JFK's out of print 'The New Soldier'
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JFK's out of print 'The New Soldier'
| Thu, 08-26-2004 - 6:06pm |
"Just after JOHN KERRY came back from Vietnam, he wrote the book THE NEW SOLDIER.
The book is out of print. John Kerry does not allow the publisher to reprint it.
To make a rational decision on November 2, you need to have all available facts.
You can now read John Kerry's THE NEW SOLDIER online for FREE."
http://www.johnkerrythenewsoldier.blogspot.com/
Renee ~~~

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Again, I've never been in the military or in a war zone, but I would think that if you're in a dangerous situation, you bond with your unit and watch eachother's backs. To take a stand and risk alienating the very people who are keeping you alive is either courageous, or stupid, or both.
First of all, it's not me who is shooting the messenger. I am only pointing out why so many vets have a problem with him. Yes, he has every right to speak out, but then he ought to expect that those vets who served honorably were hurt by Kerry's and other's portrayals of them as baby killers, rapists etc. and are not going to feel too warm and fuzzy towards his bragging about his illustrious military career. Yes, these things happened, but most of our soldiers served honorably. Whether he intended to or not Kerry's activism helped foster an atmosphere of contempt for their service.
I understand that perfectly, but just like the Abu Ghraib situation toay, the leadership is not responsible for every illegal act committed by individual lunatics. Do you really believe the US government ordered our soldiers to rape and dismember people in Vietnam, or to put underwear on prisoners' heads at Abu Ghraib? It is exactly by painting the government and our troops as a whole with a broad brush that Kerry and others help besmirch those who served bravely and honorably.
I don't have a problem with him ratting out his peers-in fact, he should have ratted out the SPECIFIC peers who committed criminal acts rather than impugning our entire nation and military. But what actually rankles me the most about Kerry is his opportunism-he gives the appearance (and I can't prove this, it is just an impression I have) of someone who volunteered for military service when he thought it would advance his political career, repudiated that service when he thought THAT was the popular thing to do, and is now trying to embrace and inflate the importance of his service when he thinks it will help him get elected. As I've said before, I don't like the idea of questioning the service of anyone who volunteered, but Kerry has opened that door himself by making it central to his sales pitch.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/vietnam/trenches/mylai.html
http://www.commondreams.org/views03/1217-04.htm
I was shocked to learn that when soldiers tried to report the brutality they were not listened to. I think John Kerry was only one of hundreds of vets who came back talking about what was really going on.
My only memories of that war were of my parents turning off the tv so my sister and I would not see or hear the "body count", and of grownups discussing stopping the war. Since my family was very conservative & pro military (dad served in Korea) it would take a lot for them to go against the government, so they must have believed the reports. Unfortunately my parents are gone, so I can't ask them.
Dropping in to clarify this important topic.
Elaine
Miffy - Co-CL For The Politics Today Board
Donna
Have you heard John Kerry say that he has changed his views since coming home from Vietnam? If so, could you please cite the source of that information for me. I thought that I heard him in an interview say that he has not changed his position, but as typical me, I don't remember what interview that was, so I could be mistaken.
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