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Vietnamese officials considering punishment for actor in U.S. film ["We Were Soldiers"]
Associated Press | September 19, 2002

Posted on 09/19/2002 10:23:35 PM PDT by HAL9000

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) -- Vietnamese officials were meeting Friday to consider whether to punish an actor branded a "national traitor" for starring with Mel Gibson in the Hollywood movie "We Were Soldiers."

Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City, where actor Don Duong lives, proposed earlier that he be fined and banned from acting or leaving the country for five years for appearing in the movie, which they said distorted the history and image of Vietnamese soldiers.

Officials from the Ministry of Culture and Information were meeting Friday to consider the proposal, and will submit a recommendation to the ministry for a final decision, ministry Cinematic Department Director Nguyen Phuc Thanh said.

Vietnam's communist government has led a strident campaign against "We Were Soldiers" in the country's state-controlled media.

The movie, not approved for sale in Vietnam but widely available on bootleg DVDs, depicts a bloody three-day battle in November 1965 in Vietnam's Ia Drang valley, the first major clash between the North Vietnamese army and U.S. troops in the Vietnam War.

In the film, the U.S. troops have little idea of what they face and are overrun and suffer heavy casualties. Both sides are portrayed as courageous and self-sacrificing, while their families are shown grieving the deaths of their loved ones.

The movie is based on the book "We Were Soldiers Once ... and Young" by the U.S. commander in the battle, retired Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore.

Duong played commander Nguyen Huu An, who led the Vietnamese soldiers to victory.

Duong, one of Vietnam's most popular actors, has appeared in numerous domestic movies about the war. He also played the role of a refugee camp translator in "Green Dragon," a movie directed by Vietnamese American Tony Linh Bui about Vietnamese who fled the country after the end of the war and dreamed of living in the United States.

"Both movies distort the legitimate war history of our people and the humanity of the Vietnamese," army newspaper Quan Doi Nhan Dan (People's Army) said in a front-page article Wednesday.

The newspaper demanded stern punishment for Duong.

"By becoming a propagandist and henchman for 'hostile forces' and tarnishing the Vietnamese soldiers and people, Don Duong has sold his conscience cheaply and become a national traitor," it said.

Duong couldn't be reached for comment, but in an earlier interview with The Associated Press, he said he was surprised at the reaction and has decided not to play any more roles in foreign movies about the Vietnam War.

Vietnamese movies about the war invariably portray Vietnamese soldiers as noble and Americans as cruel murderers.



TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: donduong; melgibson; vietnam; weweresoldiers
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To: All; Jimmy Valentine's brother; generalissimoduane; RonDog; SMEDLEYBUTLER; VOA; Landru; ...
...How's 'bout our suddenly having a Fortress Washington, D.C. Sniperland on the eve of our November 2002 Congressional Elections...

...as HILLARY's China Army Money Man and DNC Chairman TERRY MacAULIFFE announces that the DNC is sending out 4,000 Democrat Lawyers to Voting Polls across America on Election Day...

...to hear or manufacture Voters Complaints...

...in order to force a "Florida Effect-2000" stealing Control of Congress-2002 =

...President HILLARY RODHAM -2004...???

The Enemy is now Within...

and always has been.
181 posted on 10/13/2002 2:58:50 PM PDT by ALOHA RONNIE
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To: goldilucky
...Group Thinks'..

...purging of opposition thinkers =

...COMMUNISM.
182 posted on 10/13/2002 3:02:18 PM PDT by ALOHA RONNIE
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To: goldilucky
...MAO TSE TUNG's...

..'Let a hundred flowers contend'...

...thesis means to let everyone voice their opinion on a Issue, vote on it, and then KILLING all those who disagree with the Majority =

PURGING.
183 posted on 10/13/2002 3:05:45 PM PDT by ALOHA RONNIE
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To: PleaseNoMore
ALOHA PleaseNoMore...

...You are wise beyond your years...

...and way beyond the Enemy Within...

HILLARY RODHAM
BILL CLINTON

...who have 4,000 Democrat Lawyers primed to attack our Voting Polls across our Beloved Country in November =

...America's very own Battle of IA DRANG-1965 in a brand new Century.
184 posted on 10/13/2002 3:52:42 PM PDT by ALOHA RONNIE
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To: ventana
...Please see my...

..'Fortress Washington, D.C. just before our next Congressional Election'..

...Post No. 181 above...
185 posted on 10/13/2002 4:42:26 PM PDT by ALOHA RONNIE
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To: ALOHA RONNIE
Then what is to be done?
186 posted on 10/13/2002 4:45:52 PM PDT by ventana
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To: ventana
...Our Churches are now involved...
187 posted on 10/13/2002 4:58:07 PM PDT by ALOHA RONNIE
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To: ALOHA RONNIE
Your post #181 is shocking! Politics isn't about elections anymore...

To Hillary and the Democrats...

This is about WAR.

And we saw the FIRST STRIKE on September 11 that was averted from it's total purpose by the Brave Passengers of Flight 93.

Hillary Rodham was absent from the Congress Chambers on the morning of 9-11, only to return to the steps of the building after Flight 93 had crashed into the ground.

Would Flight 93 have changed American History FOREVER if it had hit the Senate Building?

188 posted on 10/13/2002 5:00:49 PM PDT by Joy Angela
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To: goldilucky
I didn't wake anyone from a sleep. He was awake but confused.

And that is exactly the way the LEFT wants us.

189 posted on 10/13/2002 5:02:05 PM PDT by Joy Angela
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To: Kwilliams
Sounds like the world of 1984...

I think it's their version of the "Homeland Security/Office of Reich Secuity" that we will soon be "blessed" with.

190 posted on 10/13/2002 5:11:48 PM PDT by sneakypete
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To: Joy Angela
...Welcome, America...

...to your very own...

...Landing Zone X-RAY...
191 posted on 10/13/2002 8:11:56 PM PDT by ALOHA RONNIE
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To: ALOHA RONNIE
You got that right!!!
192 posted on 10/13/2002 8:22:54 PM PDT by goldilucky
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To: Joy Angela
Well I must admit that I was not only misinformed but confused and left in the dark.
193 posted on 10/13/2002 8:24:23 PM PDT by goldilucky
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To: ALOHA RONNIE
And that sure sounds like where this Country is heading. Look what they are trying to do with our Constitution. Take God out and destroy the Constitution forever by starting wars only for the purpose of imposing on our rights to privacy and freedom.
194 posted on 10/13/2002 8:27:00 PM PDT by goldilucky
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To: ventana
...This is so obviously a Spiritual Battle...

...for the very future of America.

BEWARE, PREPARE, Pray...
195 posted on 10/13/2002 8:28:07 PM PDT by ALOHA RONNIE
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To: ALOHA RONNIE
Garry Owen,sir,I saw and heard that,could someone please explaine it?
196 posted on 10/13/2002 8:35:30 PM PDT by eastforker
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To: ASA Vet
As my old Latin teacher taught me, decimate meant and means to cut down to 1/10th, not cut 10%.

HF

197 posted on 10/13/2002 8:52:00 PM PDT by holden
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To: eastforker
GARRY OWEN, Sir...

...Our U.S. 7th Cavalry's Salute to one another is derived from our Former Commanding Officer General ARMSTRONG CUSTER's love of a Irish Song that he made our Regiment's Banner Song, now the entire 1st Cavalry Division's.

...For more see our U.S. 7th Cavalry's website...

http://www.lzxray.com 's

'The Legend of "GARRY OWEN"

http://www.naples.net/presents/7thcav/legend.htm

GARRY OWEN, Sir
198 posted on 10/13/2002 8:55:09 PM PDT by ALOHA RONNIE
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To: holden
my old Latin teacher taught me

Webster's old Latin teacher taught him:
"1. orig., to select by lot and kill every tenth one of"

199 posted on 10/13/2002 9:13:19 PM PDT by ASA Vet
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To: ALOHA RONNIE; goldilucky; Fred Mertz; Freedom'sWorthIt; Republic; Registered; rodeo-mamma
I just heard a caller on Matt Drudge's Sunday Night Radio Show give the most astonishing information!

OVER 4000 DNC Lawyers are going to be unleased on ELECTION DAY to stir up DIRT and take statements from voters about unfair elections and voting booth practices!

DNC = Democrat National Committee = HILLARY

(Hey, come to think of it, isn't HILLARY a DNC LAWYER herself?)

Matt Drudge ran with the info, and commented on what President Hillary will do when she one day takes office and uses the Patriot Act against ALL OF US!

Last Chance for Liberty!

Even if American's vote GOP...just watch Dan Rather and the Media Left doing election night coverage on the DNC Lawyers Spin!

Election Through Litigation...Here We Come!

200 posted on 10/13/2002 10:12:27 PM PDT by Joy Angela
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