Clinton and Vietnam

[erpowers]

I may have posted this or something like this before, but I have just reread Bill Clinton's letter to the Colonel who was the head of University of Arkansas' ROTC program. I reread the letter because in recent days as I did when I first read the letter I thought, even thought he was criticized more, Clinton's stance on Vietnam was more principled than George Bush's. In addition, I thought the letter showed a great respect for the military on Clinton's part. Far from the dispising of the military that Republicans had claimed. I wanted to make sure that I had read the letter right so I decided to reread the letter today.

On reading the letter a second time I feel I was right the first time. The letter showed that Bill Clinton's stance on the Vietnam War was much more principled than George Bush's stance. For instance, George Bush claimed to support the war, but choose to hide out in a champagne unit of the Air National Guard. Clinton on the other hand did not support the war, but when given a chance to hide out in ROTC Clinton first accepted, but then down the offer in that he felt by joining ROTC and pretending to support the war and save his political career he was betraying his principles. In addition, showed great respect for the people in the military in that he said that the military was full of great men who had done great service to their country. I recommend that everyone from DU go to Liberal Oasis and read Bill Clinton's letter. It is amazing that Republican took that letter and turned it into something that supposedly showed a hatred for the military.

[Wilms]

1. Toss me a link if you got one. Sounds interesting. n/t

[erpowers]

3. Link

The link is www.liberaloasis.com. Go to the Bush AWOL section which will be on the left of your screen and near the bottom. Once you get to the Bush AWOL page just scroll down and you will see another link to the letter. I hope I explained it well enough for you to get there.

[Wilms]

4. Thank you.

I was impressed by this snip, among others.

"...war I opposed and despised with a depth of feeling I had reserved solely for racism in America before Vietnam."

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/clinton/etc/draftletter.html

[peacetalksforall]

2. The right is determined to divide and destroy. A distinction must be

made between the kids and the brass.

The kids must be supported. (Including Rumsfeld who must support them whether active or not).

The brass and gung ho people do not have to be supported if they are involved in brain-washing, tormenting-torturing, knowlingly under staffing and supplying, knowingly causing burdens and debts to the kids, manipulating data, cutting benefits, using kids as guinea pigs for new toys or war strategies and theories, lying to them, hyping them dishonestly.

Distinctions are relevant and necessary.

[Catherine Vincent]

5. When I read Clinton's letter a while back, I thought it was a

very well thought out letter. But if you listened to repukes all you heard was "Clinton loathing the military" junk.

[karynnj]

6. Not quite accurate from what was said at the time

He turned down ROTC only after getting a high lottery number - so he was no longer at risk. But, to put this in context, almost every guy I knew in college looked for a legal way out. The company I started working for in 1972, AT&T Bell Labs was able to get deferments because they did some military work. Many other types of employment could give deferments.

I do agree that Bush was intellectually dishonest that he could not see the gap between being for the war and avoiding it.