,LOOK+ ,BACK ON ! ,VIETNAM ,W> 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,DAVID ,WATSON 

,TEXT 3 

,?IS >TICLE FIR/ APPE>$ 9 ,F,E _?#c#b1 ,SPR+ #aihe UND] ! P5-NAME ,GEORGE ,BRAD=D4 ,IT IS REPR9T$ ON ! #b? ANNIV]S>Y ( ! DEFEAT ( ! ,U4,S4 EMPIRE 9 ,VIETNAM4 

,9TRODUCTION3 0,HELL ,NO1 ,?AT ,WON'T ,GO0  

 BY ,RI*>D ,DR9NON 

  

,ANO!R DECADE HAS PASS$ & IT IS ,SPR+ #a#i#i#e1 TW5TY YE>S S9CE ! 0FALL ( ,SAIGON TO ! ,VIETNAMESE10 9 ,DAVID ,WATSON'S MORDANT WORDS1 & ! MAN :O GAVE HIS NAME TO ?AT W> HAS JU/ PUBLI%$ ,9 ,RETROSPECT1 A MEMOIR FROM :I* HE BROADCA/S :AT EV]YONE BY N[ HAS HE>D3 0WE W]E WRONG1 T]RIBLY WRONG40 ,N[ ! UR-,:IZ ,KID TELLS US ?AT HE HAD BECOME A COV]T CONV]T TO ! ANTIW> MOVEM5T EV5 BY #a#i#f#g1 ! YE> TW5TY ?\S& RESI/]S TRI$ TO %UT D[N HIS ,DEP>TM5T ( ,DEF5SE4 ,IF ONLY ! ]/:ILE C>PET BOMB] HAD !N COME \TSIDE TO JO9 ! FAIR NUMB] ( US :O HAD SLIPP$ BY ! SOLDI]S & ! M>%ALS TO PISS ON ! ,P5TAGON1 :AT A TRIUMPHANT RELIEF ?AT W\LD HAVE BE51 :AT AN EPIPHANY6 ,YET AFT] TW5TY-EI<T YE>S WE CAN /ILL SAY ?AT ,ROB]T ,S4 ,MC,NAM>A'S T>DY \T+ IS BETT] LATE ?AN NEV]1 NO8 

,N,O6 RUMBLES ,! ,NEW ,YORK ,TIMES 9 A REM>KABLE $ITORIAL ON 0/ALE TE>S1 ?REE DECADES LATE03 0,MR4 ,MC,NAM>A MU/ NOT ESCAPE ! LA/+ MORAL CONDEMNATION ( HIS C\NTRYM540 7,APRIL #a#b1 #a#i#i#e74 ,?IS HANG+ V]DICT CONDEMNS HIM = NOT JO9+ 9 ! NATIONAL DEBATE OV] ! W> & D>+LY SIDES NOT ONLY ) ! Y\NG PEOPLE :O S]V$ 9 ! RANKS 0BECAUSE !Y1 9 !IR 9NOC5CE1 C\LD NOT FA?OM ! M5DACITY ( !IR ELD]S10 BUT ALSO-HOLD ON TO Y\R SEATS-) 0ANO!R SET ( H]OES-! ?\S&S ( /UD5TS :O RETURN$ ?IS NATION TO SANITY BY *ANT+1 ',HELL1 NO1 WE WON'T GO4'0 ,! BIG TR\BLE H]E1 ( C\RSE1 IS ?AT ! ,TIMES IS CLIMB+ TO ?IS HI< MORAL GR\ND OV] ! BACKS ( ALL ?OSE /UD5TS IT MALIGN$ 9 ! SIXTIES4 ,IT PLAYS FA/ & LOOSE ) Y\R & MY MEMORY BY DRAGG+ :AT IT TOO CALLS 0,MR4 ,MC,NAM>A'S ,W>0 D[N OV] ! TRAIL ( ITS [N RESPONSIBILITY1 NOT AS A Y\?FUL DISSID5T BUT AS A M5DACI\S ELD]1 = ! SLAU<T] IT AT FIR/ PROMOT$ & NEV] RESI/$4 ,HELL1 NO1 ?AT WON'T GO4 

,SO1 :AT DID GO SO T]RIBLY WRONG8 ,ACT+ 0ACCORD+ TO :AT WE ?\<T W]E ! PR9CIPLES & TRADITIONS ( ?IS NATION10 ,MC,NAM>A & HIS TEAM MADE MI/AKES-0MO/LY HONE/10 HE CLAIMS-! =EMO/ ( :I* WAS !IR TOTAL FAILURE TO ID5TIFY :AT US$ TO BE /APLE F>E AT \R 0TEA*-9S10 NAMELY1 ! NATIONALI/ CORE ( ! ,VIETNAMESE DRIVE TO UNIFY !IR C\NTRY4 0,I HAD NEV] VISIT$ ,9DO*9A10 HE ADMITS1 0NOR DID ,I UND]/& OR APPRECIATE ITS HI/ORY1 LANGUAGE1 CULTURE1 OR VALUES40 ,WORSE1 ?ANKS TO ! PURGES ( TOP ,/ATE ,DEP>TM5T ,ASIA H&S 9 ! ,MC,C>?Y FIFTIES1 HE & O!R (FICIALS 9 ! ,K5N$Y & ,JOHNSON ADM9I/RATIONS 0LACK$ EXP]TS = US TO CONSULT TO COMP5SATE = \R IGNORANCE AB\T ,S\!A/ ,ASIA40 ,BUT ?IS SUPPOS$ DE>? ( 0EXP]TS0 WAS ITSELF SUGGE/IVE4 ,MC,NAM>A /ILL DOES NOT GRASP ?AT HIS IMP]IAL IGNORANCE ( O!R CULTURES & PEOPLES1 ESPECIALLY COLOR$1 IS AS ,AM]ICAN AS ! ,PL$GE ( ,ALLEGIANCE4 ,IT WAS PRECISELY BECAUSE HE WAS ACT+ ACCORD+ TO 0! PR9CIPLES & TRADITIONS ( ?IS NATION0 ?AT ! ,VIETNAMESE W]E AS UNKN[N TO HIM AS ! ,SEM9OLES HAD BE5 TO ,&REW ,JACKSON1 ! ,FILIP9OS TO ,WILLIAM ,MC,K9LEY4 ! ,HAITIANS TO ,WOODR[ ,WILSON1 ! ,GUATEMALANS TO ,JOHN ,FO/] ,DULLES1 OR ! ,PANAMANIANS TO ,!ODORE ,ROOSEVELT & ,GEORGE ,BU%4 

0,DID Y\ RELY TOO HEAVILY ON ! BODY C\NT & O!R NUMB]S80 ASK$ AN 9T]VIEW] 7,NEWSWEEK1 ,APRIL #a#g1 #a#i#i#e74 0,NO10 DECL>$ ,MC,NAM>A1 0BUT ?AT IS ! WRONG QUE/ION4 ,! RI<T QUE/ION IS1 DID Y\ RELY ON ! WRONG /RATEGY-CONV5TIONAL MILIT>Y TACTICS 9/EAD ( W9N+ ! HE>TS & M9DS ( ! PEOPLE-& ! ANSW] TO ?AT IS YES4 ,IT WAS TOTALLY WRONG40 ,BUT H]E HE WAS SIMPLY RECYCL+ ! C\NT]9SURG5CY !SIS ( ,$W>D ,LANSDALE1 HIS SPECIAL ASSI/ANT 9 ! E>LY SIXTIES & ! LEG5D>Y ,C,I,A OP]ATIVE SOME CR$IT$ ) ! CREATION ( ,S\? ,VIETNAM4 ,?IS PLUNGES US BACK 9TO ?OSE GLORY DAYS :5 ! BE/ & ! BRI<TE/ UND]TOOK 0TO PAY ANY PRICE1 BE> ANY BURD510 & SO ON1 09 ORD] TO 9SURE ! SURVIVAL & SUCCESS ( LIB]TY40 ,H]E ! BOTTOM WRONG IS NOT ! DE/9ATION ( AN EMPIRE CALL$ 0LIB]TY0 BUT ! FATEFULLY FLAW$ /RATEGY ?AT KEPT IT FROM GETT+ TO ALL ?OSE HE>TS & M9DS4 ,! OLD ,NEW ,FRONTI]SMAN HAS WRITT5 A REVIS$ & IMPROV$ MANUAL = ! NEXT G5]ATION ( EMPIRE-BUILD]S4 

,ON VISITS TO ! ,VIETNAM ,MEMORIAL ) ITS FIFTY-EI<T ?\S& NAMES1 ,MC,NAM>A REVEALS ?AT HE HAS /RONG FEEL+S & BREAKS D[N 9 TE>S4 ,9 MY M9D'S EYE ,I SEE HIM SOBB+ BE=E A WALL FIFTY TIMES ?AT SIZE AS HE IS TORM5T$ BY ! ?REE MILLION NAMES ?AT WILL NEV] BE MEMORIALIZ$ ANY:]E4 ,BUT ,I %\LD KN[ BETT]1 = HE %$S NO TE>S = ! ,VIETNAMESE DEAD 9 HIS MEMOIR & 9 ?AT TOO HE IS ACT+ /RICTLY ACCORD+ TO 0! PR9CIPLES & TRADITIONS ( ?IS NATION10 A NATION 9 :I* NATIVE LIVES HAVE ALWAYS COME *EAP4 

,! ,VIETNAM ,W> WAS 0,AM]ICA'S F9E/ H\R10 SAID ,HUB]T ,H4 ,HUMPHREY1 ANO!R 5?USIA/ PRONE TO CRY+ JAGS4 ,DAVID ,WATSON REM9DS US ( ,HUMPHREY'S PRON\NCEM5T & O!R 5ORMITIES 9 AN UNS5TIM5TAL ESSAY ?AT IS P]HAPS EV5 MORE TIMELY TODAY ?AN :5 IT WAS PUBLI%$ A DECADE AGO4 ,! FLAP OV] ,MC,NAM>A'S ,9 ,RETROSPECT UND]SCORES ! TRU? ( ,WATSON'S >GUM5T ?AT ,AM]ICA HAS YET TO COME TO T]MS ) ,VIETNAM & 0) ITS HI/ORY ON ?IS CONT95T /OL5 FROM H] ORIG9AL 9HABITANTS40 ,MAYBE ,I HAVE BE5 BEGUIL$ BY HIS G5]\S COMM5TS AB\T MY WORK BUT ,I ?9K NOT4 ,I BELIEVE ,WATSON HAS A V]Y R>E ABILITY TO MELD PASSION & 9SI<T 9 ESSAYS ?AT %>P5 & DEEP5 \R UND]/&+ ( HI/ORY & ( ! DESP]ATE /RUGGLE AGA9/ =GETT+4 ,9 HIS S5T5CES READ]S TRULY LOOK BACK UPON ! FUTURE4 

,AU?OR'S NOTE3 ,REALITY CONT9UES TO BE MANUFACTUR$  

 BY ,DAVID ,WATSON 

  

,:5 ?IS ESSAY FIR/ APPE>$ 9 ,FIF? ,E/ATE 9 ! SPR+ ( #a#i#h#e1 ! ,VIETNAM ,W> ALREADY SEEM$ TO BE REC$+ 9TO ANCI5T HI/ORY4 ,C5TRAL ,AM]ICA WAS AT ?AT TIME BE+ BATT]$ BY ! LATE/ 9C>NATION ( 0! BE/ & ! BRI<TE/10 & IT WAS BE+ DONE MORE CONV5I5TLY ) MONEY & PROXIES1 RA!R ?AN ) 0,AM]ICAN BOYS10 :O T5D TO GET !MSELVES UNC]EMONI\SLY KILL$ :ILE SMA%+ UP O!R PEOPLE'S NEI<BORHOODS4 ,A FEW HUNDR$ ?\S& DEA?S & MUTILATIONS LAT]1 WE /ILL AWAIT ! TE>FUL RETROSPECTIVES ) !IR ADMIXTURE ( REGRET & D5IAL4 

,AM]ICAN SOCIETY WAS LEFT LITTLE WIS] BY ITS EXP]I5CE 9 S\!A/ ,ASIA2 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES HAS A H&FUL ( 9T]V5TIONS & W>S UND] ITS BELT S9CE #a#i#g#e1 & EV5 SOME FAILURES TO ACT :]E IT MI<T1 AS 9 ,BOSNIA1 HAVE PREV5T$ A MASSACRE4 7,YES1 ,I KN[1 ON SOME O!R PLANET ) AN 5TIRELY DIFF]5T HI/ORY4 ,! ,VIETNAM ,W> TAU<T MY G5]ATION ?AT ANY EMPIRE 9T]V5+ ANY:]E WAS B\ND TO CAUSE DISA/]S4 ,NEV]!LESS1 ?AT ,HAITI & ! =M] ,YUGOSLAVIA FUR!R FRAGM5T$ :AT REMA9$ ( DISSID5T MOVEM5TS 9 ! ,U4,S4 REFLECTS NEW CONDITIONS & %IFT+ GR\ND47 

,T5 YE>S LAT]1 REALITY CONT9UES TO BE MANUFACTUR$1 P]HAPS MORE EFFICI5TLY ?AN EV]1 BY ! IDEOLOGY 9DU/RY4 ,! ,VIETNAMESE REMA9 L>GELY 9VISIBLE TO ,AM]ICANS4 ,! W> CRIM9ALS CONT9UE TO EXPIRE PEACEFULLY 9 !IR B$S 7,NIXON71 PONTIFICATE 9 TELEVIS$ POLICY DEBATES 7,KISS+]71 & CA% 9 ON !IR MEMOIRS 7,MC,NAM>A74 ,! 0,VIETNAM SYNDROME10 DECL>$ DEFUNCT BY A TRIUMPHANT ,GEORGE ,BU% AFT] HIS 0TURKEY %OOT0 9 ! ,P]SIAN ,GULF1 GU>ANTEES CONT9U$ SLAU<T] SO LONG AS IT IS NOT TOO CO/LY TO ,NOR? ,AM]ICANS4 ,COMPLAC5T AMID ITS BLOODBA?S1 ! ?OR\<LY NAZIFI$ SOCIETY DESCRIB$ BY ,NOAM ,*OMSKY 9 ! MID-#a#i#fS REMA9S 9TACT4 

,SOME DIFF]5CES >E ALSO WOR? NOT+4 ,! RESPONSE TO ! W> TW5TY YE>S LAT]1 IF A ,TIME RETROSPECTIVE IS ANY 9DICATION1 HAD A MORE MUT$1 ALMO/ PO/MOD]N UNC]TA9TY TO IT4 ,! $ITORS ASSURE ! READ] PSALMODICALLY1 0,VIETNAM MAY BE ! W> ?AT PASSE? ALL UND]/&+10 & ONE ,TIME ,MAGAZ9E ESSAYI/1 DECL>+ ALL CONFLICTS UNIQUE1 CONCLUDES ?AT ! W> (F]S NO LESSONS1 0NO GUIDE TO ! FUTURE40 

,ESS5TIALLY A NEW SP9 ON AN OLD CAN>D1 ?IS UNCRITICAL L9E REPEATS ! P]SI/5T MY?1 COMMON BO? 9SIDE & \TSIDE ! ANTIW> MOVEM5T ( ! DAY1 ?AT ! W> WAS A T]RIBLE MI/AKE1 A TRAG$Y4 ,C]TA9LY ! W> WAS A TRAG$Y ( UN=ESE5 CONSEQU5CES2 ,U4,S4 OBJECTIVES W]E MURKY EV5 TO ! G5]ALS4 ,BUT ?IS N[ DOM9ANT 9T]PRETATION S]VES 9 ITS VAGU5ESS TO DISSIPATE RESPONSIBILITY & ! POSSIBILITY ( A COH]5T HI/ORICAL CRITIQUE4 ,MC,NAM>A'S >GUM5T ?AT ! W> DID NOT ORIG9ATE 9 EVIL 9T5TIONS1 BUT 9 A FAILURE 0( JUDGM5T & CAPABILITY10 IS ONLY ! LATE/ REIT]ATION ( ! (FICIAL /ORY4 ,IT CONCEALS ! FACT ?AT ! ,U4,S4 CREAT$ A W> :]E ONE HAD JU/ BE5 CONCLUD$1 & CONCOCT$ A REGIME \T ( A QUISL+ APP>ATUS1 PROP]TY ( ! ,JAPANESE & !N ,FR5*1 ?AT HAD JU/LY COLLAPS$4 ,! 0,MURD]1 ,9C40 ! ,C,I,A & ,P5TAGON RAN 9 ?AT UNHAPPY REGION = MORE ?AN TWO DECADES WAS1 9 REALITY1 ONLY ONE >M ( A VA/ OP]ATION CON/RUCT$ TO OV]?R[ & RECON/ITUTE /ATES & DECIMATE HUMAN BE+S AT WILL ALL OV] ! GLOBE1 NOT ONLY 9 ,9DO*9A BUT 9 ,IRAN1 ,GUATEMALA1 ,9DONESIA1 ! ,DOM9ICAN ,REPUBLIC1 & ,*ILI1 TO NAME SOME ( ! MORE 9FAM\S EXAMPLES4 

,?US ,*OMSKY'S >GUM5T-?AT ! ,VIETNAM ,W> WAS NOT AN UNAMBIGU\S DEFEAT = ,AM]ICAN IMP]IALISM-IS COMPELL+4 ,AS HE HAS >GU$ 9 A NUMB] ( PLACES1 C5TRAL ,U4,S4 AIMS & A P>TIAL VICTORY W]E A*IEV$4 ,9CAPABLE ( DEFEAT+ ! ,VIETNAMESE ON ! BATTLEFIELD1 ! ,U4,S4 C\LD AT LEA/ DE/ROY ! SOCIETY 5\< TO HORRIBLY IMPOV]I% & MAKE A BITT] EXAMPLE ( IT4 ,! 0DEMON/RATION EFFECT0 S5T A GRIM MESSAGE TO O!R NATIONALI/ REBELS ATTEMPT+ TO /RAY FROM ! NEOCOLONIAL ORBIT1 A /RATEGY US$ EFFECTIVELY 9 ! #a#i#hS TO DISCIPL9E ,C5TRAL ,AM]ICA & BEAT ,NIC>AGUA 9TO SUBMISSION4 

,9 FACT1 ! ,TIME ,MAGAZ9E TW5TY-YE> RETROSPECTIVE AFFIRM ,*OMSKY'S ANALYSIS 9 ONE SIGNIFICANT WAY4 ,FOLL[+ A TYPICAL TELEVISIONESQUE R$UCTION ( HI/ORY COV]+ ! LA/ T5 DAYS ( ! W> 7NEXT TIME ! LA/ T5 M9UTES WILL BE ! !ME7 COMES AN >TICLE1 0,VIETNAM3 ,BACK 9 ,BUS9ESS10 ATTE/+ TO ! NEW CLIMATE 9 :I* =M] 5EMIES CAN WORK TOGE!R TO PLUND] ! C\NTRY4 ,N[ ?AT ! ,SAIGON L&LORDS & MILIT>Y M&>9S HAVE BE5 SWEPT AWAY1 NOT 9TO ! DU/B9 ( HI/ORY1 M9D Y\1 BUT TO COM=TABLE NEI<BORHOODS 9 ,SAN ,DIEGO & ,VIRG9IA ,BEA*4 ,VIETNAMESE COMMISS>S WILL DELIV] UP RES\RCES & *EAP LABOR TO 9T]NATIONAL CORPORATE CAPITAL1 SOMETIMES TO ! V]Y SAME EXPLOIT]S !Y SP5T ?IRTY YE>S FI<T+4 ,IT %\LD BE NO SURPRISE ?AT ,VIETNAMESE >MY VET]ANS >E BEG9N+ TO ASK :AT EXACTLY IT WAS !Y F\<T =4 

,UND]/&ABLE D\BTS AMONG ! ,VIETNAMESE 9 NO WAY EXCUSE ! CONT9U+ >ROGANCE ( ,AM]ICANS4 ,NOVELI/ ,TOBIAS ,WOLFF1 = EXAMPLE1 :O HAS WRITT5 ADMIRABLY AB\T HIS EXP]I5CES 9 ,VIETNAM1 REPEATS ! MY?-OBVI\SLY TRUE 9 SOME 9DIVIDUAL CASES BUT A MY/IFICATION G5]ALLY-?AT ! ,U4,S4 SOLDI]S W5T !RE 0TO BE ( HELP40 ,NOT+ 9 HIS ,TIME ESSAY ! H>%NESS ( ! VICTORS1 :O IMPELL$ SOME #h1 PEOPLE TO FLEE ! C\NTRY1 ,WOLFF DOESN'T BO!R TO CONSID] ?AT ! HORRIFIC W> WAG$ BY ! ,AM]ICANS & ! RU9\S CONDITIONS LEFT 9 !IR WAKE MI<T EXPLA91 AT LEA/ 9 P>T1 ! V5GEFUL NATURE ( ! NEW REGIME4 

,WOLFF ILLU/RATES ! DEEP GULF /ILL DIVID+ ,AM]ICANS ON ,VIETNAM BY DESCRIB+ A DISCUSSION GR\P ( VETS1 =M] ANTIW> ACTIVI/S & O!R ,VIETNAM G5]ATION M5 :I* EV5TUALLY DISB&$ BECAUSE ( AN 9ABILITY TO F9D COMMON GR\ND4 ,I1 TOO1 WAS KE5LY REM9D$ ( H[ DEEP ! DIVISIONS >E1 UPON READ+1 0,ONLY ! MO/ SELF-SATISFI$ IDEOLOGUES ON EI!R SIDE ( ! PROBLEM C\LD AVOID QUE/ION+ !IR [N MOTIVES0 = FI<T+ ! W> OR RESI/+ IT4 ,?OSE :O PROTE/$1 HE EXPLA9S1 MI<T REASONABLY WORRY ?AT1 0H[EV] UN9T5TIONALLY1 444 .<!Y.> W]E 5C\RAG+ A H>D1 (T5 MURD]\S 5EMY :O WAS DO+ HIS BE/ TO KILL BOYS Y\'D GR[N UP )40 

,P]HAPS ,WOLFF DOESN'T REALIZE HIS ATTEMPT$ MIDDLE GR\ND IS ITSELF AN IDEOLOGUE'S >GUM5T4 ,HE DOESN'T SEEM TO APPRECIATE ! IMPACT \R WITNESS ( ! W> HAD ON MANY Y\NG PEOPLE H]E-! IMAGES ( TORTURE & MASSIVE BOMB+ RAIDS1 ( A MO!R HOLD+ H] BURN$ 9FANT & A SWAGG]+ SOLDI] NON*ALANTLY TOR*+ H] H\SEHOLD ) HIS CIG>ETTE LI<T]4 

,:AT W]E ?OSE ,AM]ICAN BOYS ,I'D GR[N UP ) DO+ !RE1 AFT] ALL1 COLLABORAT+ ) ! DEA? MA*9E8 ,I KNEW !Y W]E 9 MO/ CASES VICTIMS !MSELVES-( PROPAG&A1 ( POV]TY1 ( ! DRAFT4 ,9 FACT1 ,I ACTIVELY P>TICIPAT$ 9 CAMPAIGNS TO SUPPORT ! ,VIETNAM ,VET]ANS ,AGA9/ ! ,W> & TO DEF5D ,G,I RI<TS & RESI/]S 9 ! MILIT>Y1 S5D+ ANTIW> 9=MATION TO SOLDI]S & SAILORS1 9CLUD+ TO MY [N BRO!R4 ,?AT DIDN'T /OP ME FROM DESIR+ ! DEFEAT ( ,U4,S4 =CES AS F]V5TLY AS ,I W\LD HAVE HAD ,I BE5 AN ANTI-NAZI ,G]MAN DUR+ ! ,SECOND ,WORLD ,W>4 

,I DON'T CONSID] SU* A COMP>ISON AT ALL EXAGG]AT$4 ,BO? CONFLICTS HAVE />K1 P>ALLEL EXAMPLES ( CONSCI5CE & C[>DICE1 ( UNSPEAKABLE BRUTALITY1 BO? P]SONAL & BLOOD?IR/Y ON ! ONE H&1 & REMOTE & NUMBLY BUREAUCRATIC ON ! O!R4 ,AT ! FIR/ ANTIW> TEA*-9 ,I ATT5D$ 9 ! FALL ( #a#i#f#g1 ,I SAW ,M4,S4 ,>NONI1 ! $ITOR ( A LEFT LIB]AL MAGAZ9E1 ,! ,M9ORITY ,( ,ONE1 MAKE ! NAZI ANALOGY 9 A P[]FUL GE/URE4 ,A ,POLI% ,JEW :O HAD SURVIV$ ! DEA? CAMPS1 ,>NONI DELIV]$ HIS SPEE* WE>+ A /RIP$ CONC5TRATION CAMP SMOCK4 0,I HAVE DONN$ ?IS UNI=M10 HE BEGAN1 0TO REM9D Y\ & MYSELF ( AN ]A ?AT IS NOT OV]1 ( HUMAN SUFF]+ ?AT CONT9UES1 ( GAS US$ 9 ,AUS*WITZ & 9 ! VILLAGES ( ,VIETNAM1 ( CONSCI5CES ?AT /ILL /OP AT ! NATIONAL B\ND>Y1 ( ,LIDICE & ,CAM ,NE40 

,! ,VIETNAM ,W> WAS POSSIBLY AS MU* A WAT]%$ & =MATIVE EV5T 9 MY LIFE AS IT WAS = ?OSE ,AM]ICANS :O F\<T !RE4 7,=GIVE ME IF ,I CANNOT BR+ MYSELF TO WRITE1 0:O S]V$ !RE407 ,I CAN TRACE MU* ( MY RESPONSE TO ! IMPRESSION ,>NONI'S SPEE* MADE ON ME4 ,DESPITE ,TIME MAGAZ9E'S UNC]TA9TY1 ,VIETNAM PROVID$ ! SAME />K LESSON ,>NONI D]IV$ FROM HIS CAMP EXP]I5CE 9 HIS DECISION NEV] TO BECOME AN OPPRESSOR4 0,I HAVE NO PREF]5CE = AN OPPRESSOR :O IS ,AM]ICAN OR ANY O!R NATIONALITY10 HE DECL>$4 0,I DO NOT PREF] HIM OV] ! ,NAZI OPPRESSOR40 

,AM]ICAN AGGRESSION 9 ,VIETNAM WAS 0AS REPREH5SIBLE AS 444 ! ,NAZI CRIMES10 HE CONT9U$1 & HE CALL$ ON ,AM]ICANS TO 5GAGE 9 MASSIVE RESI/ANCE1 & ESPECIALLY ON ,AM]ICAN Y\?-SOLDI]S & CIVILIANS-0TO JO9 ! RESI/ANCE ( ?OSE :O ONLY YE/]DAY W]E !IR PROSPECTIVE VICTIMS40 ,>NONI WAS 5C\RAG+ ! BOYS ,I'D GR[N UP ) TO TURN ! GUNS >\ND1 & Y\NG PEOPLE 9 G5]AL TO 0GO TO ,VIETNAM & VOLUNTE] !IR S]VICES TO HELP AMELIORATE ! SUFF]+ 9FLICT$ BY !IR FELL[ C\NTRYM5 ON ! ,VIETNAMESE40 

,IT BECAME MY 9T5TION TO F9D A WAY TO ,VIETNAM TO FI<T AGA9/ ! ,U4,S4 =CES4 ,AT FIFTE51 ,I MI<T HAVE BE5 FI<T+ ALREADY HAD ,I BE5 ,VIETNAMESE4 ,I LAT] REALIZ$ ?AT IT WASN'T A REALI/IC PLAN1 BUT ,I DID :AT ,I C\LD TO /OP ! W>1 & NOT ALWAYS AS CONSI/5TLY AS ,I LAT] ?\<T ,I %\LD HAVE4 ,I DON'T KN[ IF ,>NONI KEPT HIS PROMISE2 ,I DON'T KN[ :AT HAPP5$ TO HIM AFT] HE FOLD$ ! MAGAZ9E & EMIGRAT$ TO ,ISRAEL 9 LATE #a#i#f#h4 ,BUT ,I TOOK HIS LESSON S]I\SLY1 NOT TO BE AN OPPRESSOR OR TO TOL]ATE OPPRESSORS4 

,5\< PEOPLE CAME TO ?IS CONCLUSION 9 ?AT P]IOD = !RE TO BE WIDESPREAD1 ORGANIZ$ RESI/ANCE DUR+ ! LATE #a#i#gS & #a#i#hS TO ! ,U4,S4-ADM9I/]$ HOLOCAU/ ?R\<\T ,C5TRAL ,AM]ICA4 ,TRUE1 ! RESI/ANCE WASN'T 5\< TO HALT ! W> MA*9E !RE OR 9 ,IRAQ1 BUT IT AT LEA/ OB/RUCT$ ! MURD]]S 9 !IR WORK & PRES]V$ FRAGILE MEMORY 9 ! FACE ( (FICIAL LIES4 

,?AT WAS :AT ! ESSAY BEL[ WAS AB\T3 REMEMB]+ :AT IS 9 ! 9T]E/ ( ! EMPIRE TO SUPPRESS4 ,! C\NTRY AS A :OLE CONT9UES TO SLEEPWALK ?R\< ONE IMP]IAL FIASCO TO ! NEXT1 SMA%+ PEOPLE & PLACES AT EV]Y TURN4 ,BUT SOME PEOPLE >E CAPABLE ( HE>+ :AT ! ESSAY TRIES TO SAY3 ?AT CONSCI5CE1 EV5 IF R$UC$ TO A S+LE VOICE1 TO A 0M9ORITY ( ONE10 P]HAPS1 CAN AT LEA/ BE> WITNESS TO LIES & SPEAK ! TRU?4 ,AS ,FRANCES ,FITZG]ALD OBS]V$ A DECADE AFT] ! W>1 0,! PA/ IS NOT JU/ A MATT] = HI/ORIANS4 ,IT IS :AT WE >E40 

,& SO1 :O >E WE GO+ TO BE8 ,?OSE :O FOLL[ ORD]S1 & ?OSE :O GIVE !M1 HAVE DECID$ :O !Y >E4 ,MC,NAM>A DECID$4 ,:5 ! W> FAIL$ TO GO ACCORD+ TO PLAN1 HE JUMP$ %IP TO A COM=TABLE POSITION AT ! HEAD ( ! ,WORLD ,BANK4 7,& IF & :5 ! REAL TOLL IS ADD$ UP1 IT MAY TURN \T ?AT HE CAUS$ AS MU* MAYHEM & DE/RUCTION MANAG+ ! DAILY AFFAIRS ( ?AT 9/ITUTION AS :5 HE & HIS COHORTS W]E 9 ! DAILY BUS9ESS ( ME*ANIZ$ G5OCIDE47 

,MC,NAM>A'S MEMOIRS REM9D$ ME ( ANO!R PROTAGONI/ ( ! W>1 AN OBSCURE H]O ( M9E :OSE IMAGE ON A PO/] REMA9$ TAP$ TO MY WALL = A NUMB] ( YE>S4 ,NGUY5 ,VAN ,TROI WON'T HAVE ! OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE HIS MEMOIRS2 ! Y\NG ,VIETNAMESE WORK] WAS EXECUT$ BY FIR+ SQUAD ON ,OCTOB] #a#e1 #aifd = ATTEMPT+ TO ASSASS9ATE ,U4,S4 ,SECRET>Y ( ,DEF5SE ,MC,NAM>A4 ,( C\RSE1 IF HE HAD SUCCE$$1 ANO!R ,SECRET>Y1 & ANO!R W\LD HAVE FOLL[$1 JU/ AS O!RS W\LD HAVE REPLAC$ ,EI*MAN HAD P>TISANS MANAG$ TO ASSASS9ATE ! NAZI TE*NOCRAT4 ,?AT IS NOT ! PO9T1 BUT RA!R1 :O & :AT WE REMEMB]1 & :O & :AT WE >E & >E GO+ TO BE4 

,?US1 9 ! SPIRIT ( 0GIV+ AID & COM=T0 TO ! 5EMIES ( ALL IMP]IAL /ATES1 ,I D$ICATE ?IS ESSAY TO ! MEMORY ( A DEFIANT Y\NG PATRIOT :O REFUS$ A BL9DFOLD AT ! EXECUTION PO/ SO HE C\LD LOOK ONE LA/ TIME ON HIS 0BELOV$ L&10 :O RISK$ HIS LIFE 0TO BE ( HELP10 :O WAS A NAIVE NATIONALI/1 SURELY1 P]HAPS A POET1 & :O DID NOT LIVE TO LOOK BACK ) REGRETS1 CONTRIV$ OR O!RWISE1 ON 0AN ]A ?AT IS NOT OV]40 ,I D$ICATE IT TO ! IDEALI/S & AGA9/ ! CONSPIRATORS & FUNCTION>IES ( G5OCIDE1 TO CONSCI5CE & AGA9/ COLLABORATION1 TO MEMORY & AGA9/ =GETT+4 ,= HI/ORY ISN'T JU/ A MATT] = ! RATIONALIZATIONS ( MASS MURD]]S1 HI/ORY IS :AT WE >E & MU/ BE4 ,IT IS \R HI/ORY1 TOO4 ,WE >E ,NGUY5 ,VAN ,TROI4 

-- ,DETROIT1 ,MAY-,JUNE1 #aiie 

,NOTE3 ,= REASONS ?IS 9TRODUCTION MAY MAKE CLE>1 ,I HAVE DECID$ TO PUBLI% ?IS ESSAY UND] MY [N NAME1 & NOT A P5-NAME1 :I* ,I US$ 9 #a#i#h#e4 

,REPR9T 

,LOOK+ BACK ON ! ,VIETNAM ,W>  

 BY ,GEORGE ,BRAD=D 7,DAVID ,WATSON7  

 FROM ,FIF? ,E/ATE _?#c#b1 ,SPR+ #aihe 

  

0,)\T ! EXPOSURE ( !SE ,VIETNAM POLICIES AS CRIM9AL1 !RE IS EV]Y LIKELIHOOD ( !IR REPETITION 9 SUBSEQU5T CONFLICTS40  

 -,RI*>D ,FALK1 SPEAK+ AT ! ,CONGRESSIONAL ,CONF]5CE ON ,W> & ,NATIONAL ,RESPONSIBILITY1 CONV5$ 9 ,WA%+TON1 ,D4,C4 9 E>LY #aig 

0,HI/ORICAL MEMORY WAS NEV] ! =TE ( ,AM]ICANS 9 ,VIETNAM40  

 -,FRANCES ,FITZG]ALD1 ,! ,FIRE 9 ,! ,LAKE1 #aigb 

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0',:5 ,I USE A WORD1' ,HUMPTY ,DUMPTY SAID 9 A RA!R SCORNFUL TONE1 'IT MEANS JU/ :AT ,I *OOSE IT TO MEAN1 NEI!R MORE NOR LESS4' 

0',! QUE/ION IS1' SAID ,ALICE1 ':E!R Y\ CAN MAKE WORDS MEAN SO MANY DIFF]5T ?+S4' 

0',! QUE/ION IS1' SAID ,HUMPTY ,DUMPTY1 ':O IS TO BE MA/]1 ?AT'S ALL4'0 

-- ,ALICE 9 ,WOND]L& 

,IT IS SPR+1 & AS 9 ! FOLK SONG1 ! GRAVE Y>DS >E 9 FL[]4 ,OLD W>S >E BE+ COMMEMORAT$1 NEW W>S COORD9AT$4 ,9 ,G]MANY1 ! ,AM]ICAN PRESID5T MAKES HIS PILGRIMAGE TO LAY A WREA? AT ! NAZI MILIT>Y CEMET]Y AT ,BITBURG1 :ILE 9 ,C5TRAL ,AM]ICA 7& ELSE:]E71 /ORM-TROOP]S 9 HIS PAY ADD /ILL MORE ATROCITIES TO A SEEM+LY NEV]-5D+ LI/4 

,SPR+1 #a#i#h#e3 T5 YE>S AFT] ! FALL ( ,SAIGON TO ! ,VIETNAMESE4 ,! M$IA B>RAGE HAS BE5 DEAF5+-A RETROSPECTIVE :I*1 LIKE ! W>-MAK+ ITSELF1 MO/LY IGNORES ! REALITIES ( ,VIETNAM4 ,SELF-ABSORB$1 SOLIPSI/IC1 BL9D TO ! WORLD1 ,AM]ICA IS REASSESS+ ITS EXP]I5CE 9 ,VIETNAM4 

,ONE C\LD ONLY ANTICIPATE ?IS ANNIV]S>Y ) DREAD1 NOT SO MU* BECAUSE ,AM]ICA /ILL DOES NOT UND]/& ,VIETNAM OR ! ROLE IT PLAY$ !RE2 AFT] ALL1 ,AM]ICA HAS NEV] COME TO T]MS ) ITS HI/ORY ON ?IS CONT95T /OL5 FROM ITS ORIG9AL 9HABITANTS4 ,! DREAD COMES DEEPE/ FROM :AT IS CONCRETELY BE+ MANUFACTUR$ \T ( ! ANNIV]S>Y4 ,?AT DEFEAT ( IMP]IAL P[] IS N[ BE+ EMPLOY$ TO MOBILIZE = NEW IMP]IAL ADV5TURES1 = A NEW WAVE ( W> & DE/RUCTION4 ,! LESSONS >E BE+ TURN$ DIAMETRICALLY ON !IR HEAD SO ?AT ! BLOODY CRUSADE MAY CONT9UE4 

,SO1 ! W> REMA9S :AT IT ALWAYS WAS3 AN ,ORWELLIAN *>ADE4 ,N[1 AS !N1 REALITY IS BE+ MANUFACTUR$ BY AN APP>ATUS 9 ! S]VICE ( UNBRIDL$ ,P[]4 ,! VICTIMS >E DRESS$ 9 ! CLO?+ ( ! P]PETRATORS2 ! MURD]]S1 FREE & UNREP5TANT1 LIVE WELL1 N[ COM=TABLY WRIT+ !IR MEMOIRS & EXPLICAT+ ! W> :I* !Y MANAG$ = SO MANY YE>S4 ,N[ MORE SURE ( !MSELVES ?AT HI/ORY HAS REC$$ & ! BLOOD /A9S HAVE FAD$1 !Y SPEAK MORE L\DLY1 9 SELF-RI<TE\S TONES1 CLAIM+ ?AT !IR C>NAGE WAS JU/1 ?AT IT DIDN'T GO F> 5\<1 CLAIM+ ?AT ! AFT]MA? ( ! W> V9DICATES !M4 

,!RE WAS NO ,NUREMBURG TRIAL AFT] ! ,U4,S4 DEFEAT 9 ,9DO*9A2 NO C\RT EV] PUNI%$ ! ADM9I/RATORS ( ! ,AM]ICAN W>-,NIXON1 ,KISS+]1 ,JOHNSON1 ,MC,NAM>A1 ,RUSK1 & ! RE/-= !IR CRIMES4 ,!Y EI!R DI$ PEACEFULLY 9 !IR B$S OR W5T ON TO MORE LUCRATIVE JOBS 9 ! SAME L9E ( WORK4 ,N[ !Y EXTOLL !IR 0NOBLE CAUSE0 & H9T ( TREA*]Y & BETRAYAL4 ,N[ !Y SAY !Y C\LD HAVE1 9DE$ %\LD HAVE1 WON4 ,P]HAPS !Y DIDN'T UNLEA% 5\< BOMBS1 DECL>E 5\< 0FREE FIRE ZONES10 DEFOLIATE 5\< L&S4 ,P]HAPS NOT 5\< PEOPLE W]E R\ND$ UP 9TO CONC5TRATION CAMPS1 !IR ?AT* VILLAGES BURN$ & BULLDOZ$4 ,P]HAPS NOT 5\< W]E 9C9]AT$ BY NAPALM & PHOSPHOR\S 7MOBILE ,DA*AUS71 NOT 5\< MA*9E- GUNN$ & BULLDOZ$ 9TO OP5 DIT*ES1 NOT 5\< ( !IR DEFEAT$ CONV]T$ 9TO PRO/ITUTES1 LACKEYS1 M]C5>IES4 ,IF ,AM]ICA HAD SP5T MORE MONEY1 S5T MORE TROOPS1 EMBRAC$ A MORE F]OCI\S NATIONAL SPIRIT1 & IGNOR$ ITS [N W\NDS1 IF IT HAD BE5 READY TO RISK EV]Y?+ 9 A DEADLY GAMBLE TO DE/ROY ALL ( ,ASIA 09 ORD] TO SAVE IT10 !N P]HAPS ,AM]ICA C\LD HAVE 0WON0 ITS W>4 ,A FEW MILLION MORE W\LD HAVE BE5 SACRIFIC$4 ,&1 9 FACT1 C\NTLESS MORE DID DIE 9 ! AFT]MA?3 ,SEE H[ EVIL1 H[ SAVAGE !Y >E1 ,AM]ICA SAYS ?R\< ITS PROPAG&I/S2 AFT] \R BLOODBA? 5D$1 !Y UND]TOOK !IR [N4 ,SURELY1 \RS WAS 9ADEQUATE-WE C\LD HAVE PACIFI$ MORE1 NEUTRALIZ$ MORE1 KILL$ MORE4 

,BUT WE LE>N$ \R LESSON1 SAY ! L\DSPEAK]S1 & H]E A CITIZ51 !RE A VET]AN1 !RE AN ADOLESC5T LOOK UP1 M\?+ 9 UNISON1 NEXT TIME WE MU/ NOT LACK ! WILL TO KILL !M ALL4 ,& ! BLUEPR9TS >E \T ON ! TABLES4 

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,AM]ICA HAS NEV] CONFRONT$ ,VIETNAM OR ITS ROLE !RE4 ,IT HAS LICK$ ITS W\NDS1 5GAG$ 9 RECRIM9ATIONS )\T TAK+ EI!R ITS [N HI/ORY OR ! ,9DO*9ESE PEOPLE 9TO ACC\NT4 ,!Y W]E SIMPLY 0NATIVES10 A HO/ILE L&SCAPE BE=E :I* ! ,AM]ICAN CRUSAD]S F\<T !IR W> AGA9/ ! ,WILD]NESS4 ,?IS W> HAS GONE ON S9CE ! ORIG9S ( ,AM]ICA1 & SO IT HAS NEV] 5VISION$ ?AT 9SCRUTABLE 0O!R0 ON ANY T]MS BUT ?OSE ( ITS [N DI/ORT$ PROJECTIONS4 

,= ,AM]ICA1 ! W> WAS A TRAG$Y1 WE >E TOLD4 ,BUT TO BE A TRAG$Y1 IT W\LD HAVE HAD TO BE AN EXTRAORD9>Y TRANSGRESSION ( A NORMAL BALANCE 9 ! WORLD4 ,IT W\LD ALSO HAVE HAD TO BR+ PROPORTIONALLY EXTRAORD9>Y SUFF]+ ON ! TRANSGRESSORS4 ,YET 9 !SE T]MS IT ISN'T ,VIETNAM :I* WAS ! TRAG$Y1 BUT ,AM]ICA ITSELF1 & ,VIETNAM ONLY ONE MORE EPISODE 9 ITS BLOODLETT+4 ,( C\RSE1 IT WAS A MORAL TRAG$Y = ! ,AM]ICANS 9VOLV$4 ,BUT ?AT IS NOT H[ MANY SEE IT4 

,ONE VET]AN (FIC]1 ,WILLIAM ,BROYLES1 ,JR41 9 ,! ,ATLANTIC ,MON?LY1 WRITES1 0,= US ! W> NEV] REALLY 5D$1 NOT = ! M5 :O F\<T IT1 NOT = ,AM]ICA40 ,A SYMPOSIUM 9 ,H>P]'S MAGAZ9E MAKES ONE ( ITS C5TRAL 9QUIRIES1 0,VIETNAM /&S = ,AM]ICA'S LOSS ( 9NOC5CE4 ,H[ HAVE ,AM]ICANS 5DUR$ ?IS LOSS80 ,NEWSWEEK ASKS1 0,:AT DID ,VIETNAM DO TO US80 BE=E ASK+ 0,:AT DID ,AM]ICA'S 9VOLVEM5T 9 ! W> DO TO ,VIETNAM80 ,& A W\ND$ VET TELLS A ,NEW ,YORK ,TIMES ,MAGAZ9E WRIT] ?AT 0:ATEV] HAPP5$ TO US !RE IS 9EXPLICABLE1 BUT :AT IT DID = US AS M5 IS WOR? ! PRICE40 

,IT IS P>TLY MY PURPOSE TO ASSESS ! 0PRICE0 ( ! W> BUT NOT SO MU* TO ! ,AM]ICAN SOLDI]S1 :O W]E BO? VICTIMS & P]PETRATORS1 BUT TO ! REAL VICTIMS & H]OES ( ?AT W>-! ,9DO*9ESE PEOPLE :O RESI/$ ,AM]ICAN AGGRESSION4 ,BUT TO DO SO1 IT IS IMP]ATIVE TO DEMOLI% ! ,BIG ,LIE :I* BEG9S FROM ! LIE ( ,AM]ICAN 09NOC5CE0 & PROCE$S TO SU* DI%ONE/ =MULATIONS AS 0,AM]ICA'S 9VOLVEM5T 90 A W> :I* WAS ,AM]ICA'S CREATION4 ,! DIFFICULTY 9 WRIT+ AB\T ,VIETNAM MU/ BE OBVI\S1 S9CE EV]Y WORD IS *>G$2 EV5 ! MO/ SEEM+LY 9NOCU\S /ATEM5T AB\T ! W> IS P]MEAT$ ) ?IS LIE ( ,AM]ICAN 9NOC5CE & MISGUID$ NOBILITY4 

,! TRU? IS H>D] TO FACE = ,AM]ICA1 BUT IT IS !RE4 0,JU/ AB\T EV]Y ,VIETNAM VET HAT$ ! ,VIETNAMESE10 ONE TOLD ,JOSEPH ,LELYVELD ( ! ,NEW ,YORK ,TIMES ,MAGAZ9E4 ,& A Y\NG ,U4,S4 EMBASSY (FIC] 9 ,SAIGON1 DUR+ ! W>1 EXPLOD$ AT ,FRANCES ,FITZG]ALD1 0,DON'T Y\ REALIZE ?AT EV]Y?+ ! ,AM]ICANS DO 9 ,VIETNAM IS F\ND$ ON HATR$ ( ! ,VIETNAMESE80 

,! SUFF]+ ( ! ,AM]ICAN SOLDI]S %\LD NOT1 & CANNOT BE IGNOR$4 ,!Y1 TOO1 W]E VICTIMS1 PAWNS ( ! POLICY-MAK]S :O BLI!LY S5T !M TO !IR BRUTALIZATION & DEA? :ILE !MSELVES LIV+ COM=TABLY 9 SUBURBAN LUXURY1 SP5D+ !IR TIME ANALYZ+ 0BODY C\NTS0 & WRIT+ POLICY /ATEM5TS4 ,BUT DEC5CY REQUIRES ?AT A S5SE ( PROPORTION TO ! SUFF]+ BE MA9TA9$4 ,! SOLDI]S W]E AN OCCUPATION >MY 5GAG$ 9 A VICI\S1 G5OCIDAL W> AGA9/ A :OLE POPULATION4 ,! 5EMY WAS1 QUITE SIMPLY1 ! ,VIETNAMESE PEOPLE2 9DE$1 IT WAS ! L& ITSELF1 A 0GOD=SAK5 MUDHOLE10 AS ,I HE>D MANY PEOPLE1 BO? = & AGA9/ ! W>1 DESCRIBE IT4 ,SO :AT DID IT MEAN TO BURN VILLAGES1 RUN D[N PEASANTS 9 TANKS & TRUCKS1 %OOT ANY?+ ?AT MOV$8 

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,! ,U4,S4 W> AGA9/ ,VIETNAM WAS NO LOSS ( 9NOC5CE1 NO AB]RATION1 ANY MORE ?AN ! MASSACRE AT ,MY ,LAI WAS EXCEPTIONAL4 ,MY ,LAI WILL BE REMEMB]$ AS ! SUBHAMLET 9 ! ,QUANG ,NGAI PROV9CE 9 :I* A COMPANY FROM ! #a#a? ,BRIGADE ( ! ,AM]ICAL ,DIVISION MURD]$ #cdg OLD M51 WOM51 *ILDR5 & 9FANTS1 !N SY/EMATICALLY BURN$ ! HOMES & HUTS4 ,?IS HAPP5$ 9 E>LY #a#i#f#h1 BUT WAS COV]$ UP UNTIL LATE #a#i#f#i4 ,AS ! ,MY ,LAI EV5TS W]E ! LOGICAL \TCOME 7& 9 FACT ONLY ! MO/ NOTORI\S ( SU* MASSACRES7 ( ,U4,S4 POLICY1 ! W> ITSELF WAS ! 9EVITABLE \TCOME ( ,AM]ICA'S HI/ORY4 ,C\LD ?IS \TCOME HAVE BE5 ANY?+ BUT A S]IES ( BRUTAL POGROMS SU* AS ,MY ,LAI8 

,EV5 ! (FICIAL ,P5TAGON REPORT REVEAL$ ?AT ,MY ,LAI WAS NOT EXTRAORD9>Y4 ,9 HIS P5ETRAT+ /UDY ( ! CONT9UITY ( MASSACRE & CONQUE/ 9 ,AM]ICAN HI/ORY1 ,FAC+ ,WE/3 ,! ,METAPHYSICS ( ,9DIAN-,HAT+ & ,EMPIRE-,BUILD+1 ,RI*>D ,DR9NON WRITES1 0,ON ! V]Y SAME DAY ( ! BUT*]Y !RE1 ANO!R COMPANY FROM ! SAME TASK =CE 5T]$ ! SI/] SUBHAMLET ,MY ,KHE #d ) ONE ( ITS MA*9E-GUNN]S 'FIR+ HIS WEAPON FROM ! HIP1 C[BOY-MOVIE /YLE4' ,9 ?IS 'O!R MASSACRE1' MEMB]S ( ?IS SEP>ATE COMPANY PIL$ UP A BODY C\NT ( P]HAPS A HUNDR$ PEASANTS-,MY ,KHE WAS SMALL] ?AN ,MY ,LAI- 'JU/ FLATT5$ ?AT VILLAGE' BY DYNAMITE & FIRE1 & !N ?REW A FEW H&FULS ( /RAW ON ! CORPSES4 ,! NEXT MORN+ ?IS COMPANY MOV$ ON D[N ! ,BATANGAN P59SULA BY ! ,S\? ,*9A ,SEA1 BURN+ EV]Y HAMLET !Y CAME TO1 KILL+ WAT] BUFFALO1 PIGS1 *ICK5S1 & DUCKS1 & DE/ROY+ CROPS4 ,AS ONE ( ! ,MY ,KHE VET]ANS SAID LAT] ':AT WE W]E DO+ WAS BE+ DONE ALL OV]4' ,SAID ANO!R3 ',WE W]E \T !RE HAV+ A GOOD TIME4 ,IT WAS SORT ( LIKE BE+ 9 A %OOT+ GALL]Y4'0 ,NONE ( ?IS CAME \T UNTIL WRIT] ,SEYM\R ,H]S* OBTA9$ ! =TY OR SO VOLUMES ( ! ,P5TAGON REPORT & SUMM>IZ$ !M 9 ,COV]-,UP 7#a#i#g#b71 ! S\RCE ( ,DR9NON'S QUOTATIONS4 ,NO ONE WAS TRI$ = MURD] AT ,MY ,KHE4 

,YET EV5 !SE MASSACRES DO NOT CONVEY ! REALITY ( ! W>4 ,9 HE>+S HELD BY ANTI-W> ,CONGRESSM5 9 ,WA%+TON1 ,D4,C4 9 #a#i#g1 J\RNALI/ ,JONA?AN ,S*ELL TE/IFI$ ?AT 9 #aifg HE HAD SP5T A MON? 9 ?AT SAME PROV9CE ( ,QUANG ,NGAI1 SURVEY+ ! DAMAGE ( ! W> FROM ! AIR & ON ! GR\ND4 0,:5 ,I FIR/ LOOK$ D[N FROM ! PLANE OV] ,QUANG ,NGAI PROV9CE10 HE REPORT$1 0,I SAW ?AT ! L& BEL[ ME HAD BE5 COMPLETELY DEVA/AT$ 444 ,:AT ,I DISCOV]$ WAS ?AT BY ! 5D ( #a#i#f#g1 ! DE/RUCTION ( SOCIETY 9 ,QUANG ,NGAI PROV9CE WAS NOT SOME?+ WE W]E 9 DANG] ( DO+2 IT WAS A PROCESS WE HAD ALMO/ COMPLET$4 ,AB\T #g P] C5T ( ! VILLAGES 9 ! PROV9CE HAD BE5 DE/ROY$40 

,S*ELL DECID$ TO SEE AN OP]ATION FROM ITS BEG9N+ TO 5D 9 A =W>D AIR CONTROL PLANE4 ,! OP]ATION WAS NE> ,*U ,LAI1 & WAS ONE ( ?IRTY OR SO SU* OP]ATIONS PROCE$+ AGA9/ ! ,VIET ,CONG AT ! TIME4 ,! >EA HE /UDI$ HAD A POPULATION ( AB\T #a#g11 & HAD NOT YET BE5 DE/ROY$4 ,FLY+ = TWO WEEKS ) ! =W>D AIR CONTROL PLANES1 HE SAW ! DAILY BOMB+ ( VILLAGES & !IR BURN+ BY ,U4,S4 GR\ND TROOPS4 

,HE HAD BE5 TOLD BY ! PSY*OLOGICAL W>F>E (FICE ?AT VILLAGES W]E NEV] BOMB$ UNLESS ALREADY GIV5 W>N+S4 ,*ECK+ AT ! BASE AT ,*U ,LAI AFT] ! OP]ATION1 HE ASK$ = A FULL CATALOG ( W>N+ LEAFLETS4 0,I H>DLY NE$$ TO DO ?IS10 HE SAID1 0BECAUSE ,I HAD SE5 ! PEOPLE RUNN+ FROM !IR BURN+ HOMES1 & ,I HAD SE5 NO LEAFLETS DROPP$ PRIOR TO ! BOMB+S4 ,9DE$1 FIVE OR SIX LEAFLETS HAD BE5 DROPP$1 & NOT ONE ( !M HAD BE5 A W>N+40 ,!Y W]E SIMPLY ANTI-,VIET ,CONG TRACTS4 ,:5 HE ASK$ IF CIVILIANS HAD BE5 EVACUAT$1 HE LE>N$ ?AT 09ITIALLY ! COLONEL 9 *>GE ( ! OP]ATION HAD GIV5 AN ORD] ?AT NO REFUGEES1 AS !Y CALL !M1 W\LD BE TAK5 \T ( ! >EA4 ,LATE 9 ! OP]ATION ?AT DECISION WAS REV]S$1 & #a ( ! #a#g1 W]E TAK5 \T4 ,BUT EV5 ?OSE #a W]E TAK5 \T AFT] MO/ ( ! >EA HAD BE5 DE/ROY$4 ,9 O!R WORDS1 AN >EA 9HABIT$ BY #a#g1 PEOPLE WAS AB\T #g P] C5T DE/ROY$ ) NO W>N+ TO ! RESID5TS 444 & ) ONLY #a PEOPLE EVACUAT$ FROM ! >EA40 

,9 ! SAME HE>+S1 HI/ORIAN ,RI*>D ,FALK DISCUSS$ ! ,MY ,LAI MASSACRE1 OBS]V+ ?AT 0LONG BE=E !SE DISCLOSURES !RE WAS ABUNDANT EVID5CE ?AT ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES WAS COMMITT+ W> CRIMES 9 ,VIETNAM ON A WIDESPREAD & CONT9U+ BASIS40 

,BUT F> MORE S]I\S ?AN !SE ATROCITIES ALONE1 HE ADD$1 WAS 0! (FICIAL RELIANCE BY ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES ,GOV]NM5T ON A SET ( BATTLEFIELD POLICIES ?AT OP5LY D5Y ! SIGNIFICANCE ( ANY DI/9CTION BETWE5 CIVILIANS & COMBATANTS1 BETWE5 MILIT>Y & NONMILIT>Y T>GETS4 ,! MO/ SPECTACUL> ( !SE PRACTICES >E ! ,B-#e#b PATT]N RAIDS AGA9/ UNDEF5D$ VILLAGES & POPULAT$ >EAS1 'FREE-FIRE ZONES1' 'H>ASSM5T & 9T]DICTION FIRE1' ',OP]ATION ,PH5IX1' 'SE>* & DE/ROY' MISSIONS1 MASSIVE CROP DE/RUCTION & DEFOLIATION1 & =CIBLE TRANSF] ( ! CIVILIAN POPULATION 9 ,VIETNAM FROM ONE PLACE TO ANO!R AGA9/ !IR WILL444 ,9 FACT1 ! WRONGDO]S AT ,MY ,LAI1 :E!R OR NOT !Y W]E C>RY+ \T SPECIFIC COMM& DECISIONS1 W]E 9DE$ FULFILL+ ! BASIC & P]SI/5T ,UNIT$ ,/ATES W> POLICIES 9 ,S\? ,VIETNAM40 

,AM]ICAN POLICY WAS ONE ( WANTON1 UTT] ANNIHILATION ( ! DEFIANT L& IT FAC$4 ,AS ,U4,S4 ,SECRET>Y ( ! ,NAVY 7N[ AN >MS CONTROL NEGOTIATOR = ,REAGAN7 ,PAUL ,NITZE SAID 9 #a#i#f#e1 0,:]E NEI!R ,UNIT$ ,/ATES NOR .<,S\?.> ,VIETNAMESE =CES CAN MA9TA9 CONT9U\S OCCUPANCY1 IT IS NECESS>Y TO DE/ROY ?OSE FACILITIES40 ,&1 SURVEY+ ! DE/RUCTION ( ,B5 ,TRE DUR+ ! ,TET ,(F5SIVE 9 #a#i#f#h1 AN >MY (FIC] TOLD AN ,A,P REPORT]1 0,WE HAD TO DE/ROY IT TO SAVE IT40 

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,SU* A /ATEM5T REFLECTS :AT SALVATION HAS ALWAYS MEANT = !SE GRIM CRUSAD]S3 A DESOLATION4 ,WILLIAM ,APPLEMAN ,WILLIAMS HAS WRITT5 ?AT = ,U4,S4 POLICY-MAK]S1 0,AM]ICA WAS ! LOCOMOTIVE PUFF+ AWAY TO PULL ! RE/ ( ! WORLD 9TO CIVILIZATION4 ,TRUMAN TALK$ AB\T ! HORDES ( ,ASIANS-! WILD]NESS-?REAT5+ TO OV]:ELM CIVILIZATION 444 ,?OSE IMAGES & METAPHORS 444 TELL US MO/ ( :AT WE NE$ TO KN[ AB\T :Y WE W5T TO KILL PEOPLE 9 ,VIETNAM4 ,WE W]E TRANS=M+ ! ,WILD]NESS 9 ORD] TO SAVE ! ,CITY ON A ,HILL40 

0,I FELT SUP]IOR !RE10 SAID ,LIEUT5ANT ,WILLIAM ,CALLEY4 0,I ?\<T1 ,I'M ! BIG ,AM]ICAN FROM ACROSS ! SEA4 ,I'LL SOCK IT TO !SE PEOPLE H]E 444 ,WE W]5'T 9 ,MY ,LAI TO KILL HUMAN BE+S1 REALLY4 ,WE W]E !RE TO KILL IDEOLOGY ?AT IS C>RI$ BY-,I DON'T KN[4 ,PAWNS4 ,BLOBS4 ,PIECES ( FLE%1 & ,I WASN'T 9 ,MY ,LAI TO DE/ROY 9TELLIG5T M54 ,I WAS !RE TO DE/ROY AN 9TANGIBLE IDEA40 ,RI*>D ,DR9NON QUOTES ANO!R ,MY ,LAI VET]AN :O 0EQUAT$ 'WIP+ ! :OLE PLACE \T' ) :AT HE CALL$ '! ,9DIAN IDEA 444 ! ONLY GOOD GOOK IS A DEAD GOOK4' ,! ,9DIAN IDEA WAS 9 ! AIR 9 ,VIETNAM40 

,?IS WAS ONLY ! LATE/ UNFOLD+ 9 ?AT WE/W>D MOVEM5T1 ! EMPIRE'S REL5TLESS DRIVE TO DE/ROY &  

 SUBDUE ,WILD]NESS1 ! 0SAVAGES0 :O 9HABIT$ IT1 & ALL ( NATURE4 ,! SITUATION WAS ESS5TIALLY ! SAME :5 ! ,U4,S4 BEGAN TO 9T]V5E 9 ,VIETNAM AS IT WAS = ,FR$]ICK ,JACKSON ,TURN] 9 #ahic :5 HE WROTE HIS FAM\S DECL>ATION ?AT ! DOM9ANT FACT 9 ,AM]ICAN LIFE HAD BE5 EXPANSION ( ITS FRONTI]4 ,?\< EXPANSION HAD REA*$ ! ,PACIFIC COA/1 ! RIS+ IMP]IAL /> ( ! ,U4,S4 9DICAT$ CLE>LY TO HIM ?AT ! MOVEM5T W\LD CONT9UE4 ,?IS NATIONAL MY/IQUE ( ,MANIFE/ ,DE/9Y PLUNG$ ! ,ANGLO-,AM]ICANS 9TO W>S 9 ,MEXICO1 ,C5TRAL ,AM]ICA & ! ,C>IBBEAN1 ! ,PHILIPP9ES1 & BEYOND4 

,9 ! MID-N9ETE5? C5TURY1 ,WILLIAM ,GILP9 HAD WRITT5 ( ! ,AM]ICAN DE/9Y 0TO SUBDUE ! CONT95T-TO RU% OV] ?IS VA/ FIELD TO ! ,PACIFIC ,OCEAN 444 TO /IR UP ! SLEEP ( A HUNDR$ C5TURIES-TO TEA* OLD NATIONS A NEW CIVILIZATION-TO CONFIRM ! DE/9Y ( ! HUMAN RACE 444 TO CAUSE A /AGNANT PEOPLE TO BE REBORN-TO P]FECT SCI5CE 444 TO %$ A NEW & RESPL5D5T GLORY UPON MANK9D 4440 ,?IS 0P]FECT$ SCI5CE0 WAS ! LOCOMOTIVE ( MOD]NITY CRY/ALLIZ$ 9 ! ,AM]ICAN ,EMPIRE & ITS DREAM ( CONQUE/4 ,! DE/RUCTION ( ,VIETNAMESE SOCIETY BY ! BUREAUCRATS & ! ,CALLEYS WAS ONLY ! MO/ MOD]N 9C>NATION ( ?AT 0GLORY40 ,BY ! TIME !SE CONQU]ORS & ,9DIAN FI<T]S REA*$ ,9DO*9A ! FRONTI] HAD BECOME ,K5N$Y'S 0,NEW ,FRONTI]10 HIS 0REL5TLESS /RUGGLE 9 EV]Y CORN] ( ! GLOBE40 ,AS ,DR9NON WRITES1 ! TROOPS W]E N[ BE+ S5T 09TO ACTION AGA9/ DISORD] ON A FRONTI] ?AT HAD BECOME PLANET>Y40 

,9 #a#i#f#f1 ,G5]AL ,MAXWELL ,TAYLOR1 LEAV+ ! AMBASSADOR%IP 9 ,SAIGON1 REVEAL$ H[ DEEPLY EMB$D$ WAS ! 0,9DIAN IDEA10 DESCRIB+ ! 0PACIFICATION0 PROGRAM3 0,WE HAVE ALWAYS BE5 ABLE TO MOVE 9 ! >EAS :]E ! SECURITY WAS GOOD 5\<4 ,BUT ,I HAVE (T5 SAID1 IT IS V]Y H>D TO PLANT ! CORN \TSIDE ! /OCKADE :5 ! ,9DIANS >E >\ND4 ,WE HAVE TO GET ! ,9DIANS F>!R AWAY 9 MANY ( ! PROV9CES TO MAKE GOOD PROGRESS40 

,FITZG]ALD COMM5TS ?AT 0,AM]ICAN (FIC]S LIK$ TO CALL ! >EA \TSIDE ,G,V,N .<,GOV]NM5T ( ,VIETNAM.> CONTROL ',9DIAN C\NTRY4' ,IT WAS A JOKE1 ( C\RSE1 NO MORE ?AN A FIGURE ( SPEE*1 BUT IT PUT ! ,VIETNAM ,W> 9TO A DEF9ITE HI/ORICAL & MY?OLOGICAL P]SPECTIVE3 ! ,AM]ICANS W]E ONCE AGA9 EMB>K$ UPON A H]OIC & 7= !MSELVES7 ALMO/ PA9LESS CONQUE/ ( AN 9F]IOR RACE4 ,TO ! ,AM]ICAN SETTL]S ! DEFEAT ( ! ,9DIANS HAD SEEM$ NOT JU/ A NATIONALI/ VICTORY1 BUT AN A*IEVEM5T MADE 9 ! NAME ( HUMANITY-! TRIUMPH ( LI<T OV] D>KNESS1 ( GOOD OV] EVIL1 & ( CIVILIZATION OV] BRUTI% NATURE4 ,QUITE UNCONSCI\SLY1 ! ,AM]ICAN (FIC]S & (FICIALS US$ A SIMIL> LANGUAGE TO DESCRIBE !IR W> AGA9/ ! ,N,L,F4 ,ACCORD+ TO ! (FICIAL RHETORIC1 ! ,VIET ,CONG DID NOT LIVE 9 PLACES1 !Y '9FE/$ >EAS2' TO 'CLEAN !M \T' ! ,AM]ICAN =CES W5T ON 'SWEEP & CLE>' OP]ATIONS OR MOV$ ALL ! VILLAG]S 9TO REFUGEE CAMPS 9 ORD] TO 'SANITIZE ! >EA4'0 

,! ,VIETNAMESE1 :E!R !Y W]E ! 5EMY OR ! VASSALS ( ! ,U4,S41 W]E CONSID]$ /UPID SAVAGES1 0,ORI5TALS10 9 ,G5]AL ,WILLIAM ,WE/MOREL&'S WORDS1 :O PLAC$ A L[] VALUE ON LIFE ?AN WE/]N]S4 ,! ,N,L,F W]E NO?+ BUT 0T]MITES0 9 ! ,G5]AL'S EYES1 :O %[$ HIS HUMANIT>IAN CONC]N = ! C\NTRY BY ADVIS+ ?AT 0,WE HAVE TO GET ! RI<T BALANCE ( T]MITE KILL]S TO GET RID ( ! T]MITES )\T WRECK+ ! H\SE40 ,& AN ADVIS] 9 ,PLEIKU TOLD ! HEAD ( ! ,9T]NATIONAL ,VOLUNT>Y ,S]VICE ?AT ! ,MONTAGN>DS 7TRIBAL HI<L&]S7 0HAVE TO REALIZE ?AT !Y >E EXP5DABLE10 ADD+ ?AT ! 0,MONTAGN>D PROBLEM0 C\LD BE SOLV$ 0LIKE WE SOLV$ ! ,9DIAN PROBLEM40 

0,IS IT AN EXAGG]ATION TO SUGGE/10 WROTE ,NOAM ,*OMSKY 9 #a#i#g1 0?AT \R HI/ORY ( EXT]M9ATION & RACISM IS REA*+ ITS CLIMAX 9 ,VIETNAM TODAY8 ,IT IS NOT A QUE/ION ?AT ,AM]ICANS CAN EASILY PUT ASIDE40 ,9DE$1 ?IS IS ! !ME ( ,DR9NON'S P[]FUL BOOK3 S9CE !RE WAS NO 5D TO ?IS FRONTI] BE+ VANQUI%$ BY ! ,EMPIRE1 0,W9N+ ! ,WE/ AM\NT$ TO NO LESS ?AN W9N+ ! WORLD4 ,IT C\LD BE F9ALLY & DECISIVELY 'WON' ONLY BY RATIONALIZ+ 7,AM]ICANIZ+1 WE/]NIZ+1 MOD]NIZ+7 ! WORLD1 & ?AT MEANT CONQU]+ ! L& BEYOND1 BANI%+ MY/]Y1 & NEGAT+ OR EXTIRPAT+ O!R PEOPLES1 SO ! :OLE W\LD BE SUBJECT TO ! REGIM5T$ REASON ( ONE SETTLEM5T CULTURE ) ITS PR(ESS$LY SELF-EVID5T MIDDLE-CLASS VALUES40 

,BUT ! 0/AGNANT PEOPLES0 HAD !IR [N VISION ( DE/9Y4 ,A VET]AN TOLD ! ,TIMES',LELYVELD1 0,I DON'T ?9K ! PEOPLE WANT$ TO BE SAV$ 4440 ,:5 ! CONQU]ORS SAW ! PEOPLE W\LDN'T1 & C\LDN'T1 BE 0SAV$10 !Y SET \T1 )9 ! T]MS ( !IR MAD EQUATION1 TO DE/ROY !M1 US+ ALL ! P]FECT$ SCI5CE AT !IR DISPOSAL TO ACCOMPLI% ! DE/RUCTION4 

,V4 ,! 0,L,U,N,>,I,Z,A,T,I,O,N ,P,R,O,G,R,A,M0 

  

,! MON/R\S ABSURDITY ( PIONE] >ROGANCE SAW ITS CULM9ATION 9 ?AT UNSPEAKABLE W>-A W> ,VICE-,PRESID5T ,HUB]T ,HUMPHREY DUBB$ 0,AM]ICA'S F9E/ H\R40 ,! 5TIRE MI<T ( ! TE*NOLOGICAL MEGAMA*9E WAS PITT$ AGA9/ A SMALL1 POOR1 >*AIC PEASANT REGION4 ,! PROPORTIONS-9 COMP>ATIVE WEAL?1 9 TE*NOLOGY1 9 FIREP[]-W]E OBSC5E4 ,AT ANY GIV5 TIME1 ! DIFF]5CE 9 FIREP[] RANG$ ANY:]E FROM #e TO #a1 TO #e TO #a4 ,! W> REPRES5T$ 0! TRIUMPH ( ! PR9CIPLES & VALUES ( ! 9DU/RIAL BUREAUCRACY10 A 0,G5]AL ,MOTORS ( ,DEA?10 AS ,GORDON ,LIV+/ON1 A REGIM5TAL SURGEON :O S]V$ !RE1 PUT IT LAT]4 ,AT ! #aig W> CRIMES HE>+S1 HE TE/IFI$1 0,! MAGNITUDE ( ! EF=T1 ! PAP]WORK1 & ! MIDDLE-MANAGEM5T ATTITUDE ( MANY ( ! P>TICIPANTS1 AS WELL AS ! PR$ILECTION = *>TS & /ATI/ICS-9CLUD+ ?AT MO/ DEHUMANIZ+ & ABSURD FIGURE ( ALL1 ! BODY C\NT-ALL !SE REPRES5T ! TRIUMPH ( TE*NOCRACY OV] REASON40 

,?IS QU9TESS5TIALLY TE*NO-BUREAUCRATIC CAMPAIGN AGA9/ ,VIETNAM FL[$ FROM ! SAME HATR$ & POV]TY ( SPIRIT ?AT FUEL$ ! W>S AGA9/ ! 9DIG5\S PEOPLES ( ?IS CONT95T4 ,IT WAS A DEEP-SEAT$ HATR$1 F\ND$ UPON GUILT & A S5SE ( SEP>ATION1 SO IT HAD TO BE MANIFE/$ 9 A W> AGA9/ ! E>? ITSELF4 ,BUT ?IS TIME1 ALL ! DEMONIC 9/RUM5TS ( TE*NOLOGY W]E AVAILABLE TO ! CRUSADE4 

,! A]IAL BOMB>DM5T WAS UNRIVAL$ 9 ! HI/ORY ( W>F>E4 ,ALREADY1 BY #a#i#f#i1 ,S\? ,VIETNAM1 ,NOR? ,VIETNAM & ,LAOS W]E ! ?REE MO/ HEAVILY BOMB$ C\NTRIES 9 HI/ORY4 0,! UNP>ALLEL$1 LAVI% USE ( FIREP[]10 A ,U4,S4 MILIT>Y ANALY/ WROTE LACONICALLY1 0IS AN \T/&+ *>ACT]I/IC ( ,U4,S4 MILIT>Y TACTICS 9 ! ,VIETNAM W>40 

0,TRANSLAT$ 9TO HUMAN T]MS10 COMM5T$ ,GABRIEL ,KOLKO1 0! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES HAS MADE ,S\? ,VIETNAM A SEA ( FIRE AS A MATT] ( POLICY1 TURN+ AN 5TIRE NATION 9TO A T>GET40 0,ON SOME DAYS 9 #a#i#f#i10 REPORT$ ECOLOGI/ ,JOHN ,LEWALL5 9 HIS BOOK ,ECOLOGY ( ,DEVA/ATION 7#a#i#g#a71 0#h SORTIES W]E FL[N .<9 NOR!RN ,LAOS.>1 DROPP+ NAPALM1 PHOSPHOR\S1 & ANTI-P]SONNEL BOMBS4 ,ONE OLD MAN DESCRIB$ ! EFFECTS3 ',FIR/ ! H\SES & FRUIT TREES W]E BURN$1 !N ! FIELDS & ! HILLSIDE & EV5 ! /REAM WAS ON FIRE4'0 ,BOMB+ BECAME SO 9T5SE BY ?AT YE> ?AT AT TIMES IT W5T ON = TW5TY-F\R H\RS A DAY1 & F>M+1 IF IT C\LD BE DONE AT ALL1 C\LD ONLY TAKE PLACE AT NI<T4 

,! USE ( H]BICIDES WAS EV5 MORE DEVA/AT+4 0,TO A C\NT]9SURG5T10 WROTE ,LEWALL51 0PLANTS >E ! ALLIES ( ! 9SURG5T40 ,E4 ,W4 ,PFEIFF]1 A ZOOLOGI/ S5T TO ,9DO*9A BY ! ,AM]ICAN ,ASSOCIATION = ! ,ADVANCEM5T ( ,SCI5CE TO /UDY ECOLOGICAL CONSEQU5CES ( ! W>1 COMP>$ ! ,U4,S4 POLICY ( BOMB+1 DEFOLIATION1 & MASS PL[+ ) GIANT BULLDOZ]S ) ! EXT]M9ATION ( ! BUFFALO H]DS 9 ! ,AM]ICAN ,WE/4 0,?IS MOD]N PROGRAM10 HE REPORT$ 9 #a#i#g#a1 0HAS AS DE/RUCTIVE AN 9FLU5CE ON ! SOCIAL FABRIC ( ,9DO*9ESE LIFE AS DID ! ECOCIDE 7DE/RUCTION ( ECOLOGY7 ( ! ,AM]ICAN ,WE/ UPON ! ,AM]ICAN ,9DIAN40 

,N,L,F S\RCES REPORT$ ?AT SOME #c1 PEOPLE W]E POISON$ EA* YE> BETWE5 #aiff & #aifi BY EXPOSURE TO ,AG5T ,ORANGE1 ,AG5T ,:ITE1 & O!R *EMICALS4 ,AN EPIDEMIC ( BIR? DEFECTS WAS ALREADY OCCURR+ AT ?AT TIME4 ,OV] FIVE MILLION ACRES HAD BE5 SPRAY$ ) SOME SEV5TE5 MILLION GALLONS ( H]BICIDES1 & AN >EA ! SIZE ( ,MASSA*USETTS CLE>$ BY DEFOLIANTS4 ,! V]Y SOIL ( ,9DO*9A WAS BE+ DE/ROY$ BY BOMB+ & DEFOLIATION1 9CREAS+ SAL9ATION1 FLOOD+1 ]OSION & DR\<T4 

,VIETNAM1 ONCE A MAJOR EXPORT] ( RICE1 N[ HAD TO IMPORT IT FROM ! ,U4,S4 DUE TO CROP DE/RUCTION & ! DISRUPTION ( AGRICULTURE4 ,HUGE TRACTS ( MANGROVE1 EV]GRE5 RA9 =E/1 & FRUIT TREES W]E WIP$ \T1 LEAD+ TO ! BREAKD[N ( ASSOCIAT$ ECOSY/EMS1 ESPECIALLY 9 ! ,MEKONG ,DELTA4 ,BY ,DECEMB] #a#i#g1 AT LEA/ #ce P]C5T ( ,S\? ,VIETNAM'S F\RTE5 MILLION ACRES ( D5SE =E/S HAD BE5 SPRAY$4 

,A 0FOOD D5IAL0 PROGRAM WAS ALSO IMPLEM5T$ BY ! ,AM]ICANS TO />VE ! 9SURG5TS 9TO SUBMISSION4 ,?IS MEANT MASSIVE SPRAY+ ( CROPL&S & DE/RUCTION ( FOOD /ORES4 ,( C\RSE1 ! 9SURG5TS1 BE+ MORE MOBILE1 W]E ABLE TO EVADE SOME ( ! CIRCUM/ANCES BR\<T AB\T BY DEFOLIATION1 BUT ! VILLAG]S LEFT BEH9D />V$4 ,MANY ANIMAL SPECIES1 P>TICUL>LY BIRDS & AQUATIC FOOD *A9S1 W]E DE/ROY$ BY ! *EMICAL W>F>E4 

,! HATR$ = ! L& & ! PEOPLE KNEW NO LIMITS4 ,A JOKE CIRCULAT+ AT ! TIME WAS ?AT A PROP] 0F9AL SOLUTION0 TO ! 0,VIETNAMESE PROBLEM0 W\LD BE TO PAVE ! C\NTRY & MAKE IT A P>K+ LOT1 A JOKE ?AT WAS REPEAT$ BY !N ,CALI=NIA GOV]NOR ,RONALD ,REAGAN4 ,SU* WAS ! ATTITUDE ( !SE ,AM]ICAN MISSION>IES ( A 0NEW CIVILIZATION40 ,BUT TO ! ,VIETNAMESE1 :O BL5D$ !IR ,BUDDHISM ) /RONG ANIMI/ & NATURE-WOR%IP BELIEFS ALONG ) ANCE/OR WOR%IP1 ! L& ITSELF WAS SACR$1 A CON/ANT :I* C5T]$ !IR UNIV]SE4 

,! PURPOSE ( ,AM]ICAN 0PACIFICATION0 ( ?IS WILD]NESS WAS TO PAVE ! SPIRITUAL & POLITICAL SOIL ( VILLAGE ID5TITY TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE TO ,AM]ICAN TANKS4 ,TO 0DRY UP ! SEA0 9 :I* ! REBELS SWAM1 !Y HAD TO REMOVE ! PEOPLE FROM ! L& ITSELF1 =CIBLY RELOCAT+ 5TIRE VILLAGES TO SO-CALL$ 0/RATEGIC HAMLETS0 7CONC5TRATION CAMPS71 & TO ! DESP]ATION ( ! CITIES1 TURN+ !IR OLD L&S 9TO 0FREE-FIRE ZONES0 :]E ANY?+ ?AT MOV$ WAS A T>GET4 ,AS A RESULT ( ?IS CAMPAIGN & ,N,L,F RESI/ANCE TO IT1 BY #aig A ?IRD ( ! PEOPLE ( ,S\? ,VIETNAM HAD BECOME REFUGEES4 ,9 ! FIR/ SIX MON?S ( ?AT YE>1 ANO!R HALF A MILLION REFUGEES W]E 0G5]AT$0 BY =C$ REMOVAL & WANTON DE/RUCTION4 ,?IS FIGURE W\LD EV5 BE TOO CONS]VATIVE1 S9CE MANY REFUGEES W]E NEV] ACC\NT$ = BY (FICIAL ,U4,S4_/,S\? ,VIETNAMESE GOV]NM5T HEAD C\NTS4 0,! L>GE MAJORITY ( ! REFUGEES1 AS EV]Y OBJECTIVE ACC\NT AGREES1 W]E SEEK+ TO ESCAPE ! FREE-FIRE ZONES & ! RA9 ( FIRE ! ,AM]ICANS W]E %[]+ ON !M10 ,GABRIEL ,KOLKO REPORT$4 0,Y\ HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SEP>ATE ! %EEP FROM ! GOATS10 SAID ONE ,P5TAGON-SPONSOR$ ANALY/4 0,! WAY TO DO IT IS H>%4 ,Y\ W\LD HAVE TO PUT ALL MILIT>Y-AGE MALES 9 ! >MY OR 9 A CAMP AS Y\ PACIFY ! C\NTRY4 ,ANYONE NOT 9 ! >MY OR 9 A CAMP IS A T>GET4 ,HE'S EI!R A ,VIET ,CONG OR IS HELP+ !M40 

,VIETNAMESE CULTURE1 AS ,FRANCES ,FITZG]ALD PO9T$ \T1 WAS WRECK$ BY =C$ RELOCATION & FLI<T TO ! CITIES3 0,AS !Y TOOK LIFE FROM ! E>? & FROM ! ANCE/ORS1 SO !Y W\LD F9D IMMORTALITY 9 !IR *ILDR51 :O 9 !IR TURN W\LD TAKE !IR PLACE UPON ! E>?4 ,TO LEAVE ! L& & ! FAMILY =EV] WAS !RE=E TO LOSE !IR PLACE 9 ! UNIV]SE & TO SUFF] A P]MAN5T1 COLLECTIVE DEA?40 

,( C\RSE1 MANY ANALY/S & EXP]TS 9 ! PAY ( ! EMPIRE F\ND A ROSI] SIDE TO ?IS HAVOC4 ,= EXAMPLE1 ,SAMUEL ,P4 ,HUNT+TON1 ,*AIRMAN ( ! ,DEP>TM5T ( ,GOV]NM5T AT ,H>V>D ,UNIV]SITY1 CONTRIBUT$ TO ,=EIGN ,AFFAIRS 9 #aifh A RA!R *E]FUL VIEW ( HI/ORY & ! ,AM]ICAN CULTURAL DEVA/ATION4 0,9 AN ABS5T-M9D$ WAY10 WROTE ! PR(ESSOR FROM ! COM=T ( HIS /UDY1 0! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES MAY HAVE /UMBL$ UPON ! ANSW] TO 'W>S ( NATIONAL LIB]ATION4'0 

,W>1 HE >GU$1 WASN'T 9 & ( ITSELF ! ANSW]1 BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY ! 0=C$-DRAFT URBANIZATION & MOD]NIZATION :I* RAPIDLY BR+S ! C\NTRY 9 QUE/ION \T ( ! PHASE 9 :I* A RURAL REVOLUTION>Y MOVEM5T CAN HOPE TO G5]ATE SUFFICI5T /R5G? TO COME TO P[]40 ,! SOLUTION WAS TO PRODUCE 0A MASSIVE MIGRATION FROM C\NTRYSIDE TO CITY40 ,9 ?IS WAY1 ) BOMBS & SLAU<T]1 DID ! EMPIRE 0/IR ! SLEEP ( A HUNDR$ C5TURIES40 ,BY #aifg ,S5ATOR ,WILLIAM ,J4 ,FULBRI<T REM>K$ ?AT ,SAIGON1 REPRES5TATIVE ( ALL ! T[NS ( ,S\? ,VIETNAM BY BE+ SWOLL5 TO SOME F\R TIMES ITS PREVI\S POPULATION1 HAD BECOME 0AN ,AM]ICAN BRO!L40 

,V,I4 ,A ,C,\,N,T,R,Y ,%,A,T,T,],$ 

  

,9 ! 5D1 ! ,U4,S4 HAD CONV]T$ ! ,S\?1 9 ,FITZG]ALD'S WORDS1 9TO 0A C\NTRY %ATT]$ SO ?AT NO TWO PIECES FIT TOGE!R40 ,%ATT]+ ! C\NTRY-BY DEPOPULAT+ ! C\NTRYSIDE1 BY DEFOLIATION & C>PET BOMB+1 BY T]ROR & IMPOS$ DEP5D5CE UPON ! ,U4,S4 MILIT>Y-WAS ! ME?OD :I* ! CRACKPOT BUREAUCRATIC IDEOLOGUES SANGU9ELY RECOMM5D$ AS ! SOLUTION TO ! 0,VIETNAMESE PROBLEM40 ,DE/ROY+ ?AT LATE/ 9C>NATION ( ! 0H[L+ WILD]NESS 9FE/$ BY BLOOD?IR/Y SAVAGES0-! LU% ,VIETNAMESE RA9=E/S & GRASSL&S :]E A 0,V,C0 WAS HIDD5 BEH9D EV]Y TREE-& PHYSICALLY LIQUIDAT+ :OEV] RESI/$ ! SALVATION ,AM]ICA SO NOBLY (F]$1 BECAME ! ONLY SOLUTION TO AN UNRESOLVABLE PROBLEM4 ,ONLY 9 SU* A WAY C\LD ! 0CR$IBILITY0 ( ! EMPIRE BE RE/OR$ & ! RIS+ TIDE ( NATIONALI/ REVOLUTION BE HALT$4 

,& !Y W5T TO EV]Y L5G? TO DO SO4 ,IT BECAME (FICIAL ,U4,S4 POLICY1 9 ! WORDS ( ,ROB]T ,OPTON1 ,JR41 A PSY*OLOGI/ :O WAS 9 ,VIETNAM DUR+ #aifg & #aifh AS A REPORT]1 0TO OBLIT]ATE NOT JU/ :OLE VILLAGES1 BUT :OLE DI/RICTS & VIRTUALLY :OLE PROV9CES40 ,AT FIR/1 RESID5TS W]E MOV$ \T1 BUT ! VA/ NUMB]S ( REFUGEES CREAT$ BY !SE OP]ATIONS L$ MILIT>Y (FIC]S TO ORD] ?AT NO NEW REFUGEES BE 0G5]AT$40 ,AS ,JONA?AN ,S*ELL HAD WITNESS$1 NO W>N+S W]E ISSU$ :5 AIR/RIKES W]E CALL$ 9 ON !IR VILLAGES1 & EV]Y CIVILIAN ON ! GR\ND WAS ASSUM$ TO BE ! 5EMY & FIR$ ON ACCORD+LY4 ,FREE FIRE ZONES N[ CAME TO 9CLUDE MANY 9HABIT$ VILLAGES4 

,OPTON WITNESS$ ,U4,S4 ,COBRA HELICOPT]S FIR+ #b MM4 CANNONS 9TO H\SES1 & SOLDI]S %OOT+ ! PEOPLE AS !Y RAN \T ( ! H\SES4 0,?IS WAS T]M$ 'PREPP+ ! >EA' BY ! ,AM]ICAN LIEUT5ANT COLONEL :O DIRECT$ ! OP]ATION4 ',WE SORT ( %OOT IT UP TO SEE IF ANY?+ MOVES1' HE EXPLA9$1 & HE ADD$ BY WAY ( REASSURANCE ?AT ?IS TREATM5T WAS P]FECTLY R\T9E40 

,EV]YDAY OCCURR5CES ( ATROCITIES & BRUTALITY AGA9/ ! ,VIETNAMESE BECAME SO COMMONPLACE ?AT !Y CEAS$ TO BE REPORT$ AS NEWS4 ,PFC4 ,ALL5 ,AK]S1 :O S]V$ 9 ! #cRD ,M>9E ,DIVISION1 TE/IFI$ AT ! ,W9T] ,SOLDI] ,9VE/IGATION ON W> CRIMES 9 ,VIETNAM 7CONV5$ BY ! ,VIETNAM ,VET]ANS ,AGA9/ ! ,W> 9 ,DETROIT 9 E>LY #a#i#g#a71 0,WE W]E GIV5 ORD]S :5EV] WE MOV$ 9TO A VILLAGE TO RECONNOIT] BY FIRE4 ,?IS MEANS TO-:5EV] WE /EP 9TO A VILLAGE TO FIRE UPON H\SES1 BU%ES1 ANY?+ TO \R DISCRETION ?AT LOOK$ LIKE !RE MI<T BE SOMEBODY HID+ BEH9D OR UND]444WE'D C>RY \R RIFLES AB\T HIP HI< & WE'D L9E UP ON L9E P>ALLEL TO ! VILLAGE & />T WALK+1 FIR+ FROM ! HIP40 

,PFC4 ,*>LES ,/EPH5S1 ( ! #a#a/ ,AIRBORNE ,DIVISION1 TE/IFI$ ?AT HIS BATTALION HAD ATTACK$ ,TUI ,HOA1 RECONNOIT]+ BY FIRE1 & W\ND+ WOM5 & *ILDR51 :O LAT] DI$ DUE TO LACK ( M$ICAL ATT5TION4 ,! NEXT DAY !Y FIR$ ON ! VILLAGE AS ! PEOPLE BURI$ !IR DEAD1 KILL+ ANO!R P]SON4 0,WE W5T D[N ?AT SAME DAY TO GET SOME WAT] & !RE W]E TWO LITTLE BOYS PLAY+ ON A DIKE & ONE S]GEANT JU/ TOOK HIS ,M-#a#f & %OT ONE BOY AT ! DIKE4 ,! O!R BOY TRI$ TO RUN4 ,HE WAS ALMO/ \T ( SI<T :5 ! O!R GUY1 A ,SPEC #d1 %OT ?IS O!R LITTLE BOY (F ! DIKE4 ,! LITTLE GUY WAS LIKE LY+ ON ! GR\ND KICK+1 SO HE %OT HIM AGA9 TO MAKE SURE HE WAS DEAD40 ,/EPH5S TE/IFI$ ?AT TO PROVE !IR BODY C\NT 0WE HAD TO CUT (F ! RI<T E> ( EV]YBODY WE KILL$ 444 ,GUYS W\LD CUT (F HEADS1 PUT !M ON A /AKE & /ICK A GUY'S P5IS 9 HIS M\?40 ,K5NE? ,RU?1 A M$IC 9 ! #a/ ,AIR ,CAVALRY ,DIVISION1 REPORT$ ! TORTURE ( PRISON]S1 & TE/-FIR+ ( WEAPONS BY FIR+ !M 9DISCRIM9ATELY AT VILLAG]S4 0,NOBODY ELSE C>$4 ,?IS IS ! G5]AL ATTITUDE4 ,Y\ KN[1 ,VIETNAMESE >5'T HUMANS1 !Y'RE T>GETS40 ,HE CONCLUD$1 0,I C\LD GO ON ALL DAY4 ,ALL ( US C\LD4 ,& EV]Y ,G,I 9 ?IS ROOM C\LD SAY ! SAME ?+40 

,SGT4 ,SCOTT ,CAMIL ( ! #a/ ,M>9E ,DIVISION REPORT$ 0BURN+ ( VILLAGES ) CIVILIANS 9 !M1 ! CUTT+ (F ( E>S1 CUTT+ (F ( HEADS1 TORTUR+ ( PRISON]S1 CALL+ 9 ( >TILL]Y ON VILLAGES = GAMES1 CORPSM5 KILL+ W\ND$ PRISON]S1 NAPALM DROPP$ ON VILLAGES1 WOM5 BE+ RAP$1 WOM5 & *ILDR5 BE+ MASSACR$1 ,C,S GAS US$ ON ! PEOPLE1 ANIMALS SLAU<T]$1 PASSES REJECT$ & ! PEOPLE HOLD+ !M %OT1 BODIES %OV$ \T ( HELICOPT]S1 TE>GASS+ PEOPLE = FUN & RUNN+ CIVILIANS (F ! ROAD40 ,:5 ASK$ BY ! MOD]ATOR IF PRISON]S BE+ TORTUR$ W]E CIVILIANS OR ,NOR? ,VIETNAMESE >MY M51 HE REPLI$1 0,! WAY WE DI/+UI%$ BETWE5 CIVILIANS & ,V,C1 ,V,C HAD WEAPONS & CIVILIANS DIDN'T & ANYBODY ?AT WAS DEAD WAS CONSID]$ A ,V,C4 ,IF Y\ KILL$ SOMEONE !Y SAID1 ',H[ DO Y\ KN[ HE'S A ,V,C8' & ! G5]AL REPLY W\LD BE1 ',HE'S DEAD1' & ?AT WAS SUFFICI5T40 ,HE REPORT$ ?AT :5 VILLAG]S W]E SE>*$1 0! WOM5 W\LD HAVE ALL !IR CLO!S TAK5 (F & ! M5 W\LD USE !IR P5ISES TO PROBE !M TO MAKE SURE !Y DIDN'T HAVE ANY?+ HIDD5 ANY:]E2 & ?IS WAS RAP+ BUT IT WAS DONE AS SE>*+40 ,ALL ?IS HAD TAK5 PLACE 9 ! PRES5CE ( (FIC]S4 

,! LI/ ( BRUTALITY IS 5DLESS1 :I* EXPLA9S PSY*OLOGI/ ,ROB]T ,J4 ,LIFTON'S OBS]VATION ?AT ( ! TWO HUNDR$ OR SO SOLDI]S HE & HIS COLLEAGUES 9T]VIEW$1 NONE WAS SURPRIS$ BY ! NEWS ( ,MY ,LAI4 0,!Y HAD NOT BE5 SURPRIS$ BECAUSE !Y HAVE EI!R BE5 P>TY TO1 OR WITNESS TO1 OR HAVE HE>D FAIRLY CLOSE-H& AB\T HUNDR$S OR ?\S&S ( SIMIL>1 IF SMALL] 9CID5TS40 ,SAID ,CAMIL1 0,IT WASN'T LIKE !Y W]E HUMANS4 ,WE W]E CONDITION$ TO BELIEVE ?AT ?IS WAS = ! GOOD ( ! NATION 444 ,& :5 Y\ %OT SOMEONE Y\ DIDN'T ?9K Y\ W]E %OOT+ AT A HUMAN4 ,!Y W]E A GOOK OR A ,COMMIE & IT WAS OKAY4 ,& ANY?+ Y\ DID TO !M WAS OKAY BECAUSE LIKE !Y W\LD TELL Y\ !Y'D DO IT TO Y\ IF !Y HAD ! *ANCE40 

,O!RS REPORT$ DE/ROY+ RICE & LIVE/OCK1 KILL+ ( UN>M$ P]SONS1 RUNN+ PEOPLE D[N ON ! ROAD ) TRUCKS & TANKS1 DESECRAT+ GRAVES1 ?R[+ PEOPLE \T ( HELICOPT]S1 ?R[+ CANS ( ,C-RATIONS AT *ILDR5 BY ! SIDES ( ROADS1 FIR+ #e-CALIB] MA*9E GUNS AT VILLAGES = SPORT1 NAZI-/YLE REV5GE MASSACRES ( :OLE VILLAGES AFT] A ,G,I WAS KILL$ BY A SNIP]1 BURN+ ( HUTS ) ! PEOPLE 9SIDE1 FIR+ AT PEASANTS 9 OX-C>TS FROM PLANES SIMPLY TO F9I% (F UNUS$ AMMUNITION1 TORTUR+ 0,V,C SUSPECTS0 BY ATTA*+ ELECTRICAL WIRES TO !IR G5ITALIA 7CALL$ ! 0,BELL ,TELEPHONE ,H\R0 BY SOLDI]S71 RAPE & MURD] ( WOM51 BURN+ ( VILLAGES4 ,AS ,OPTON WROTE 9 #a#i#g1 0',W9N+ ! HE>TS & M9DS' ( ! ,VIETNAMESE IS N[ MA9TA9$ ONLY AS A PUBLIC RELATIONS PRODUCT = CONSUMPTION ON ! HOME M>KET40 

,& YET AMONG MANY SOLDI]S !RE WAS ! GROTESQUE COMPLA9T ?AT !Y W]E FI<T+ 0) ONE >M TI$ BEH9D \R BACK10 A COMPLA9T BELL[$ TODAY BY ?OSE :O HAVE NO %AME4 ,:AT MORE C\LD !Y HAVE BE5 ALL[$ 9 ORD] TO C>RY ON !IR GRISLY BUS9ESS8 ,OPTON NOT$ ?AT AMONG SOLDI]S HE 9T]VIEW$ 9 ,VIETNAM1 0MANY FELT ?AT A F9AL SOLUTION WAS ! BE/ & P]HAPS ONLY SOLUTION1 & MANY ( !IR (FIC]S AGRE$4 ,EXT]M9ATION ( ! ,VIETNAMESE PEOPLE1 SOME (FIC]S FELT1 W\LD BE ! BE/ WAY TO PROTECT ! M5 UND] !M40 ,SO ! ONLY WAY TO 0SAVE0 ! ,VIETNAMESE W\LD BE TO ANNIHILATE !M ALL1 :I* WAS PROBABLY TRUE 9 T]MS ( W9N+ ! W>1 S9CE ! ,VIETNAMESE W]E WILL+ TO FI<T TO ! BITT] 5D TO ?R[ \T ! 9VAD]S4 ,IT WAS ?IS H]OIC RESI/ANCE :I* IMP$$ ! EXT]M9ATION FROM TAK+ PLACE4 

,( C\RSE1 !RE WAS ALSO ! FE> ON ! P>T ( W> PLANN]S ?AT ! W> C\LD EXP& BEYOND !IR ABILITY TO 0MANAGE0 IT EFFECTIVELY4 ,A WID5+ ( ! W> C\LD ALSO DRAW MORE MASSIVE PROTE/ AGA9/ :AT WAS AN 9CREAS+LY UNPOPUL> W> BACK HOME1 & RESI/ANCE 9 ! >MY ITSELF1 :I* WAS />T+ TO BREAK D[N & TURN AGA9/ ! W>4 ,DAVID ,HALB]/AM REPORTS 9 HIS BOOK ,! ,BE/ & ! ,BRI<TE/ ?AT 9 LATE #a#i#f#f1 ! MILIT>Y WAS URG+ ,LYNDON ,JOHNSON TO BOMB ,HANOI & ,HAIPHONG & TO BLOCK ! H>BOR4 ,JOHNSON REPLI$1 0,I HAVE ONE MORE PROBLEM = Y\R COMPUT]-WILL Y\ FE$ 9TO IT H[ LONG IT WILL TAKE FIVE HUNDR$ ?\S& ANGRY ,AM]ICANS TO CLIMB ?AT ,:ITE ,H\SE F5CE \T !RE & LYN* !IR ,PRESID5T IF HE DOES SOME?+ LIKE ?AT80 ,DANIEL ,ELLSB]G PO9T$ \T MU* LAT] ?AT IT WAS ONLY ! RESI/ANCE TO ! W> BY ,AM]ICANS AT HOME ?AT PREV5T$ ,RI*>D ,NIXON FROM COMMITT+ ?AT ULTIMATE ATROCITY ( DROPP+ NUCLE> WEAPONS ON ,NOR? ,VIETNAM4 ,SU* AN ESCALATION C\LD BE ! ONLY LOGIC ( ! /ATEM5T CURR5T AMONG ?OSE :O REFUSE TO FACE ! REALITY ( ! HIDE\S CRUSADE1 ?AT ! ,U4,S4 MILIT>Y WAS 0NOT ALL[$ TO W940 ,IT IS ! CULM9ATION ( ! 0,9DIAN IDEA40 

,V,I,I4 ,B,L,O,O,D,B,A,?,S 

  

,! ,AM]ICANS MAY NOT HAVE BE5 ABLE TO IMPOSE A 0F9AL SOLUTION0 ON ! ,9DO*9ESE1 BUT !Y DID 5\< DAMAGE 9 ! C\RSE ( ?AT W> TO WRECK ! SOCIETIES & LAY ! BASIS = FUR!R C>NAGE1 AS 9 ,CAMBODIA1 MAK+ ,NIXON'S CYNICAL W>N+ ( A 0BLOODBA?0 A SELF-FULFILL+ PROPHECY4 ,IF SOME #e#h1 ,AM]ICAN SOLDI]S DI$ 9 ,VIETNAM & ANO!R #c1 W]E W\ND$1 & WE ADD TO ?AT LI/ ! />TL+ NUMB] ( SUICIDES AMONG VET]ANS S9CE ! W>1 SOME #e11 H[ CAN !SE HORRIFY+ FIGURES COMP>E TO ?OSE ( ?REE MILLION ,VIETNAMESE KILL$ & #d4#e MILLION W\ND$8 ,:AT W\LD BE ! COMP>ABLE L5G? ( A WALL LIKE ! VET]ANS' MEMORIAL 9 ,WA%+TON1 ,D4,C4 IF IT CONTA9$ ?OSE ?REE MILLION NAMES8 ,& CONSID] SOME O!R /ATI/ICS3 T5 MILLION REFUGEES1 A MILLION ORPHANS1 NE>LY #a1 HAMLETS DE/ROY$ 9 ,S\? ,VIETNAM ALONE3 #f1#f1 TONS ( BOMBS DROPP$ ON ,9DO*9A1 9CLUD+ #d1 TONS ( NAPALM1 LEAV+ SOME #be MILLION CRAT]S2 #be MILLION ACRES ( F>ML& & TWELVE MILLION ACRES ( =E/S DE/ROY$1 BY AMONG O!R CAUSES1 N9ETE5 MILLION GALLONS ( DEFOLIANTS SPRAY$ ON !M4 ,! HORROR VISIT$ UPON ?\S&S ( ,AM]ICAN SOLDI]S & !IR FAMILIES DUE TO EXPOSURE TO ,AG5T ,ORANGE & O!R DEFOLIANTS IS ONLY AN 9DICATION ( ! F> GREAT] NUMB]S & LEVELS ( CONTAM9ATION ( ,9DO*9ESE :O W]E & CONT9UE TO BE ! VICTIMS ( ! *EMICAL PLAGUES DELIB]ATELY UNLEA%$ BY ! ,AM]ICAN MA/]S ( W>4 

,! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES W5T 9TO ,VIETNAM TO 0SAVE0 ! S\? BY IMP$+ REUNIFICATION ( ! C\NTRY & /OPP+ ! COMMUNI/S FROM ASSUM+ P[] OV] ! 5TIRE C\NTRY4 ,9 SO DO+ IT WRECK$ ! POSSIBILITY ( ANY DIV]SITY 9 ,VIETNAMESE SOCIETY 7OR ,LAOTIAN OR ,CAMBODIAN71 ( ANYONE BUT ! COMMUNI/S COM+ TO P[]1 BY UPROOT+ & DE/ROY+ ! V]Y GR\PS ?AT C\LD HAVE RESI/$ OR (FSET CONTROL BY ! ,/AL9I/S-! REGIONAL POLITICAL GR\PS & RELIGI\S SECTS1 ! TRIBESPEOPLE ( ! HI<L&S1 ! ,BUDDHI/S1 & O!R POLITICAL T5D5CIES4 ,! ,U4,S4 CLAIM$ ITS DESIRE TO PREV5T DOM9ATION ( ! S\? BY NOR!RN]S4 ,YET DUR+ ! ,TET ,(F5SIVE 9 #aifh & ! 0,OP]ATION ,PH5IX0 PROGRAM ( MASS ASSASS9ATIONS1 JAIL+S & RELOCATIONS :I* FOLL[$ 9 ! E>LY #a#i#gS1 IT EXT]M9AT$ ! MA9LY S\!RN ,N,L,F CADRES1 MAK+ NOR!RN DOM9ATION ( ! CULTURALLY DI/9CT S\? ANO!R SELF-FULFILL+ PROPHECY 79DE$1 P]HAPS A NECESSITY = ! ,VIETNAMESE IF !Y W]E GO+ TO W9 ! W>74 0,! ,U4,S4 HAS *ANG$ ,VIETNAM10 WROTE ,FITZG]ALD1 0TO ! PO9T :]E IT IS UNRECOGNIZABLE TO ,VIETNAMESE444 & FLATT5$ ! LOCAL E?NIC1 RELIGI\S1 & CULTURAL PECULI>ITIES B5EA? A UNI=M1 NATIONAL DISA/]40 

,N[1 T5 YE>S LAT]1 WE C\LD ONLY EXPECT ! GROTESQUE SPECTACLE 9 :I* HI/ORY HAS BE5 REWRITT5 SO ?AT ,AM]ICANS CAN CONT9UE TO EVADE 9DIVIDUAL & COLLECTIVE GUILT = ! SLAU<T] ( ! ,9DO*9ESE & ! WRECK+ ( !IR SOCIETIES4 

,ONE P>TICUL>LY REPELL5T EXAMPLE WAS ,PRESID5T ,C>T]'S A/ONI%+ /ATEM5T 9 ,M>* #aigg ?AT 0,! DE/RUCTION WAS MUTUAL4 ,WE W5T TO ,VIETNAM )\T ANY DESIRE TO CAPTURE T]RITORY OR IMPOSE ,AM]ICAN WILL ON O!R PEOPLE4 ,I DON'T FEEL WE \<T TO APOLOGIZE OR CA/IGATE \RSELVES OR TO ASSUME ! /ATUS ( CULPABILITY40 ,VIETNAMESE AU?OR ,NGO ,V9H ,LONG REPORTS ?AT 0,A PR(ESSOR AT ,HUE ,UNIV]SITY LIK5$ .<! /ATEM5T.> TO A RAPI/ SAY+ ?AT HIS VICTIMS HURT HIM AS MU* AS HE HURT !M40 ,YET1 9CR$IBLY1 ! REFUSAL BY ,AM]ICANS TO FACE ! TRU? ( ,AM]ICAN CULPABILITY HAS BR\<T AB\T EXACTLY SU* A REV]SAL 9 MANY PEOPLE'S M9DS4 

,! ATROCITIES & 9JU/ICES :I* FOLL[$ 9 ! WAKE ( ! ,U4,S4 W>-:I* C\LD ONLY BE SE5 AS ! TRAGIC CONSEQU5CES ( ,AM]ICAN DEVA/ATION1 AS FUR!R PRO( ?AT A HOLOCAU/ DOES NOT CREATE CONDITIONS = RECONCILIATION & FRE$OM BUT ONLY = MORE HOLOCAU/ & TYRANNY-!SE CRIMES >E N[ EMPLOY$ BY PROPAG&I/S AS A JU/IFICATION = ! ORIG9AL VIOL5CE ?AT PREP>$ ! GR\ND = !M4 ,! QUE/ION NEV] SEEMS TO BE RAIS$ ?AT EV5 IF ! ,9DO*9ESE W]E DE/9$ TO MUTUAL W>S & DICTATOR%IP-A FREQU5T OCCURR5CE 9 ! TR\BL$ ,?IRD ,WORLD-H[ C\LD ?AT JU/IFY ! ,AM]ICAN 9T]V5TION1 ! MILLIONS DEAD & W\ND$1 ! RU9ATION ( TRADITIONAL =MS ( LIFE :I* MAY HAVE HELP$ TO PREV5T SU* BRUTALITY8 

,9 FACT1 IT IS ONE ( ! W>'S TRAGIC IRONIES ?AT ! =C$ MOD]NIZATION SO FONDLY T\T$ AS A SOLUTION BY ,U4,S4 ANALY/S LIKE ! ,H>V>D ,GOV]NM5T PR(ESSOR WILL N[ BE C>RI$ \T BY ! ,/AL9I/S RA!R ?AN ! FASCI/ PUPPETS ( ! ,AM]ICANS1 & ONLY BECAUSE ! ,U4,S4 PULV]IZ$ ?AT SOCIETY SO ?OR\<LY ?AT ! ONLY =CE LEFT :I* WAS CAPABLE ( CREAT+ A NEW SOCIETY ( ANY K9D WAS ! COMMUNI/S4 ,IT IS H>D TO SAY :AT W\LD HAVE HAPP5$ IF ! ,9DIAN FI<T]S HAD NOT M>*$ 9TO ?AT VALLEY1 BUT ONCE !Y DID !IR DIRTY WORK1 ! CONSEQU5CES C\LD ONLY BE A =EGONE CONCLUSION4 ,& ! CONSI/5T PRESSURE :I* ,AM]ICA N[ PUTS ON ! ,9DO*9ESE CONTRIBUTES TO EV]Y ACT ( OPPRESSION & BRUTALITY :I* OCCURS !RE TO ?IS DAY4 

,N[ ?AT ! 0LESSON0 ?AT MORE ,AM]ICAN T]ROR & DEA? WAS NECESS>Y 9 ,9DO*9A IS WIDELY PROCLAIM$1 !RE >E ?OSE :O W\LD WI% TO EMPLOY IT = FUR!R HOLOCAU/ 9 ,C5TRAL ,AM]ICA4 ,$W>D ,N4 ,LUTTWAK1 ONE ( ! LATE/ CLONES ( ,AM]ICAN CRACKPOT MILIT>Y REALISM1 CLAIM$ 9 ! ,H>P]'SSYMPOSIUM ?AT IF ! 0#a1 SORTIES FL[N EA* DAY 9 ,VIETNAM0 HAD HIT 0WOR?:ILE T>GETS10 !Y 0W\LD HAVE 5D$ ! W> 9 A DAY10 & N[ PRESCRIBES ,AM]ICAN 0VICTORY0 = ,EL ,SALVADOR1 ,US+ ! SAME T]MS & JU/IFICATIONS APPLI$ BY C\NT]9SURG5CY ANALY/S 9 ! #a#i#fS 9 ,VIETNAM3 0,I BELIEVE ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES %\LD HELP ! ,SALVADORAN GOV]NM5T1 :I* IS A DEMOCRATIZ+ REGIME1 W9 ! W>444 ,! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES CAN P]MIT ! ,SALVADORANS TO PREVAIL BY US+ !IR TRADITIONAL ME?ODS-:I* SIMPLY 5TAIL KILL+ AS MANY PEOPLE AS !Y CAN UNTIL !RE >E NO GU]RILLAS LEFT40 

,& SO ! GRAVEY>DS >E 9 FL[] ?IS SPR+ T5 YE>S LAT]1 ?IS SPR+ :I* IS WITNESS & PRELUDE TO MORE BUT*]Y A LA ,$W>D ,LUTTWAK4 ,! SLAU<T] IS GO+ ON AT ?IS V]Y MOM5T1 9 ! HI<L&S ( ,GUATEMALA1 9 ! RAV9ES ( ,EL ,SALVADOR1 ALONG ! ,HONDURAS-,NIC>AGUA BORD]4 ,WE >E N[ TOLD BY ,RI*>D ,NIXON 79 A BOOK :I* CAN ONLY BR+ TO M9D ! IMAGE ( ,HITL]1 SAY 9 #a#i#e#e1 WRIT+ A RETROSPECTIVE ON ,WORLD ,W> ,I,I7 ?AT ! IDEA ( 0NO MORE ,VIETNAMS0 MEANS NOT ?AT ,AM]ICA %\LDN'T 9T]V5E1 BUT ?AT IT %\LDN'T FAIL4 ,?AT IS ALWAYS ! PLAN4 ,N[ ! ,MAYAN ,9DIANS >E BE+ R\ND$ UP 9TO /RATEGIC HAMLETS1 TORTUR$ & MASSACR$1 !IR CULTURES WRECK$ & :OLE LANGUAGE GR\PS DECIMAT$4 ,! POOR F>M]S ( ?AT E>? GODDESS' NECKLACE ( VOLCANIC JEWELS :I* IS ,C5TRAL ,AM]ICA >E BE+ EXT]M9AT$1 ! 0%EEP SEP>AT$ FROM ! GOATS40 ,EV5 NAPALM IS BE+ US$ AGA9/ !M 9 A /UNN+ REPETITION ( HI/ORY :I* CAN ONLY ELICIT A SCREAM ( ANGUI% DIRECTLY FROM ! HE>T4 ,( C\RSE !SE UN=TUNATE PEOPLE >E ONLY 0,COMMIES10 0SUBV]SIVES10 0GU]RILLAS0- T>GETS4 ,!Y >E MORE JUNGLE TO BE PAV$ & TURN$ 9TO AN ,AM]ICAN P>K+ LOT4 

,V,I,I,I4 ,A,M,],I,C,A',S ,N,E,X,T ,V,I,E,T,N,A,M 

  

,LIKE MILLIONS ( O!RS1 ,I DID :AT ,I C\LD TO /OP ?AT W>4 ,I DEMON/RAT$1 LEAFLET$1 SAT 91 BURN$ MY DRAFT C>D1 WALK$ \T ( S*OOL1 SPOKE ON /REET CORN]S4 ,9 #aifg ,I WAS FIFTE5 YE>S OLD4 ,I W\LD HAVE 5LI/$ 9 ! ,N,L,F TO FI<T AGA9/ ! ,AM]ICAN 9VASION HAD ,I HAD ! OPPORTUNITY4 

,BECAUSE ,I WAS Y\NG & ,AM]ICA WAS FI<T+ A W> SO TRANSP>5TLY EVIL1 ,I T5D$ TO GLORIFY ! RESI/ANCE1 ! ,N,L,F & ! ,NOR? ,VIETNAMESE4 ,! H]OISM & ! DIGNITY ( ! ,VIETNAMESE PEOPLE BL9D$ ME TO ! AU?ORIT>IAN *>ACT] ( ! ,/AL9I/ POLITICIANS :O W]E C>RI$ TO P[]4 ,EXP]I5CE & A DEEP5+ UND]/&+ ( ! WORLD MADE IT CLE> ?AT SU* ILLUSIONS >E DANG]\S4 ,NEV]!LESS1 ,I DON'T REGRET WAV+ A 0,V,C0 FLAG1 ! FLAG ( ! EMPIRE'S 5EMY1 AT ! GATES ( A FACTORY 9 ,W>R51 ,MI*IGAN1 :]E TANKS W]E PRODUC$4 

,OBVI\SLY1 EV]YONE ALWAYS WI%ES !Y C\LD HAVE KN[N !N :AT !Y KN[ N[1 & ,I DON'T CONFUSE MY OPPOSITION TO ,U4,S4 9T]V5TION 9 ,C5TRAL ,AM]ICA ) ANY ILLUSIONS AB\T ! POLITICIANS :O RUN ,NIC>AGUA OR ! POLITICAL P>TIES 9VOLV$ 9 ! RESI/ANCE 9 ,GUATEMALA & ,EL ,SALVADOR4 ,BUT ! LACK ( JUDGM5T SOME ( US %[$ 9 GLORIFY+ ! ,VIETNAMESE RESI/ANCE CANNOT BE BLAM$ = ! MIS]Y VISIT$ UPON ?OSE TORTUR$ L&S4 ,! BLAME MU/ BE LAID :]E IT BELONGS IF WE >E TO BREAK ! CYCLE ( DE/RUCTION3 ON ! TE*NOCRATIC FASCI/ W> CONCEIV$ & CONDUCT$ BY ! ,U4,S4 IMP]IALI/ W> MA*9E1 & ! DAILY ACTS ( COMPLICITY BY ,AM]ICANS ) ?AT W> MA*9E4 

,N[ ! SAME EV5TS >E UNFOLD+ 9 ,C5TRAL ,AM]ICA 7OR ACTUALLY HAVE BE5 UNFOLD+ = YE>S1 ?\< WE >E ONLY N[ BECOM+ 9CREAS+LY AW>E ( !M74 ,! ,U4,S4 PLAYS ! SAME DIRTY TRICKS1 FOM5TS ITS ,BIG ,LIE1 BUT*]S POOR F>M]S & IGNITES VILLAGES 9 ! NAME ( FRE$OM1 PROGRESS1 SALVATION4 ,ITS 9F]NAL TE*NOLOGY IS N[ BE+ BR\<T TO BE> ON /ILL MORE VICTIMS4 

,:5 ,I LOOK UP AT ! MAP ( ,9DO*9A ON MY WALL1 ,I CANNOT HELP BUT WOND]3 :AT MORE C\LD WE HAVE DONE TO /OP ! SUFF]+1 TO OB/RUCT ?AT SMOK+1 CLANK+ JUGG]NAUT CUTT+ ITS BLOODY SWA? ?R\< A F>AWAY L&8 ,TO ALL ! APOLOGI/S = G5OCIDE1 PAID & UNPAID1 :O REPEAT ! IMP]IAL LIE ?AT ! ANTIW> MOVEM5T1 :I* EV5TUALLY BECAME ! GREAT MAJORITY ( ,AM]ICANS1 9SIDE & \TSIDE ! MILIT>Y1 0BETRAY$0 ! W> EF=T1 ,I CAN ONLY REPLY3 ,WE DIDN'T DO 5\< TO UND]M9E & BETRAY Y\R W>4 ,IF !RE IS ANY LESSON TO BE LE>N$ FROM ?AT W> :I* CAN AID US 9 UND]/&+ ! SITUATION WE F9D \RSELVES 9 TODAY1 IT IS ?AT LESSON-?AT N[ ?AT ! SOIL IS BE+ BLOOD/A9$ BY NEW1 HELLI% W>S1 N[ ?AT ! 5G9ES ( HOLOCAU/ >E AGA9 FILL+ ! AIR ) !IR T]RIFY+ DRONE1 WE MU/ F9D A WAY TO RALLY \R SPIRITS ONCE MORE1 TO BLOCKADE ! BEA/1 TO /OP ITS MURD]\S C>E]4 ,YE/]DAY IS TODAY & TODAY IS TOMORR[4 ,! ,VIETNAM W>S >E AN ,AM]ICAN CREATION4 ,IT IS H]E-& IT IS WE :O MU/ ACT-:]E !Y WILL BE /OPP$ ONCE & = ALL4 

,BIBLIOGRAPHIC ,NOTE 

  

,SOME ( ! BOOKS QUOT$ OR CONSULT$ 9 ?IS ESSAY >E3 

,RI*>D ,DR9NON1 ,FAC+ ,WE/3 ,! ,METAPHYSICS ( ,9DIAN-,HAT+ & ,EMPIRE-,BUILD+ 7#a#i#h72 

,FRANCES ,FITZG]ALD1 ,! ,FIRE 9 ! ,LAKE7#a#i#g#b72 

,W> ,CRIMES & ! ,AM]ICAN ,CONSCI5CE7TE/IMONY FROM ! ,CONGRESSIONAL ,CONF]5CE ON ,W> & ,NATIONAL ,RESPONSIBILITY1 #a#i#g71 $IT$ BY ,]W9 ,KNOLL & ,JUDI? ,N4 ,MC,FADD52 

,JOHN ,LEWELL51 ,ECOLOGY & ,DEVA/ATION3 ,9DO*9A 7#a#i#g#a72 

,FELIX ,GRE5E1 ,VIETNAM6 ,VIETNAM6 7#a#i#f#f72 

,VIETNAM ,VET]ANS ,AGA9/ ! ,W>1 ,! ,W9T] ,SOLDI] ,9VE/IGATION3 ,AN ,9QUIRY 9TO ,AM]ICAN ,W> ,CRIMES 7#a#i#g#b72 

,NOAM ,*OMSKY1 ,AM]ICAN ,P[] & ! ,NEW ,M&>9S 7#a#i#f#g7 & 0,AFT] ,P9KVILLE10 9 ,PREV5T ! ,CRIME ( ,SIL5CE3 ,REPORTS FROM ! ,SESSIONS ( ! ,9T]NATIONAL ,W> ,CRIMES ,TRIBUNAL1 F\ND$ BY ,B]TR& ,RUSSELL 7#a#i#g#a72 

,H>RISON ,E4 ,SALISBURY ET AL1 ,VIETNAM ,RECONSID]$3 ,LESSONS FROM A ,W> 7#a#i#h#d72 

,WILLIAM ,APPLEMAN ,WILLIAMS ET AL1 ,AM]ICA 9 ,VIETNAM3 ,A ,DOCUM5T>Y ,HI/ORY 7#a#i#h#e74 

,SIDEB> & CAPTION 

  

,\R W> H]OES3 ,! TRUE W> H]OES ( ! ,VIETNAMESE ,W> W]E NOT ! M5 :O BL9DLY OBEY$ :5 SUMMON$ BY ! /ATE TO FI<T ITS W>1 BUT ?OSE PEOPLE1 ,9DO*9ESE & ,AM]ICAN1 9SIDE & \TSIDE ! MILIT>Y1 :O RESI/$ ! W> MA*9E4 ,UPP] RI<T3 ,DETROIT DRAFT RESI/]4 ,BOTTOM1 LEFT3 A DEMON/RATION AT ,WAYNE ,/ATE ,UNIV]SITY 9 ,DETROIT %ORTLY AFT] ! 9VASION ( ,CAMBODIA & ! MURD]S ( /UD5T PROTE/]S AT ,K5T & ,JACKSON ,/ATE ,UNIV]SITIES1 SPR+ #a#i#g4 ,RI<T3 ,VIETNAM ,VET]ANS ,AGA9/ ! ,W> DEMON/RATE 9 ,MIAMI AT ! ,REPUBLICAN & ,DEMOCRATIC ,NATIONAL ,CONV5TIONS 9 #a#i#g#b4 

,=M] ,GRE5 ,B]ET ,SGT4 ,DONALD ,DUNCAN'S CLOS+ /ATEM5T TO ! ,W9T] ,SOLDI] ,9VE/IGATION 9 ,DETROIT 9 #aiga /ILL HOLDS TRUE4 ,HE TOLD ! VETS GA!R$ !RE3 0 444 ,WE HAVE TO /OP PRODUC+ VET]ANS4 ,& = MANY ( Y\ :O HAVE SPOK5 \T = ! FIR/ TIME & BECOME 9VOLV$ 9 SOME ?+ = ! FIR/ TIME-/AY ) IT444,& SOME DAY Y\ WILL BE EX-VET]ANS1 & WE'LL JU/ BE PEOPLE AGA940 

,PHOTO CAPTION 

  

,! 0O!R SIDE0 ( ! ,AM]ICAN FRONTI]3 ,NGUY5 ,VAN ,TROI1 A Y\NG ELECTRICAL WORK] JU/ BE=E BE+ EXECUT$ BY ! ,S\? ,VIETNAMESE AU?ORITIES = AN ATTEMPT TO KILL ,U4,S4 ,SECRET>Y ( ,DEF5SE ,ROB]T ,MC,NAM>A 9 #a#i#f#d4 ,SPEAK+ TO A J\RNALI/1 HE SAID3 0,IT ,IS ! ,AM]ICANS :O HAVE COMMITT$ AGGRESSION ON \R C\NTRY1 IT IS !Y :O HAVE BE5 KILL+ \R PEOPLE ) PLANES & BOMBS444,I HAVE NEV] ACT$ AGA9/ ! WILL ( MY PEOPLE4 ,IT ,IS AGA9/ ! ,AM]ICANS ?AT ,I HAVE TAK5 ACTION40 

,PHOTO CAPTION 

  

,AM]ICA CONFRONTS ! WILD]NESS3 0,! W> 9 ,VIETNAM HAS A DREAM-LIKE QUALITY-NOT SIMPLY BECAUSE IT IS HAPP5+ ON TELEVISION1 BUT BECAUSE LIKE ! DREAM] WE FACE A REALITY ?AT IS ( \R [N CREATION444,:5 WE GO 9TO A VILLAGE1 = EXAMPLE1 WE CLASSIFY ALL ( ! PEOPLE 9TO DIFF]5T CATEGORIES4 ,BUT !SE CATEGORIES DO NOT DEP5D ON SOME?+ WE P]CEIVE AB\T !M1 !Y DEP5D ON :AT WE DO TO !M4 ,IF WE KILL !M1 !Y >E ,VIET ,CONG4 ,IF WE CAPTURE !M & TIE !M UP1 !Y >E ,VIETCONG SUSPECTS4 ,IF WE GRAB !M & MOVE !M TO A CAMP1 !Y >E HO/ILE CIVILIANS4 ,HAV+ DONE ?IS TO MANY PEOPLE :O W]E 9 FACT 9NOC5T1 ! DEF9ITIONS WE HAVE IMPOS$ BECOME REAL4 ,! M5 :O HAVE BE5 TI$ UP OR TORTUR$ ACTUALLY BECOME ! 5EMIES & %OOT REAL BULLETS AT US1 BUT WE >E /ILL FAC+ ! %AD[ ( \R [N ACTIONS40 -- ,JONA?AN ,S*ELL1 #a#i#g4 

,PHOTO CAPTION 

  

,TREATM5T ( A PRISON] 7ABOVE LEFT73 0,9 MORE ?AN ONE CASE1 A ,VIET ,CONG SUSPECT HAS BE5 T[$ AFT] 9T]ROGATION BEH9D AN >MOR$ P]SONNEL C>RI]444,?IS ALWAYS RESULTS 9 DEA? 9 ONE ( ITS MO/ PA9FUL =MS40  

 -- ,A,P REPORT] ,MALCOLM ,BR[N1 9 ,! ,NEW ,FACE ( ,W>1 #aife 

,PHOTO CAPTION 

  

0,V,C SUSPECTS0 7TOP @& BOTTOM RI<T73 ,! MAN AT ! BOTTOM RI<T WAS %OT AFT] 9T]ROGATION4 

,SIDEB> 

  
,KILL EV]Y MAN1 WOMAN1 *ILD1 DOG & CAT 9 ! VILLAGE4 

  

,U4,S4 SOLDI] CONFRONTS ! 5EMY3 ,P]HAPS ! MO/ WIDESPREAD COMPLA9T AMONG ,U4,S4 S]VICEM5 :O S]V$ 9 ,VIETNAM WAS ! UNTRU/WOR?9ESS ( ! LOCAL POPULATION4 ,A VET]AN WRIT+ 9 A ,TIME T5-YE> RETROSPECTIVE ON ! W> REPEAT$ ?IS COMMONPLACE 9 ! OP5+ L9ES ( HIS ESSAY3 0,!Y MADD5$ ! ,AM]ICANS ) ! MY/]Y ( :O !Y W]E-! UNSE5 MAN :O %OT FROM ! TREE L9E1 OR LAID A WIRE ACROSS ! TRAIL1 ) A CLAYMORE M9E AT ! O!R 5D1 ! MAMA-SAN :O DID ! WA%1 ! *ILD CONCEAL+ A GR5ADE40 ,?\< ?IS IDEA CAME TO BE EMPLOY$ AS A RATIONALIZATION = 9DISCRIM9ATE SLAU<T] ( CIVILIANS1 IT MU/ HAVE CONTA9$ TRU?4 ,:AT FEW ASK$1 H[EV]1 WAS :Y ! 0MAMA-SAN0 MI<T CONCEAL ANY HO/ILITY1 LET ALONE WEAPONS4 ,ANO!R VET]AN1 TE/IFY+ 9 ,DETROIT 9 #aiga AT ! ,W9T] ,SOLDI] ,9VE/IGATION ON ,U4,S4 W> CRIMES1 %$S LI<T ON ! QUE/ION3 0,9 ,NOVEMB] '#f#h10 REPORT$ ,LT4 ,M>K ,L5IX1 9 AN >EA NOR? ( ,SAIGON1 0:ILE ON A R\T9E SE>* & DE/ROY MISSION1 GUN %IPS :I* W]E PROVID+ SECURITY & COV] = US 9 CASE WE HAD ANY CONTACT1 W]E CIRCL+ OV]HEAD4 ,WELL1 NO CONTACT WAS MADE1 & ! GUN %IPS GOT BOR$4 ,SO !Y MADE A GUN RUN ON A HOO* ) M9I-GUNS & ROCKETS4 ,:5 !Y LEFT ! >EA WE F\ND ONE DEAD BABY1 :I* WAS A Y\NG *ILD1 V]Y Y\NG1 9 ITS MO!R'S >MS1 & WE F\ND A BABY GIRL1 ALSO DEAD4 ,BECAUSE !SE PEOPLE W]E BOR$2 !Y W]E JU/ SICK ( FLY+ >\ND DO+ NO?+ 4440 ,ANO!R SOLDI] TE/IFI$ ?AT HIS BRIGADE HAD RECEIV$ A BATTALION ORD] 9 #aifi ?AT1 0,IF :ILE SWEEP+ ON L9E & PASS+ BY FRI5DLY VILLAGES1 :I* WE DID1 Y\ RECEIV$ ONE R\ND ( ANY SORT FROM A FRI5DLY VILLAGE1 ! 5TIRE BATTALION WAS TO TURN ON L9E & LEVEL ?AT VILLAGE4 ,! EXACT WORD+ WAS TO KILL EV]Y MAN1 WOMAN1 *ILD1 DOG & CAT 9 ! VILLAGE4 ,?IS WAS ONE R\ND FROM ANY KN[N FRI5DLY VILLAGE40 ,/ILL ANO!R REPORT$ A BODY C\NT ( ?IRTE5 TURN+ \T TO BE 0N9E WOM51 ?REE *ILDR51 & ONE BABY40 0,!SE ?+S W]E ALL COMMON10 HE SAID4 0,!Y W]5'T ISOLAT$4 ,WE DID !M :]EV] WE W5T40 

,SIDEB> & CAPTION 

  
,! ,F9AL ,SOLUTION 

  

,ABOVE3 ,VIETNAM =E/ BE=E & AFT] A]IAL DEFOLIATION ) ,AG5T ,ORANGE & O!R *EMICALS4 ,! ,U4,S4 W> AGA9/ ! L&-US+ BOMBS & >TILL]Y1 BIOCIDAL *EMICAL DEFOLIANTS1 GIANT BULLDOZ]S & =C$ POPULATION REMOVAL-WAS SO DEVA/AT+ ?AT SCI5TI/S CO9$ ! WORD 0ECOCIDE0 TO DESCRIBE ! 5ORM\S SCOPE ( ! DE/RUCTION4 ,A /UDY DONE BY ! ,VIETNAMESE GOV]NM5T & ,! ,SWITZ]L&-BAS$ ,9T]NATIONAL ,UNION = ,CONS]VATION ( ,NATURE & ,NATURAL ,RES\RCES %[$ AN AGRICULTURAL NATION DEVA/AT$ BY 0DELIB]ATE DE/RUCTION ( ! 5VIRONM5T AS A MILIT>Y TACTIC ON A SCALE NEV] BE=E SE5 9 ! HI/ORY ( W>F>E40 ,BY ! MID-#a#i#hS1 AS A RESULT ( ! W> ONE ?IRD ( ! C\NTRY WAS CONSID]$ WA/EL&4 ,9 ?IRTY YE>S ( W>F>E SOME =TY MILLION ACRES ( =E/ W]E LO/4 ,SOME N9ETE5 MILLION GALLONS ( H]BICIDES W]E DUMP$ ON ! CROPL&S & =E/S ACCORD+ TO ,U4,S4 FIGURES4 

0,COLOSSAL DAMAGE FROM #be MILLION BOMB CRAT]S1 :I* CAUS$ DISPLACEM5T ( A BILLION CUBIC MET]S ( E>?10 SAYS ! REPORT1 N[ RESULTS 9 HEAL? HAZ>DS & DISRUPTS WAT] FL[4 ,DIKES & O!R AGRICULTURAL SY/EMS1 =E/S1 F>ML&S & WILDLIFE W]E DE/ROY$1 & VILLAGES & CEMET]IES RAZ$ BY GIANT BULLDOZ]S4 ,WILDLIFE & DOME/IC ANIMALS SU* AS OX5 & ELEPHANTS W]E SY/EMATICALLY DE/ROY$ TO PREV5T !IR USE AS TRANSPORTATION4 ,! LONG-T]M EFFECTS >E MO/ S]I\S3 SOME =E/S HAD /ILL NOT RECOV]$ BY ! MID-#a#i#hS1 & FI%]IES REMA9$ GREATLY R$UC$ 9 V>IETY & PRODUCTIVITY4 0,CROPL& PRODUCTIVITY IS /ILL BEL[ =M] LEVELS10 SCI5TI/S REPORT$1 0& !RE IS A GREAT 9CREASE 9 TOX9-RELAT$ DISEASES & CANC]40 

,! ,AM]ICAN 0F9AL SOLUTION0 TO ! ,VIETNAMESE 0PROBLEM0 CONT9UES TODAY 9 ! PO/W> POV]TY ?AT PRESSURES ,VIETNAM TO DAMAGE ITS RES\RCES1 ! ]OSION ( ! C\NTRY'S SOILS1 ! DAILY DEA?S & 9JURIES TO PEOPLE FROM LIVE ORDNANCE & M9ES LEFT BEH9D1 & ! MUTATION ( CELLS & G5ES 9 ! LIV+ & ! UNBORN4 

7,S\RCE3 ,RETRIEV$ ON ,OCTOB] #af #bba FROM HTTPS3_/_/WWW4FIF!/ATE4ORG_/>*IVE_/#c#d#f-SUMM]-#a#i#i#e_/LOOK+-BACK-VIETNAM-W>_/47 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #a#g1 #bbb 3 ,LOOK+ ,BACK ON ! ,VIETNAM ,W> -- ,ADD$4 

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HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/