I see you're from Washington too. The gal (Kim) that cuts my hair on the Eastside is also a refugee from Vietnam. I would like to assume it is the same person, but sad to say I'm sure there are countless people with similar stories. I relate her story whenever some liberal bemoans how "Iraq is just a wortheless war like Vietnam".
After the North took over her Dad was taken down to the police station for questioning. Five years later they were told he was alive and at a re-education camp. The following year they were able to make visits when they could afford it. I think it was nine years total that he spent at the camp.
She remembers getting one small scoop of rice a day. Her older brothers got more because they had to work. Her baby sister died from starvation. She and her mom would spend the days begging.
And the same will happen in Iraq I fear. The hatred of Bush is obvious and similar in scope and style to the hate of Nixon. The Watergate style investigations have begun as I said they would (although obviously more scattered and hoping that SOMETHING will stick at some point or other).
The funding battles for the war are beginning. And just like Vietnam, we will have them on the road to recovery and strength (South Vietnam had some good victories as I recall AFTER we had left), and then we will yank the rug out from underneath them.
The only trouble is, it won't be boat people coming to our shores to work hard at being productive citizens, it will be terrorists working hard to destroy us.
I'm down South in Vancouver. The lady I'm talking about goes by the name 'Kathy,' now. She has 3 sons and I believe 2 daughters. Of the sons, two are in the Military, one been to Iraq and the other studying medicine. The other is still in school as are her daughters.
She also said she saw rapes of small girls and death from starvation in the camps.
I have written both Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, as well as Brian Baird, asking them to meet with and discuss what these refugees went through before they ever cast any vote on withdrawal dates. All I ever received back from either Murray or Baird were simple form letter style emails informing me of their opposition. Cantwell has never replied at all.
If the Democrats succeed, what these people endured will look like child's play with what comes our way afterwards.