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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: michael97123 who wrote (32401)	2/29/2004 8:28:04 PM
From: unclewest	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 793656

I wasnt there and i dont have a clue how extensive the war crimes were. Back then, i believed them to be widespread probably because of john kerry Mike, I have been on a number of battlefields. I have never seen an American commit a war atrocity. With the exception of My Lai, I have never heard a genuine combat vet (except Kerry) announce American committed war atrocities. And My Lai resulted in a court-martial. The mutilation of dead bodies was occasionally but seldom done by the VC to Americans. I know of no Americans who participated in this kind of activity. It takes a very special kind of sick dude to mutilate a dead body. That kind of soldier would not then and will not now be tolerated in any American combat unit. Some American soldiers left their unit calling card on the bodies of dead NVA and VC...That is not mutilation. There have been a lot of posts here about misconduct by American soldiers. I spent nearly 11 years overseas in the 60s and 70s. All of them in combat zones or high risk areas. I have been in dozens of firefights - many dozens - I never saw or heard from first-hand sources anything like what is being portrayed here. The brutality of war is difficult to fathom. The suffering and killing is incredible and unbelievable with today's weapons. I never saw any glee and happiness in any battlefield survivors' eyes. After a firefight, the mood is somber and businesslike. There is so much to do: prepare for a counter-attack; establish local security; get the wounded out; get an ammo, water and food resupply; evacuate the dead friendlys; search the enemy dead for intelligence. There is no time or point in getting retribution by mutilating bodies. That is sick and just will not be tolerated by American soldiers. As bad as My Lai was....no bodies were mutilated after death. I saw the Tiger Platoon mentioned today...Contrary to the post, that story came out and was totally debunked years ago. I saw the Tailwind Operation mentioned today. That was Peter Arnett's, Time Magazine's, and CNN's story of Special Forces atrocities. It too was proven false. Ted Turner and Time Magazine apologized and Arnett was fired. The Kerry's and Arnett's of this world have done vets dirty. They have joined those who spat on our soldiers coming home. As i get older i get more confused If you want to know the truth about Vietnam get it from those who were there. If you want to know how our front-line troops behaved ask those who served on the front-lines. Poet and E only use internet references to make points...We all know the internet is full of lies. As FL pointed out, ya had to be there. Honor was very difficult to find for our Nam vets. They fought honorably and courageously. They were on the verge of liberating the countries of S Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos from the clutches of oppressive and violent communism but were pulled just as the job was nearing completion...Only to return to a hostile homefront anxious to punish them for answering the call to serve. Some Americans have a lot to learn about how to treat those rough men in our armed forces who are willing to take the fight to our enemies. Kerry tops that list. unclewest