Posted on 08/30/2007 8:26:30 AM PDT by Interesting Times
In the past week, the criticisms swirling around the President's VFW speech have provided much less insight into the President or the speech than into the critics. Rather than address the speech's central issue -- the 1975 debate over the ramifications of abandoning Vietnam -- these individuals have tried to push their own views on Iraq by mentioning other aspects of Vietnam. Emblematic of the attackers was Senator John Kerry, who said that the President's comparison of Vietnam with Iraq was "irresponsible" and "ignorant of the realities of both of those wars." Kerry explained that in Iraq, as in Vietnam, "more American soldiers are being sent to fight and die in a civil war we can't stop and an insurgency we can't bomb into submission." Senator Ted Kennedy, another opponent of both wars, backed this interpretation with the comment that the United States lost the Vietnam War because the South Vietnamese government "lacked sufficient legitimacy with its people."
Kerry and Kennedy missed key facts about Vietnam, some of them long obvious, others newly emerged from historical studies. The New York Times and NBC News and CNN and so on missed them, too, because they chose to rely on outdated historians or their own prejudices. The insurgency in Vietnam was dead by 1971, thanks to South Vietnam's armed forces, America's forces, and a South Vietnamese civilian population that overwhelmingly viewed the South Vietnamese government as legitimate. During 1972, after all American combat units had departed, South Vietnamese forces defeated a massive North Vietnamese invasion with the help of American air power. The so-called Christmas bombing of 1972 bombed North Vietnam into submission, resulting in a peace treaty. Had the antiwar Congress not slashed aid to South Vietnam and prohibited the use of American aircraft over Vietnamese skies...
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
“...because Vietnam is now a nice capitalist country.”
It is ridiculous to believe that Vietnam is now a nice capitalist country. If it’s capitalist, why does a person require two visa’s, one to enter the country one wishes to visit and one to be allowed to leave Vietnam?
Two percent of the population of Vietnam are well off; those two percent also comprise the Communist Party. The remaining 98% want out of Vietnam right now. They are sick of having all of their earnings and belongings sucked out of them for the benefit of the Party members. Those 98% CAN NOT leave - that is not capitalism!!!
“correct spelling: Viet Nam”
You are correct. The people of Viet Nam are the Viet people and Nam means South, hence Viet Nam. The northern area is properly referred to as Bac Viet, North Viet (people).
“His research is meticulous.”
His use of the term “Vietnam” speaks to the contrary.
Yep.
Yep.
Yep.
Vietnam is a relatively new verb coined by the SDS in April 1968 and central to their “evil America” mission statement thereafter a Democrat platform item.
Welcome back, then, IT.
Then my husband and I were overseas, while he served in the Army, S. Korea.
We returned stateside in time to be in the audience at Tulane Un. when President Ford announced our presence in S. Vietnam was over..April '75.
Gosh my husband and I were the only people in the audience who didn't applaud that line.
Rather, we were disgusted & ashamed.
I'd already considered the idea that the war and its aftermath would have longterm consequences. That there was no escape, and that what I'd witnessed would reverberate thru decades to come.
I also vowed that likely I'd have a small role in setting the record straight. That has been true....my vote and work in the 04 election, for example.
IT, thanks for your dedication in this area, also.
This is my generation's burden, and we must see it thru & make amends.
Thanks, Molly.
It’s great to see you back! There must have been quite a few regular Freepers that were banned because Free Republic has been pretty boring this summer.
Great article, by the way.
The damage extended well beyond those who were banned.
We may never know how many people just walked away in disgust...
Jack,
“It’s become a hybrid economy but the Lao Dong is the only party in town......just as it was in the 1954 elections in Bac Viet.”
The only part of the VN economy that could possibly be considered a little bit capitalist is what you remember as the sari-sari type stores in the PI. But even they are subject to Commie “tax” collectors, so that’s not even truly capitalistic.
The Commies rule; Her Thighness’ dream state of a state.
Green Lantern
I have to say that I have not been as enthusiastic about Free Republic since the purge. The main reason that I stay is to have contact with other Washington State conservatives because we are having some serious issues with local private property issues.
It is really discouraging when conservatives can’t have serious, open discussions of issues.
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