Edit post

Edit your reply below.

Post Body
Enter your post below.
Hello Ed, That's my initials, but I don't get the pun -enlighten me. Anyway, I was one of those sailors who had to come home from Vietnam only to be scorned. I guess I am still kinda touchy about that. Especially since at least three times I participated in major offensives in Vietnam where we were victorious in battle, at the cost of thousands of lives, only to have the politicians change their minds after the fact, yielding it all back to the enemy. As the war in Vietnam wore on, we too began to wonder why we were there - Why all this bloodshed. It seemed for nothing, and that made the horror of war all the more unbearable. But as you say, our liberties absolutely depend upon the strict obediance and loyalty of the military to civilian authority. Unfortunately, we can't tell that to the tens of millions of Southeast Asians who were exterminated after we lost the war. That's why all the "boat people" eventually had to flee for their very lives. After one of these campaigns, we got word of the rioters in Berkeley and other places who used classic military tactics against the police and national guard. We really wondered how they knew such tactics, and began to wonder if the war was really at home and Vietnam a mere diversion. At least we eventually began to understand there was real division back home. Obviously, our politicians had failed in their leadership role before the American people. OR - in our free and open society, was there an organized campaign of opposition directed from abroad. One would like to think not, but what better way defeat an opponent in a war you might not win militarily. Our enemies would be remiss if they didn't at least try. These efforts are usually referred to as dis-information and progaganda wars. The Soviets were very good at it. We have historically done very poorly. In any event, I too do not wish any of our service men and women to have to endure that again. War is horrible enough all by itself. The real immorality of the Vietnam war was that the politicians vascilated again and again, making a mockery of the loss of vietnamese lives and the supreme sacrifices made by many of my friends. Unfortunately, we see some of this again. Congress voted overwhelmingly for this war. Then many of them "changed their minds" after the troops were sent into battle. It is hard for me to contain my hostility towards such "Turncoats". If they did not want war they should have voted NO last October - and not sent our sons and daughters into battle in the first place. Anyway, since they WERE sent into battle, the only acceptable end is victory, and hopefully very quickly. Thanx Ed, for letting me vent. Not yet Frosty, but getin there! RmC
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag