Mike: What do you think of this?
MR. CROSBY NOYES (Washington Evening Star): Mr. Kerry, you said at one time or another that you think our policies in Vietnam are tantamount to genocide and that the responsibility lies at all chains of command over there. Do you consider that you personally as a Naval officer committed atrocities in Vietnam or crimes punishable by law in this country?
SEN. KERRY: There are all kinds of atrocities, and I would have to say that, yes, yes, I committed the same kind of atrocities as thousands of other soldiers have committed in that I took part in shootings in free fire zones. I conducted harassment and interdiction fire. I used 50 calibre machine guns, which we were granted and ordered to use, which were our only weapon against people. I took part in search and destroy missions, in the burning of villages. All of this is contrary to the laws of warfare, all of this is contrary to the Geneva Conventions and all of this is ordered as a matter of written established policy by the government of the United States from the top down. And I believe that the men who designed these, the men who designed the free fire zone, the men who ordered us, the men who signed off the air raid strike areas, I think these men, by the letter of the law, the same letter of the law that tried Lieutenant Calley, are war criminals.
DD: How do you mean? Seems to be a straight forward question and answer. Atrocities were committed in the Vietnam War and Kerry was in Vietnam and took part in those missions. Kerry has talked openly about his service and what he thought about it in retrospect and in hindsight.
I am fascinated with the Republican Party's insistence on debating the Vietnam War all over again. It was, in retrospect, a regrettable war that we should not have fought. For some reason, the Republican Party (from the President on down to regular party members like yourself) believe they have the superior argument against the Democrats in this instance. I can't see why.
Our candidate, John Kerry was awarded three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and a Silver Star for his service in Vietnam. He served and fought honorably, bravely and with integrity. He returned home and protested against the war as was his right.
Republicans have tried to use an event like tossing his ribbons/medals over the Capitol fence to question his patriotism and his truthfulness, claiming he has been inconsistent in saying whether he threw away his medals or ribbons. This is no more than a political smear. As General Wesley Clark said today, after risking his life bravely in Vietnam to save others, John Kerry earned the right to speak out against a war he then and now believes was wrong. it is that bravery Republicans are now attacking.
And these attacks are coming from a President and a Vice President who did not serve when given the opportunity. If the President and the Vice President sought fit not to serve in Vietnam and instead took deferrments and enrolled in the National Guard (and then didn't even show up for that service), then they should have the integrity not to attack those who did serve for political purposes.
Mike: I am shocked and enraged by his admissions, especially regarding the burning of a village. I want his actions and the actions of his superiors to be probed into. I want a hearing, testimony and indictments. This is absolutely shocking and disturbing information. I want to know of any and all info surrounding this.
DD: Hahaha. I love your false outrage. Do you feel the same about other Vietnam Vets who are Republicans who have made similar admissions? John McCain? I thought Republicans do not want the American military to be subject to war crimes charges. I thought that is why President Bush pulled the United States out of the World Court?
Your political opportunism and hyprocrisy is showing Mike. If you truly do feel this way, then I expect you to want a probe into our entire military's conduct of the Vietnam War, from the top down.
Mike: Seriously, he made these admissions, and now he's running for president. Let's see how true they are. I want to know the superiors who ordered him to burn villages. We can have McCain testify as well if you'd like.
DD: We will make it the first order of business on January 21, 2005 if you like. President Kerry will appoint other honorable war veterans like John McCain and Max Cleland to a commission similar to the 9/11 Commission.
Congress will busy until then investigating the criminality of the Bush Administration until then. Or at least they should be.
What are your thoughts and opinions on this exchange, on this possible new line of attack against Senator Kerry, and on the atrocities that Kerry may have committed in Vietnam?
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