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Picture of the day -
May 29, 2006
The Vietnam War Memorial - Abingdon, Virginia
The United States of America struggled through some of her darkest days during
the Vietnam War. Not since the Civil War had so many Americans been so
bitterly opposed to the opinions, ideas and goals of so many of their fellow
citizens. Every decision was controversial and every action was criticized by
somebody. Vietnam placed a stain on the fabric of our nation that will likely
never be erased.
As in any war, many mistakes and poor decisions were made in Vietnam, but far
more were made right here in our homeland. Most of the major strategic and
tactical planning was conducted by politicians back in Washington instead of the
commanders on the battlefield, and that planning was influenced more by
political correctness than a desire to win the war in the most efficient way
with as little loss of human life as possible. For the first time in our
nation's history of waging war, a decisive military victory and the complete
vanquishment of the enemy weren't foremost in the minds of those in charge.
Adding fuel to the fire were the nightly dinner-time news reports showing
gruesome battle footage filmed earlier in the day. The horrors of war were being
brought right into virtually every living room in America just as most people
were sitting down to eat dinner, and the reporters appeared to go out of their
way to make our American soldiers look as inept and cruel as possible. Stories
of atrocities - which unfortunately take place in every war - took center
stage during Vietnam, while stories of compassion and heroism were tucked away
out of sight because they didn't help further the liberal agenda.
Yes, the Vietnam era was a very dark time for the nation's soul, but the fault
didn't lie with our brave men and women in uniform who were tasked with fighting
battle after battle with their hands tied behind their backs while many of their
countrymen back home called them baby killers and spat on the ones who were
lucky enough to return home alive. Our brave American soldiers, sailors, airmen
and marines, most of whom were drafted to fight an extremely unpopular war, did
their very best in a cause that was doomed to failure by the actions of a
handful of power-hungry civilians back in Washington, DC.
The first rule of waging war should always be to fight to win - as quickly and
decisively as possible - and at the lowest cost in financial capital and human
life. That rule was broken during Vietnam and our nation paid a heavy price
because of it. And unfortunately, those fighting in the jungles and rice paddies
of southeast Asia paid far more than their fair share.
On this beautiful Memorial Day in 2006, I salute the men and women who fought,
bled and died in Vietnam over a quarter of a century ago. More than 58,000 of
them came home in body bags, and countless others live with physical and mental
scars that will never go away. They and their families deserve our sincere
gratitude, respect, support, and in many cases an apology.
To everyone who served in southeast Asia
and their families,
Thank You!
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