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John Kerry Vietnam Veteran's Hearing to Congress

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down to John Kerry's testimony from 1971 before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Comerica Theatre Iraq set alarm for 6 a.m. short notice restaurant Atlanta Georgia 133 Connecticut already committed to continuing this morning its hearings on proposals relating to the ending Warren southeast Asia this morning the committee with her testimony from Mitchell John Kerry and his he has an associate's would be glad to hear from there Slender Man Who a fraud in this unfortunate Warren Vietnam's and I believe they deserve to be here to listen to by the Congress and by the sea executive branch  Handbag Republic generally you have a perspective that those in the government who make our nation if you do not always have and I'm sure that your testimony today will be helpful to the committee in its consideration of the proposals the florist Gerard Century all on my own account that I regret very much the action of the Supreme Court and denying these actions the right to use the mall Rock I regret that it seems to me to be but another instance of an insensitivities  I like government to the tragic tractor this war Upon Our People  Aiea I want also does exaggerate get the care you and your Associates upon the reciting of you if you found safely in the hearing the other day when they were a great many of your people and I think you can ducted yourself in the most commendable manner throughout this week which I'm sure never people gather is always a friend and seafloor some of the more emotional ones to do things which are even against their own in boxing  you had deserve much of the creditors I understand you were one of these one of the leaders of this group and I I have joined with some of my colleagues pacifically Senator hard in an effort to try to correct see change the attitude of our government scored your efforts it's expressing bringing through this committee I need to Country your views about the war and I personally don't know of any group have both a very justification for doing it and also a better wax review Decorah War witches you know that is grown up in this town I'm feeling that it's extremely difficult to get accurate information afterward I don't know if that is source of you and your Associates so we're very pleased to have you and your Associates necessary and at the beginning if you would give to the what are your full name and a little of your shorts sleep for your back wrapping for latitude for so that the record will show that Siri would like to say for the record that and also for the men behind me who are also wearing the uniform and their metals that's all  my sitting up here is really symbolic I'm not here as John Kerry on here as one member the group of 1,000 which is a small representation of very much larger group of veterans in this country and where it possible for all the set the table they would be here and have the same kind of testimony I would simply like to speak  in very general terms I apologize if my table is Gonna Roll because I received notification yesterday you would hear me and I'm afraid because of the injunction of pasta tonight and I have another great day of sons to prepare I would like to talk  representing all those that are anything say that several months ago in Detroit we had an investigation which over 150 honorably discharged many very highly decorated veterans testified war crimes committed in Southeast Asia not isolated incidents the crime committed on a day-to-day basis with a full awareness of officers at all levels of command  it's impossible to describe to you exactly what did Detroit the emotions in the room the feelings of the man you are reliving their experiences in Vietnam  but they do they relive the absolute horror this country innocence May been due  are they told the stories and times today and personally raped how to use cut off heads tape wires from portable telephones to human genitals and turned up the power  cut off limbs bodies randomly shot at civilians raised villages in the fashion reminiscent of generous cons dogs for fun poison food stocks and generally ravaged country song normal ravage of War and the normal various ticket or ravaging which is done by the applied bombing power of this country we called this investigation the Winter Soldier investigation  what time Winter Soldiers and play on words and Thomas Paine's in 1776 when he spoke of turn Sunshine Patriot in summertime soldiers who deserted at Valley Forge because the going was rough and we who come here to Washington to come here because we feel we have to be winter soldiers now we could come back to this country and we could be quiet we could hold us silence we could not tell what went on in Vietnam the windshield because of what threatens was countries besides that the crimes that they're not Reds not Redcoats but the crimes which were committing away are we have to speak out I would like to talk to you a little bit about what the result is of of the feelings charm Thai withum after coming back from Vietnam the country doesn't know it yet but it's created a monster a monster in the Forum man will Detroit Zoo and the trade and violence and do I give him a chance to die for the biggest nothing in history return to the sense of anger and a sense of betrayal with no one has yet dressed  as a veteran in Winfield this anger I'd like to talk about it angry because we feel we have been used in the worst fashion by the administration of this country  1970 West Vice President Agnew said some glamorize the criminal Misfit to society while I best men died in Asian rice paddies to preserve the freedoms with those mist and this was used as a rallying point for reference  but for all his boys in Asia from the country was go to support this statement is a terrible Distortion from which we can only draw are there a deep sense of revulsion and hence the angles on the turn here in Washington today it's a distortion because we in no way considered ourselves the best man of this country because those what standing up for us in a way that nobody else in this country dead Zoo  because so many who has died would have returned to the Trader Joe in the list from their efforts to ask for an immediate withdrawal from South Vietnam because so many of those and they live forgotten and Veterans Administration hospitals in this country's which fly the flag would so many have chosen as their own per symbol  and we cannot consider ourselves America's best man when we were ashamed of and hate it what we were told on to do in Southeast Asia in our opinion and from our experience there is nothing in South Vietnam nothing which could happen that realistically Japanese the United States of America and to attempt to justify the loss of one American lines in Cambodia allow by linking such loss the preservation of Freedom which those Misfits supposedly the views is the height of criminals autocracy and it's not kind hypocrisy Winfield Estonia Country of Hearts we are probably much more Angry than that and I don't want to go into the farm healthy aspects because I'm out plast year I know that all of you that talk about every possible  every parole tournament it getting out of here, we understand that we know that you consider the seriousness of the aspects to the utmost level and I'm not going to try and deal on that relate to you the feeling which many of the men of return to this country Express  because we are probably angriest about all who told about Vietnam in about the mystical war against communism we found Not only was it a civil war what's the web for uterus and seeking their Liberation from any Colonial influence whatsoever but also we found these yet Nummies when we have enthusiastically molded our own image to take up the fight against the threat we were supposed to been saving them from we found that most people didn't even know the difference between alarm in democracies with napalm they wanted everything to do with the war particularly with this far on the presidents of the United States of America so leave them alone pink and they practice the art of Survival by siding with whichever military force with Presence at a particular time the ingest turn off Captain America  we found also that all too often American men with dying in those rice paddies for one of support from there we saw firsthand how monies from American taxes was used for a corrupt dictatorial regime we throw that show me people in this country had a one-sided idea of who was kept free why are flags as blacks provided the highest percentage of counsel fees Vietnam rabbits equally by American bombs as well as Vine Search and Destroy missions as well as far as yet song terrorism's I got me listen to all this country trying to blame all of the hobbits on the Nets, we rationalize destroying villages in order to say whistle America lose your sense of morality is he accepted very cool Liam Eli's and refuse to give up the image of American soldiers that hand out chocolate bar chewing gum the meaning of free-fire zones shoot anything that moves and we watch while America place the cheapness from alive we watch the United States falsification of body counts in fact the glorification of body counts we listen to a month the month we were told the back of the enemy was about to break we fought using weapons against for human beings with quotation marks around report using weapons against those people which I do not believe this country would dream of using we fighting in the European theater blue medicine WordWorld people theater turn or two platoons in microwave the hill for the reoccupation of the north Gatton Emmy's because because we want fries allow the most important to be blowing into Extravaganza because we couldn't move and we couldn't retrieve how many American bodies were lost to prove that point and so they were Hamburger Hill caissons Hill 881 Firebase sixes I'm so many young and now we're told that the man who fought there must watch play for American lines the law so that we can exercise credible arrogance of Japanese making a very significant statement let him receive facilitate the process by which the United face washes her hands of Vietnam someone has to give up his life so that the United States doesn't have to admit something that the entire world no we can't say that we made a mistake  someone has to die so the President Nixon won't leave and these are his words the first president to lose a war  and we are asking Americans to think about that but that's how do you turn on to be the last man to die in Vietnam how do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake  we're trying to do that do we doing it with thousands of rationalizations and if you read carefully the president's last speech to the people of this country you can see that he says princess but the issue is communism and the question is whether or not we were, so whether or not try to give it a hope to be a free people but the point is in our free people now under us there not a free people and we can fight communism all over the world and I think we should have learned that Lesson by now but the problem is personal problem because you think about a poster in this country for the picture of Uncle Sam I want you golden shares that's fine I'm going to serve my country and goes to his job don't get back to this country before introducing  what does the largest unemployment figure in the country it varies depending on who you got it from the Veterans Administration 15% various other sources 22% of the largest are veterans of this war and of those veterans 33% of the way to Black  that means one out of every ten of the Nations reporter Vietnam  the hospitals across the country won't or can't meet their demands it's not a question of not trying haven't got the appropriation a man recently died after we had a tracheotomy in California not because of the operation but because the weather Chanel to clean the mucus out of his to Benicia came in today  another young man just died in the New York VA hospital the other day friend of I was lying in a bed to dreads away and tried to help him but he couldn't they rang a bell and it was no one there to service that night so he died 57% I understand 57% hospitals 27% of tries to come back to this country and I have to pay what they did in juettner on and then they come back and find the indifference what country did doesn't really care it doesn't really care the suddenly were faced with a very sickening situation Drake because there's no more and if there is it comes from people who are almost exhausted by the past and ignorance I know the name of the city in front of me  the country seems to a lion laying down accepted something as serious as how many trudged off the loss of 700,000 lives in Pakistan the so-called greatest disaster of all times you say it we think we are in the midst of the greatest times now because they are still dying over there and not just Americans and Country so that those people can go on killing each other Americans seem to have accepted the idea that the war is winding down at least for Americans also allow the bodies which were once used by President the statistics to prove that we were winning this war do we use to dance the man who followed orders and interpreted those orders no differently than hundreds of other man in South Vietnam  sweet Aromas can only look for the maze turn on the fact that this country is not been able to see that there's absolutely no difference between a ground troop and a helicopter crew and yet people of the differentiation fed them by the administration so it's all right to kill Oceans by remote control the helicopter Crews feel the same body bags and they read the same kind of damage on the Vietnamese and lotion Countryside is anyone else and the president is sing about allowing back to go on for many years to come the one can only ask if we will really be satisfied when the troops March in Zano lawyer we are asking here in Washington some action action from the Congress of the United States of America which has the power to raise maintain armies sandwich by the Constitution also has the power to declare war we've come here because we believe this body can be responsive to the will of the people that we believe the will of the people says that we should be out of here now the Henry Washington also to save at the problem of this war  is not just a question of war and diplomacy it's part and parcel everything that we are trying is human beings to communicate to people in this country the question of racism which is rampant in the military so many other questions also use of weapons their power taking umbrage in the in the in the are the conventions using that as justification for continuation of this war when we are more deals than any other body of violations what is inventions the bombing the torture prisoners The Killing prisoners accepted policy by many units in South Vietnam that's what we're trying to say it's part and parcel of everything American Indian friend of mine lives on the Indian nation of Alcatraz put it to me they're interesting to me he told me how is a boy play on an Indian Reservation would watch television and used to cheer the Cowboys when they came in and shopping in deers and then suddenly one day he in debt and he said my God I'm doing to these people the very same thing that was done to my people and he stopped that's what we're trying to say but we think this thing has to end we are here. where are the leaders of our country  where is the leadership  we're here. Where are McNamara bust out bonding Kilpatrick and so many others where are they now Mason off to war and returned Heiser commanders with deserted their troops and there is no more serious Prime the more of War green say they never leave even their dead man have left all the casualties and retreated behind the pine Shield of public brexit they left the real stop for their reputations  play ping behind them in the song in this country  finally this Administration star ultimate dishonor  they have attempted to disown us  and the sacrifices We Made for This country and their blindness I'm sure they're trying to deny that we have veteran so that we serve  we do not need their testimonies around stars and stamps can use a witness another memory Bryson memory survive  but all the things done and all that they can do by this denial is to make more clear what are our own determination to undertake one last mission to search out and destroy the message of this barbaric War should pacify our own Hearts the conquer the hate and fear that have driven this country these last ten years and more and more  Wynnsong 30 years from now our brothers go down the street without a leg without an arm or the face and small Boys on we will be able to save yet Nam mean desert memory Shannon stare place where America finally turned and where soldiers like an attorney Target John Kerry former Navy return it made his comments before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on April 22nd 1971 how long is opening remarks members committee question Mister carry some of those exchanges Gary it's quite evident from  that German I should make your speaking not only for yourself but for all your Associates I would say  how you crop properly said in the beginning you said that you wish to communicate I can't imagine anyone communicating more eloquently than you did guy gets extremely helpful and beneficial to the committee under the country that have you make such a statement  you said you and awake all night I can see if you spent that time very well and leave have sex with me part of it is better to do weights and otherwise I do as you know the question before this Committee in the conversation holiday in the war of the resolutions which region hearing your testimony about doing your past  several day responses are which are some members of this committee are seeking the most practical way that we can find and Georgia the earliest opportunity we can that's the purpose of these earrings and that's why you were brought here  you've been very going about the reasons as to why we should proceed as quickly as possible are you familiar with some of the proposed rules that are before Canadian yes I am so you are familiar with in I would follow you to say for yourself you do support or you have any particular use about any you wish to give me my feelings undoubtedly this Congress and I don't mean to pessimistic but I do not believe that this Congress will in fact and the wars we would like to which is immediately and your therefore if I were to speak to any I would obviously say that we must set a date and the date must be the earliest possible date but to say it is necessary to stall any longer to parents both delegations if he starts that is to say they were democratic-republicans yet Nom in the provisional revolutionary government and points it has been stated time and time again and was stated by Senator Vance hockey when he returned from Paris and is been stated by many other officials government United States where to set a date for withdrawal  prisoners of War will be I think this negates very clearly the argument of the president that we have to maintain a presence in Vietnam to use as a negotiating plot for the return of those prisoners where we to withdraw state that we would they have also said many times in conjunction with that statement that our troops we set a date safe, out of champion the only other is that we allowed people to determine their own future play most expedient means getting out of South Vietnam would be the president of the United States to declare a ceasefire to stop this blurring to a dictatorial regime that you keep Kenra Gene accept a coalition regime which would represent all the political which of the country which is a representative end pull the troops out without losing one more American and still further without losing the South and amines send it Farmington Sharon the Carrie move your microphone a little bit later which way that way  you have a silver star I do not yes I do and the other Purple Heart yes I do crosses on it to process even more than three times yes sir  I have no further questions insurance send a 3rd debate Scotland seems to feel  that fit if we set a definite date for withdrawals and find out forces got down to level  they would be endangered by the North Vietnamese and the Vietcong image would undertake to prevent withdrawal  Summit country in attack through remaining troops it remain there sir if I may answer you directly I believe that we're running that danger with the presents course it would draw all the cuz the president has neglected to state to this country exact what his response will be when we reach the point that we do have $50,000 for troops in South Carolina Department says concern I understand I believe it or not I know I do not believe that the newest animes would and that's been clearly indicated at the Paris peace talks that they would not give me word for a second I would say that they would be more prone to do that than the army of this out here to me now Yo Gotti Adam I would like to know now fifty thousand troops on the part of the South in your opinion through MP3 I don't think so for the simple reason it's a great pleasure in in in in playing with me in the sense that you can come over here and you can when are you going to Hong Kong for R&R and it's your good boy you get another on or something to charge bunkers I have to try and be here for thirty years and stay alive and I think the principle by which those people living and have been allowed to live because of our mistake so that we will have a c-spire or have a coalition government most of the two most of our regional property promises forces which is to say in Malaysia for Melissa so already I think you'll find that they will respond to whatever government evolves which answers their needs and those needs quite simply are to be bury their dead in the box with their ancestors lived to be allowed to extend their culture to try and I can sense the says when he's mad when is shop with their guns off in this area like this their heads turn facing the other way when we were taking on the fire we Americans supposed to be fighting with them depend on in a ditch and I was in the Navy in this is pretty unconventional but Dad will be working down in a ditch recovering bodies or something play refuse to come in assistance yes sir I think we have a very definite obligation to make extensive reparations to the people of Indochina Rhode Island Senator Claiborne tell asked about Lieutenant William Calley  would you wouldn't you agree with me though that what he did and hurting 20 men's old man woman children into a trend and then shooting them with a little bit beyond the perimeter what even are you doing on this war not that extreme the cognizant of it that it would have been even worse would have indicated we encourage this kind of action my my my shouldn't senator on the tank, is that what he did quite obviously is a horrible horrible horrible thing and I have no phone to fix fact that he was prosecuted but I think that in this question have to separate Guild from responsibility sanoxy responsibility for what is happened there vinesauce where I think it's men who designed the man's body count make it lies in large part with this country which allows child television which glorifies the John Wayne syndrome which puts out Fighting Man comic books on the stands which allow is awesome training to do calisthenics to a pork out on The Fourth Kind of which we stand up and shout killed in unison with posters and virus in this country with a crucify Vietnamese blood on M and underneath the Duke  and I think that the response ability for all of this is what is produced this horrible aberration then you must sing this country is going to Damaris from  do you must at the same time all those other people who have responsibilities  and any aversion that we might have the verdict is better say the Kelly should be free to say that he's innocent but the same you can just take him alone  and that would be restaurant  but if we had agree with you the guilt is shared by many many many of it cluding them how to get out school now but in this regard if we had not priming I think we would be much more criticized and should be I would think the same thing probably before hand is its ability to Sergeant or lieutenant what's West Virginia's so we called the life for very much to say Anna's without 9 months music and by the same token I would hope the quality of Mercy with the exercising his bizarre or young man is not a a job in writing my friend I understand that I think it's a very difficult thing for the public to Think Through faced with the with the with the fact the fact that that 18 other people cited for the very same crime was freed and the fact that among those would generals and Colonels simply not Justice how tall is not Justice I guess it's the old revolutionary added you when you see the whites of their eyes you Mobile today and just seem to be on morality being drop the bomb to the plane you don't see the whites of their eyes on the spot account so I can start a snow woman saying how many grounds of court in the morning constantly criticizes for 5 years ago leaving more violently could have done for criticizing thank you for being here good luck and I hope you all are stop  John Kerry testified for nearly two hours before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee this was the theme conclusion of the hearing as the informally greeted members of the committee

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John Kerry Vietnam Veteran's Hearing to Congress

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