels better and resumes his seat in the senate.

I will not believe anything until I wake up on November 3 and find out that there are no lawsuits and Bush has been reelected.

Call me cynical or a tin foil hat wearer. I thought I have seen it all.

[Piquaboy]

If it had not been for the politicians trying to run the war and people like Kerry, this war would not have been lost.

[lawgirl]

Because Kerry didn't just call for U.S. withdrawal, he impugned the honor of every man he served with.

Bingo- there it all is in a nutshell.

[Plutarch]

The Vietnamese government used Kerry's 1971 testimony as evidence of American war crimes as recently as two months ago.

Really? That is interesting. That needs to be looked into, and its own thread developed.

[thelastvirgil]

I just went over to the official Kedwards website to check sKerry's bio. It was an ugly experience, but I wanted to see if sKerry is still claiming that "V" designation on his Silver Star.

Under the heading of "Service", I read all about the hero's medals, but here was no mention of "Silver Star with V designation."

My little WebTV box will not download or read PDF files, so I could not read everything in the bio relating to medals. Can someone tell us all if the windbag has now dropped his claim to the bogus "V"?

If he has, we can add the "V" admission to the Christmas in Cambodia and No Hostile Fire in First PH fudging.

Little by little, drip by agonizing drip, sKerry's phoniness is beginning to consume his campaign. Those hardcore Dimwits will be the ones with clothespins on their noses at the polling places come Nov. 2.

[kellynla]

Is there a statute of limitation on treason though?
Irrelevant. Just like Korea, there was never a "declaration of war" in Viet Nam so IMHO I don't think you could convict Kerry on treason legally then or now. But it wouldn't be the first mistake I made today. LOL Have a good one...

[Savage Beast]

Yes. This is one of Mark's best.

"Kerry is now the first self-confessed war criminal in the history of the Republic to be nominated for president."

"When you divorce the heroism of soldiering from the justice of the cause, what's left but a hollow braggart?"

None of this is of importance to the morally bankrupt Democrats and the so-called "journalists" of "the Mainstream Newsmedia", the "celebrities", and the so-called "academicians" who support them.

My parents, grandparents, and great grandparents were all Democrats. If they were alive today, they would recoil in disgust, as all decent people everywhere do, and renounce and repudiate the Democrat Party immediately and in no uncertain terms.

My children are all Republicans.

"The Vietnamese government used Kerry's 1971 testimony as evidence of American war crimes as recently as two months ago." "...in Hanoi Kerry's psychodrama-queen performance is a gift that keeps on giving. It would be a shame if they understood him more clearly than the American people do."

The only thing standing in the way of a clear understanding by the American people is the relentless, ruthless barrage of propaganda--including distortion, selective reporting, voluntary censoring, withholding of information, and outright mendacity--of "the Mainstream Newsmedia" and the Democrat Party.

The fate of the world depends upon the ability of the American people to resist this barrage of propaganda.

[JesseJane]

EQ.. I agree.. Remember Hillary said something about "unforseen things" that could upset the election.. I wish I could find the article on that.. I'll go back through my files, but I do believe the hooved one has plan..

Cynic? NAAAAAHHH.. tinfoiler... Naaaaaaahhh!! The BS meter is pegging. All that's left if voter fraud, and they are moving full steam ahead on that. Soo.. we have a right to be concerned, since they have pulled every dirty trick to regain power.

[JesseJane]

I got it now.. Thanks Kelly.. Have a good day ! :)