How We Lost in Vietnam

The Interview

“How North Vietnam Won The WarTaken from The Wall Street Journal,
Thursday August 3, 1995

What did the North Vietnamese leadership think of the American antiwar movement? What was the purpose of the Tet Offensive? How could the U.S. have been more successful in fighting the Vietnam War? Bui Tin, a former colonel in the North Vietnamese army, answers these questions in the following excerpts from an interview conducted by Stephen Young, a Minnesota attorney and human-rights activist. Bui Tin, who served on the general staff of North Vietnam's army, received the unconditional surrender of South Vietnam on April 30, 1975. He later became editor of the People's Daily, the official newspaper of Vietnam. He now lives in Paris, where he immigrated after becoming disillusioned with the fruits of Vietnamese communism.”

Question: How did Hanoi intend to defeat the Americans?

Answer: By fighting a long war which would break their will to help South Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh said, "We don't need to win military victories, we only need to hit them until they give up and get out."

Q: Was the American antiwar movement important to Hanoi's victory?

A: It was essential to our strategy. Support of the war from our rear was completely secure while the American rear was vulnerable. Every day our leadership would listen to world news over the radio at 9 a.m. to follow the growth of the American antiwar movement. Visits to Hanoi by people like Jane Fonda, and former Attorney General Ramsey Clark and ministers gave us confidence that we should hold on in the face of battlefield reverses. We were elated when Jane Fonda, wearing a red Vietnamese dress, said at a press conference that she was ashamed of American actions in the war and that she would struggle along with us.

A very informative interview. Hat tip: Swift Boat Vets for Truth (right side link) The interview is worth reading regardless of how you are voting. It explains some interesting perspectives . . . and truths.

During the past few months I have been reading much on the history of the Vietnam War and drawing some conclusions. When the Swift Boat operations began they could hardly go anywhere--they were relegated to coastal areas. By the time Kerry left Vietnam, the Swiftees were on the major rivers and into the lesser waterways. They were less hampered, more mobile, had control over much more of the water.

These Swift Boat crews fought hard and had gained much. In 1970, the Swift Boats were turned over to the Vietnam Navy—to patrol the coast and the inland waterways. You can see the progress when you read the reports, read the histories.

Now read how we lost the war (at the above site); it’s well-described in the interview.

KERRY DISCHARGE

Bandit

SECNAVINST 5420.174C, Section 9-1:

"d. The following applies to applicants who received less than fully honorable administrative discharges because of their civilian misconduct while in an inactive duty status in a reserve component and who were discharged or had their discharge reviewed on or after April 20, 1971: the NDRB shall either re characterize the discharge to Honorable without any additional proceedings or additional proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with the Court's Order of December 3, 1981, in Wood v. Secretary of Defense to determine whether proper grounds exist for the issuance of a less than honorable discharge, taking into account that:

(1) An other than honorable (formerly undesirable) discharge for an inactive duty reservist can only be based upon civilian misconduct found to have affected directly the performance of military duties;

(2) A general discharge for an inactive duty reservist can only be based upon civilian misconduct found to have had an adverse impact on the overall effectiveness of the military, including military morale and efficiency.

Bandit: “Section 9-1 explains how Kerry could havr received a less than honorable discharge due to ‘civilian misconduct found to have had an adverse impact on the overall effectiveness of the military, including military morale and efficiency.’"

”Vietnam Veterans Against the War and his discredited Winter Soldiers band of brothers certainty comes to mind as one possible finding for ‘civilian misconduct’ under SECNAVINST 5420.174C and would explain the record that Kerry refuses to address. “


[Note: There are strange happenings with Kerry’s discharge. It is a concern. Kerry and crew would like to keep US busy looking into AWOL, and drill absences; but, whatever we don’t know about Bush, we know Kerry was talking to the enemy, in Paris. We know where Kerry was and it was not to our benefit. If you can’t help, don’t harm . . . Kerry was harmful. We know where Kerry was . . . because he told us.

Make no mistake, Kerry betrayed US. Kerry betrayed his fellow military, and worst of all, he betrayed the POWs. Kerry undermined our bargaining power which endangered captives and may have caused some to die, needlessly.

There are no excuses for John Kerry. Kerry understood the enemy before he understood America.]

KERRY WARNS

Kerry Warns Middle Class Against Bush


1 hour, 36 minutes ago
By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON - Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites) accused President Bush (news - web sites) on Sunday of planning a surprise second-term attempt to privatize Social Security (news - web sites), and forecast a "disaster for America's middle class." Republican party chairman Ed Gillespie called the charge "just flat inaccurate."

Kerry is going to help those of us in the Middle Class . . . Watchout!

For the last few days, Kerry had been carping about Bush wanting the draft—while it was the Democrats who promoted it, and likely voted for it; and Kerry wants 47,000 more troops. (It’s obvious who want to push the draft bill-----the Democrats.) The Republicans voted against it. Bush said NO to a draft. The Democrats are dealing out a little fear for what is left of the campaign.

Next step in the Kerry’s fear campaign: secret meeting to get rid of Social Security. Well, if so, say hello to the Gray Panthers, again. That goes for Bush or Kerry. However, it seems more like a Kerry scare tactic. Bush wants to offer something to the younger people who don’t have confidence that Social Security will be there—some of their money for private investments. The post baby boomers want Social Security to be there; but, are afraid it will disappear. If the government paid back all the money it borrowed from the trust fund (with interest) there would be less of a problem. (The interest should be compounded, of course.)

I don’t believe the Republicans can afford to “fool” with privatization. If they attempt to privatize Social Security it’s a guarantee for a Democrat win in 2008. (Might even be a shoe-in for Democrats in 2 years.) It sounds as though the Democrats don’t believe the polls are really neck-n-neck (tied) and they are looking for an edge.

Ah well, only a little over two weeks to go. (Wonder what the Dems will think up next.)

NOT IN BULK

ft.com

More than 30 Canadian internet pharmacies have decided not to accept bulk orders of prescription drugs from US states and municipalities.

(…)Mr Kerry has argued that opening the US to Canadian imports could help lower the costs of prescription drugs for elderly Americans. Such reimportation has become one of the points of difference between him and President George W. Bush during the election campaign.

But growing concern in Canada that growing exports to the US could lead to rising prices and shortages north of the border has prompted the Canadian International Pharmacy Association (Cipa), whose members include several of the biggest internet and mail-order drugstores, to act. “We don't want to give Americans the impression that we have unlimited supply for them to tap into on a commercial basis,” said David Mackay, the association's executive director. Americans, he added, “can't get everything from Canada. We can't be your complete drugstore”.

Not much of a surprise that Canada doesn’t want higher prices and possible shortages. It does make you wonder why the pharmaceutical companies can’t sell the drugs cheaper here in the U.S.

KERRY'S DRAFT

Kerry's crew says: Too few troops; need more troops.

Kerry's Democrats put a DRAFT bill in Congress.

Kerry said: He wants 47,000 more troops.

Kerry says: It's Bush who will cause draft.

Bush says: NO DRAFT!


Now, who do you think is playing the "DRAFT GAME?"

Anti-Kerry Vietnam Veterans Launch New Ads (Thurs)

WASHINGTON – Two groups of Vietnam veterans opposed to Sen. John Kerry once again have joined forces to run television ads against the Democrat presidential candidate.Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and POWs for Truth, which launched their joint ad campaign last month, unveiled two ads Thursday.

In one commercial, the faces of dozens of men are shown as an announcer says: "They're the men who served with John Kerry in Vietnam. They're his entire chain of command, most of the officers in Kerry's unit ... And they're the men who spent years in North Vietnamese prison camps. Tortured for refusing to confess what John Kerry accused them of - of being war criminals."
In his Senate testimony after the war, Kerry cited reports from other soldiers of atrocities.

The other ad asks, "Why is this relevant?" The answer, the ad says: "Because character and honesty matter. Especially in a time of war."

PHARAOH blasts FRIEDMAN

Big Pharaoh

Friedman:
“I don't know whether to laugh or cry when I hear the president and vice president slamming John Kerry for saying that he hopes America can eventually get back to a place where "terrorists are not the focus of our lives, but they're a nuisance."

“That's why Mr. Kerry was actually touching something many Americans are worried about - that this war on terrorism is transforming us and our society, when it was supposed to be about uprooting the terrorists and transforming their societies.”

Big Pharaoh discusses the Friedman quotes and it’s worth reading.

Nuisance and nuisance are a part of the thinking which allowed this danger to grow. We ignored the growing danger as groups around the world chose to kill innocent people in order to send a hate-message. This message is not comfortable to send anymore.

Al Qaeda sent US a strong message on 9/11. Now that we are paying attention, should we return to the old days and allow the terror to continue to grow . . . again?

It wouldn't be wise.

DISCHARGE

Antimedia

Was Kerry dishonorably discharged?

The New York Sun investigated Kerry's discharge from the Navy and found some curious anomalies.

An official Navy document on Senator Kerry's campaign Web site listed as Mr. Kerry's "Honorable Discharge from the Reserves" opens a door on a well kept secret about his military service.

Antimedia covers the mystery surrounding Kerry's discharge, including links to the New York Sun, and commentary from a poster who thinks its a "red herring."

INSTAPUNDIT fires back

INSTAPUNDIT

Yeah, I think it was a mistake.

STILL MORE: Andrew Sullivan writes: "The usually even-keeled Instapundit says that Kerry's 'position on gay marriage is the same as the President's.' I can't see how that's even remotely the case."

Well, it was this Kerry statement that led to my conclusion:
The president and I have the same position, fundamentally, on gay marriage. We do. Same position.

Call me crazy, but I took that to mean that they had the same position. Since it was a Kerry statement, I should have realized that I was probably missing out on a crucial nuance.

[And, the winner is . . . . .not Sullivan.]

PROPAGANDA IN ENGLISH CLASS

In a Texas school, in an English Class, Michael Moore had his first educational premiere. Michael Moore is an example of propaganda paying off. There is a non-stop Democrat virus—no place is free of propaganda, churches, schools, theaters (including the media.) It isn’t all lies; but then, good propaganda has some truth included and then the truth is bent and twisted. Michael Moore is the pretzel of propaganda.

Europeans want to influence the votes, Terrorists want to influence the votes, everybody wants to vote in sneaky ways—absentee non-American voting called influencing. The Guardian (British newspaper) wants people to write to Ohio and paid $25 to Clark County Board of Elections for the Voter List. (Just on FOX)

Most voters do not realize how big this is and the impact it will have on our situation. This election ranks as both the biggest election and the worst election I’ve ever seen. Both sides seem to be collecting funds for a recount; both sides are accused of some type of election fraud. But, Michael Moore was the worst of the worst in this election. If a teacher wished to show Michael Moore’s film after the election and balance it with counter information that would not be as bad and could be educational.

Showing the film now is nothing more than pushing propaganda in our schools.

A+

The best of the night is that this was the last debate. Both candidates made their points and had their mistakes.

One of the biggest mistakes was Kerry mentioning Mary Cheney. Kerry’s party is for gay rights, gay marriage, and Kerry attempted to give Bush a slap with Cheney’s daughter. It wasn’t well done and he may suffer the loss of a few points in some obscure poll.

The highest grade goes to the SPINMEISTERS. They are amazing. Love it that they call it “Spin Alley.”

My take on the debates: It was fairly even for the Presidential debates. Blunt didn’t go over well; glib doesn’t inspire trust. If you throw in the VP debates, Cheney outclassed Edwards—Edwards needs more experience, more maturity (not on-the-job training.)

The debates didn’t change the reality. We are in tough times. They are the times when you think of Kennedy, “Ask not what your country can do for you . . .”

We need the will to complete the job. We need a leader who leads, not follows.

EMPLOYMENT

Bandit

So Democrats want to play the blame game for job losses under Bush to somehow paint him as incompetent in matters of the economy. In doing so they are setting themselves up to take the entire rap. During the second debate Bush mentioned Clinton's bubble burst as one of culprits affecting employment.

The evidence supports President Bush.

First major signs that all was not well surfaced in May 2000. This is the month the biggest recorded decline in jobs in eight years - 116,000 jobs disappeared. What made this number even more alarming is that the cutbacks were widespread affecting all sectors: 29,000 jobs in construction, 71,000 in wholesale and retail, 17,000 in manufacturing, and 11,000 in transportation.

There was another extraordinary report that came out to confirm all was not well with Clinton's economy: Household survey recorded the largest one-month loss of jobs in its entire 52 year history, 991,000 jobs disappeared in a single month of May.

The unions were sensing not all was well under Clinton's booming economy, in August 1999 the AFL-CIO, in a report to the Clinton Administration, said the manufacturing sector ``is in crisis, having lost 491,000 jobs since March 1998. Little has been done to assist manufacturing companies in coping.''

A Seattle Times article dated November 07, 1999 was projecting 1 million job cuts in the coming year.

The White House put out a little noticed Press Release on March 5, 1999 that read: "Reflecting the weakness in the world economy, manufacturing employment fell 1.8 percent during the past year."

There were some serious forces at work to cause manufacturing employment to fall 1.8% in a single year. All we heard during the 2000 election from Democrats, Gore in particular, is how well off we all were.

The question begs, with all the clear signs the economy was in serious trouble, or in a 'crisis' as the unions warned, where was Sen. Kerry?

[Remember the word “downsizing”; and, remember “jobs going south?”]

STRETCHED THIN?

Afghanistan: 45,000 troops, not all ours. AQ left--or, was killed/captured.

AFGHANISTAN has had its first **ever** election. Afghanistan is succeeding.

IRAQ: 130,000 troops, most ours. The reason for not increasing troop levels is exposure, supplies, logistics . . . and we want to clean up and come home. A reason for retention is adaptation to climate--rotation and adjustment plus experience of some troops not easily replaced. It's rough to have the time extended (hard on troops, difficult for families); but, in the interest of success, most of the military understand how important this is.

We are not stretched as thin as the Democrats say. Republicans are not the ones promoting the draft, Democrats are; and they have been eager to do it. Kerry says he wants 40,000 more troops. Democrats say enlistment is down and put in a bill for the draft. They are either (1) playing on fears of a draft, or (2) really thinking about it.

And, when the Democrats speak of too few troops to prevent looting in Baghdad, we could have had thousands, what were the Democrats going to do? Shoot the average Iraqis who were tired of being poor, tired of being persecuted? The troops would not have shot the guy with the TV, or the people with the huge vases.

DIDN'T SHOW

Andrew Sullivan

QUOTE FOR THE DAY I: "Yesterday was a huge defeat for the Taliban. The Taliban didn't show," - Lt. Gen. David Barno, commander of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Yep, democracy is to the theocrats and terrorists what light is to darkness. And it's worth repeating again and again: without the United States, Afghans would still be laboring under an unspeakable terrorist-controlled tyranny. Whatever happens in America's own election, no one can ever take this legacy away from this president.

QUOTES

"One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line." - President Bill Clinton, February 4, 1998


"Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime ... He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation ... And now he is miscalculating America's response to his continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction ... So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real..." - Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), January 23. 2003

WOT HUB

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA): "Iraq may not be the war on terror itself, but it is critical to the outcome of the war on terror, and therefore any advance in Iraq is an advance forward in that and I disagree with the Governor [Howard Dean]." (Fox News Channel's "Special Report," 12/15/03)

Quote found by AC at Bandit’s Hideout

If Iraq “is critical to the outcome of the war on terror,” then it is PART OF THE WAR ON TERROR. Another way to look at it: There are severe problems in the Middle East; Iraq was a serious enemy and part of the Middle East problem and Iraq is in the Middle of the Middle East. Freedom in the Middle of the Middle East is essential to the PLAN FOR THE PEACE. Liberty, a growing economy, a prosperous Iraqi people working toward a brighter future, means that Iraq can demonstrate to the rest of the Middle East that it is possible for the regular people in the Middle East to have a better life.

Iraq is the HUB of the Middle East—not a spoke, not part of the rim. Iraq is not only the center of the War on Terror it is the focus of the Peace Plan. If it works well, we may see vast improvements which spread, gradually, throughout the region. (The Saudis will attempt to hold elections next year. Women are trying to run for office in Saudi Arabia. Will they succeed this time . . . possibly; or, they may succeed next time. Nevertheless, there seem to be some beneficial changes in thinking throughout the Middle East.

SHUT DOWN 20

Guardian (UK)

American authorities have shut down 20 independent media centres by seizing their British-based webservers.

On Thursday a court order was issued to Rackspace, an American-owned web hosting company in Uxbridge, Middlesex, forcing it to hand over two servers used by Indymedia, an international media network which covers of social justice issues and provides a "news-wire", to which its users contribute.

(…)It is unclear why, or to where, the servers have been taken. The FBI, speaking to the French AFP, acknowledged that a subpoena had been issued but said this was at the request of Italian and Swiss authorities.

(Emphasis was mine.) It seemed like the Al Jazeera of the West.

GOODBYE SUPERMAN

CHRISTOPHER REEVE 1952 - 2004

AFGHANISTAN

(UK)

Afghans ignore Taliban and dust storms to vote in millions
By Hamida Ghafour in Kabul
(Filed: 11/10/2004)

Millions of Afghans queued in mosques, hospitals and schools at the weekend to vote for a president to end the vicious cycle of war that Afghanistan has endured over the past two decades.

In Kabul, Bamiyan, and Kandahar voters from the 10.5 million who registered ignored warnings by the ousted but still active Taliban not to vote and queued waited for hours in snow, rain and dust storms to cast their votes.

They were determined to have their first say in the future of their country since the ousting of the Islamist regime almost three years ago.

Karimullah, 50, a civil servant in Kabul, said Saturday was one of the most important days in his life.

"Men, women, voted and it was a free choice," he said. "I voted in the mosque and everyone was joyful.

"Even if the other candidates boycott the election 10 times I still gave my vote. I will not change my mind."

WAY TO GO ****AFGHANIS***!!!!!

BIO WEAPONS (BW)

Interpol

(…)An easy option?

An effective biological weapon is potentially devastating and much easier to make and transport than a nuclear weapon. Bio-weapons are, however, relatively safe for the terrorist. Pathogens (biological agents or germs) are virtually undetectable and can be brought reasonably easily into a country by an individual and can then be propagated in large quantities.

Recognising the imminent dangers represented by this lethal form of crime is the first step in countering the threat. Thereafter it is vital to put in place the tools which will enable society to take appropriate measures.
Isn't there a law against it?

In many countries, criminal justice systems are constrained by inadequate legal frameworks governing the detection and repression of bio-weapons. Frequently, no law is violated until the disease or biological agent is actually deployed. Law enforcement officers are therefore unable to begin preliminary investigations into the development of such weapons. Without laws which criminalise activity relating to bio-weapons, there is no basis for legal assistance or co-operation to prevent their production and transport.

BW are insidious and extremely dangerous. I consider BW #1, in WMD--worse than nuclear.