SwiftVets.com

[MiltonThrasher]

Bring it on, John by Oliver North August 27, 2004

"Of course, the president keeps telling people he would never question my service to our country. Instead, he watches as a Republican-funded attack group does just that. Well, if he wants to have a debate about our service in Vietnam, here is my answer: 'Bring it on.'" -- Sen. John Kerry
Dear John,

As usual, you have it wrong. You don't have a beef with President George Bush about your war record. He's been exceedingly generous about your military service. Your complaint is with the 2.5 million of us who served honorably in a war that ended 29 years ago and which you, not the president, made the centerpiece of this campaign.

I talk to a lot of vets, John, and this really isn't about your medals or how you got them. Like you, I have a Silver Star and a Bronze Star. I only have two Purple Hearts, though. I turned down the others so that I could stay with the Marines in my rifle platoon. But I think you might agree with me, though I've never heard you say it, that the officers always got more medals than they earned and the youngsters we led never got as many medals as they deserved.

This really isn't about how early you came home from that war, either, John. There have always been guys in every war who want to go home. There are also lots of guys, like those in my rifle platoon in Vietnam, who did a full 13 months in the field. And there are, thankfully, lots of young Americans today in Iraq and Afghanistan who volunteered to return to war because, as one of them told me in Ramadi a few weeks ago, "the job isn't finished."

Nor is this about whether you were in Cambodia on Christmas Eve, 1968. Heck John, people get lost going on vacation. If you got lost, just say so. Your campaign has admitted that you now know that you really weren't in Cambodia that night and that Richard Nixon wasn't really president when you thought he was. Now would be a good time to explain to us how you could have all that bogus stuff "seared" into your memory -- especially since you want to have your finger on our nation's nuclear trigger.
But that's not really the problem, either. The trouble you're having, John, isn't about your medals or coming home early or getting lost -- or even Richard Nixon. The issue is what you did to us when you came home, John.

When you got home, you co-founded Vietnam Veterans Against the War and wrote "The New Soldier," which denounced those of us who served -- and were still serving -- on the battlefields of a thankless war. Worst of all, John, you then accused me -- and all of us who served in Vietnam -- of committing terrible crimes and atrocities.

On April 22, 1971, under oath, you told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that you had knowledge that American troops "had personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals and turned up the power, cut off limbs, blown up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages in fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan, shot cattle and dogs for fun, poisoned food stocks, and generally ravaged the country side of South Vietnam." And you admitted on television that "yes, yes, I committed the same kind of atrocities as thousands of other soldiers have committed."

And for good measure you stated, "(America is) more guilty than any other body, of violations of (the) Geneva Conventions ... the torture of prisoners, the killing of prisoners."

Your "antiwar" statements and activities were painful for those of us carrying the scars of Vietnam and trying to move on with our lives. And for those who were still there, it was even more hurtful. But those who suffered the most from what you said and did were the hundreds of American prisoners of war being held by Hanoi. Here's what some of them endured because of you, John:

Capt. James Warner had already spent four years in Vietnamese custody when he was handed a copy of your testimony by his captors. Warner says that for his captors, your statements "were proof I deserved to be punished." He wasn't released until March 14, 1973.

Maj. Kenneth Cordier, an Air Force pilot who was in Vietnamese custody for 2,284 days, says his captors "repeated incessantly" your one-liner about being "the last man to die" for a lost cause. Cordier was released March 4, 1973.

Navy Lt. Paul Galanti says your accusations "were as demoralizing as solitary (confinement) ... and a prime reason the war dragged on." He remained in North Vietnamese hands until February 12, 1973.

John, did you think they would forget? When Tim Russert asked about your claim that you and others in Vietnam committed "atrocities," instead of standing by your sworn testimony, you confessed that your words "were a bit over the top." Does that mean you lied under oath? Or does it mean you are a war criminal? You can't have this one both ways, John. Either way, you're not fit to be a prison guard at Abu Ghraib, much less commander in chief.

One last thing, John. In 1988, Jane Fonda said: "I would like to say something ... to men who were in Vietnam, who I hurt, or whose pain I caused to deepen because of things that I said or did. I was trying to help end the killing and the war, but there were times when I was thoughtless and careless about it and I'm .... very sorry that I hurt them. And I want to apologize to them and their families."


Even Jane Fonda apologized. Will you, John?

Oliver North is a nationally syndicated columnist, host of the Fox News Channel's War Stories and founder and honorary chairman of Freedom Alliance.
©2004 Creators
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I have a great distrust of John Kerry and
want him to answer the Swift Boat Vets for
Truth's challenge to his statements appearing
in his books and speeches. Vote for Bush/Cheney '04. Korean War vet.

[militarybrat]

I too watched Ollie as he tried to deliver this speech with objections and interruptions from on of John's buddies....
Ollie is right he needs to come clean and be tried for atrocities that he admits he committed..These are his words not those of Ollie or the SBV..In my opnion, Kerry thought we would all keep quiet as most of us have done for years...Enough is Enough...
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navy and air force military brat says enough is enough

[retiredarmyaviator]

I'm afraid a Kerry apology would ring as hollow as Jane Fonda's.

[RStauch]

It is true that John Kerry needs to apologize. He has much for which to apologize, and it would be good for his soul -- yes, he has one, however seared it may be by his sin.

It is also true that those whom he harmed, those to whom he caused pain and distress, whom he forced to silence for fear of attack by the public, who are now coming forward to demand redress, deserve an apology. This is only what is due to them from Kerry, for he caused that distress and pain and harm.

As important as that is, what is more important to me is that society deserves to see Kerry tried in court for his crimes. Whether these are the war crimes he admitted to, or the actual crime of treason he committed in meeting with the VC in France, makes no difference. Both would be best, since we need the former question cleared up, once and for all.

Because it is something society deserves, it is something that the Government must do. It is not elective or voluntary, it is mandatory. Government exists to secure our individual rights, so any time a crime is committed, Government must prosecute that crime, no matter how high in government that person happens to be.

Anything short of that is to abuse the people, and their rights. The Founders would remind us that, when Government becomes abusive of our rights, they run the risk of becoming history. While abuses are tolerable, the people are slow to act. In time, though, the people will say, "Enough." Government can put that day off only by doing the right thing when the opportunity presents itself.

The time is now.
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Richard Stauch
Ft. Myers, FL

[blue9t3]

Hes sorry allright, hes sorry he shot off his big mouth you know alligator mouth-mosquito ***.
I just love his lattest load of ****, now he says swiftys statements about him are a diservice to all vet"s. Give me a break!
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MOPAR-BUYER

[RStauch]

[The Hat]

I fear that Kerry does not have the capacity to understand his errors. I suspect he exists in a world defined by his elitist Boston liberal upbringing. He has never understood the real world nor does he care to. I doubt that Kerry understands the principles of a democratic republic which has a capitalistic economy. Kerry is 'godlike' in his own mind and only sees what it is he wants to do to our world to make it 'better'. Better we send him back in time to the USSR and let him learn the error of his ways first hand. (Assuming Stalin or Lenin don't purge him!) Baring that we can at least send him back to Boston!

[eziek]

Just the truth...anything less will represent gross negligence of our collective duty to the remarkable men and woman who are sacrificing their daily comfort, psyche, and lives to allow us to continue our pursuits in safety. Truth is an imperative to continue to attract the best and brightest to sacrifice for a greater good. The courage of SBVT is based on this ideal and is enormously admired for there is no combat pay, no medals to be awarded in this 24/7 fire fight against the unprecendented attacks from every corner in this country supposedly founded on freedom of speech.

Loyalty above all else except honor.
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Bravo 3/60th '68-'69

[militarybrat]

Just finished watching JFK speak to the Am Leg in Nashville...As we all knew the gutless, spineless coward again refused to do the honorable thing and apologize at least to the SBV not counting all the Vets...I did notice they never panned the audience as they didn't in Cinn when a few brave Vets turned their backs on him.....
Again today he proved he didn't need the Vet Vote..again we were unimportant to him..What I heard was what a "great Vet he was" and how glad we were to be he was goin to HELP US!!!!!! WHAT A JOKE!!!!!!!
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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navy and air force military brat says enough is enough

[militarybrat]

Just finished watching JFK speak to the Am Leg in Nashville...As we all knew the gutless, spineless coward again refused to do the honorable thing and apologize at least to the SBV not counting all the Vets...I did notice they never panned the audience as they didn't in Cinn when a few brave Vets turned their backs on him.....
Again today he proved he didn't need the Vet Vote..again we were unimportant to him..What I heard was what a "great Vet he was" and how glad we were to be he was goin to HELP US!!!!!! WHAT A JOKE!!!!!!!
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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navy and air force military brat says enough is enough

[Paul McCarthy]

I want to find common ground for ALL Vets. As, we argue the past and politics; the VA system is closing much needed facillities. Here, in Pittsburgh, one of three VA Hospitals was closed. I am getting reports of vets languishing in the halls of the remaining facillities. This is happening as more of our friends and comrades approach their time of need.

We need to stop the division; and use this venue to excert pressure to expand the services that we ALL will require (sooner than we would hope). I don't care about who said what; I do care that we are divided and WE are ruled. We've got to stop these arguments and move to pressure the congress and senate to insure the funding for programs and facillities.
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Just a skeptic; tired of the division of veterans; by hidden agendas. I'm no Bush supporter; since, they closed a VA hospital in Pittsburgh!

[RStauch]

[100% Service Connected]

Let us not forget that O'l Ollie North was indicted and convicted in Congressional investigations of Iran Contra for shredding and conspiring to destroy evidence.

Good Ol' Ollie . . . Not a war criminal exactly, but criminal all the same.
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"Congress shall pass no laws regarding freedom of expression . . . "

[Navy_Navy_Navy]

You're not one to let facts and history get in the way of your rhetoric, are you?
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~ Echo Juliet ~
Altering course to starboard - On Fire, Keep Clear
Navy woman, Navy wife, Navy mother

[rb325th]

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U.S. Army 1983-1995, 11C1P/11H2P NBTDT