VIETNAM: THE WAR CRIMES FILES

[globalvillage]

Civilian Killings Went Unpunished
Declassified papers show U.S. atrocities went far beyond My Lai.
By Nick Turse and Deborah Nelson, Special to The Times
August 6, 2006


The men of B Company were in a dangerous state of mind. They had lost five men in a firefight the day before. The morning of Feb. 8, 1968, brought unwelcome orders to resume their sweep of the countryside, a green patchwork of rice paddies along Vietnam's central coast.

They met no resistance as they entered a nondescript settlement in Quang Nam province. So Jamie Henry, a 20-year-old medic, set his rifle down in a hut, unfastened his bandoliers and lighted a cigarette.

Just then, the voice of a lieutenant crackled across the radio. He reported that he had rounded up 19 civilians, and wanted to know what to do with them. Henry later recalled the company commander's response:

Kill anything that moves.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-vietnam6aug06,0,92368.story?page=1&coll=la-opinion-rightrail

The recent Toledo Blade series covered the Tiger Force story. This LA times feature is based on recently declassified documents.
Hiding atrocities doesn't make them go away. Are we finally learning?

[globalvillage]

1. The odyssey of Joe Bangert

By KEVIN DENNEHY
STAFF WRITER
On an overcast afternoon last month, Joe Bangert wandered across his Brewster lawn, sandals on his feet and a fresh white beard on his face, and took a last look around.

He was flying out of Providence later that night, and knew he wouldn't be back on Cape Cod for a while.

Thirty-seven years ago, he returned from the war in Vietnam. The Philadelphia native settled on the Cape, met a wife and raised a family.

But never far behind were his experiences from the war, the horrible things he says he saw there. His vocal opposition to the war never softened over the years.

<snip>

Bangert, a longtime friend of Kerry, was photographed next to him when he won the New Hampshire primary and worked on his campaign.

more...

http://www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/theodyssey6.htm

Related story on (Winter Soldier) Joe Bangert in today's Cape Cod Times.

[Luftmensch067]

2. Heartbreaking but also inspiring

A "winter soldier" like Joe Bangert seems to me to embody the best aspects of the human spirit. In an eternal hell, he continues to strive for salvation, and to help his brothers toward light, as well, whenever he can. Vets like him have faced demons most would never have the courage to confront -- the spectres of war and the burden of addiction, both inflicted by circumstance dictated by others as much as any free choice -- where most choose to survive by internalizing and denying, they do not shirk. I find their dedication to painful truth worthy of boundless admiration.

Interestingly, I heard Rachel Maddow interview Mike Cronin (whom most here know, though I didn't, by name as one of the Shrimpies who campaigned against JK.) She was interviewing him because he was the guy who worked to get the 1996 War Crimes Act passed and he is now very upset with the Bush Administration for trying to subvert it. What struck me was the way he talked about his reasons for lobbying for the Act. It was clear to me that his hell (and I'm sure John McCain's, as well, and probably every single Shrimpie) was as unbearable as Bangert's. It is sad that they have had to work so hard and for so long to deny that to the world, but more importantly to themselves.

[wisteria]

3. I caught the story too.

Maybe we should take this up with O'Neil.

[ProSense]

4. These documents, stories

like Bangert's and The Patriot Project should help smack down these liars.

The local police department estimated that over 300 people attended The Patriot Project rally and well under 25 attended the competing event. It was very heartening to see. Yesterday represented one small victory in what will be a long battle to stand up for people like John Murtha, but one we are than prepared to fight, and one we will win. We very much appreciate everyone's support.

http://www.patriotproject.com/2006/08/the_story_of_tw.php

[fedupinBushcountry]

5. I replied

over at military.com concerning the article Mr. Butler wrote, there were 3 hateful responses to his piece. I am now going to post that article in the veterans section.

[ProSense]

6. Excellent response!

Excellent rebuke of their attempt to substitute stupid cartoons for facts.

Thanks Fedup!

[globalvillage]

7. That was an excellent reply, fedup.

You may want to use the Toledo Blade series if they continue.
These people never post a single fact. They just repeat the same crap they've heard from some other ignorant fool. How do you talk to people who just refuse to listen to the truth?

[fedupinBushcountry]

8. Thanks ProSense and GV

the responses just made me so angry, and I was trying to not go off into a tirade. To me veterans who dishonor other veterans deserve their own special spot in hell.

[beachmom]

9. Maryscott O'Connor has a diary up now that includes a pic of Kerry

I came across this:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/8/6/151042/8706

She excerpts the article, and talks about her father a little. What I liked was that she posted a 1971 picture of Kerry with no comment. Everyone knows what a picture of John Kerry and Vietnam means, when it involves getting the truth out.
No comment was necessary.

Edited to add: there was some Kerry bashing (the usual stuff), but MH1 had JK's back as usual. Sort of a silly conversation to talk about the campaign, when I think it's FAR more important that what JK said in 1971 has stood up to time, and been independently verified. To hell with '04 -- it's OVER. But the truth about Vietnam? We still need that to come out.

Second edit: I read down in the comments, and originally Maryscott did NOT put the picture in (because she's still mad at him for the campaign), and someone said his picture MUST be in there, and she did it. I like that she was able to change her mind.