The Breakdown of the U.S. Army in Vietnam. Now Iraq

[protect freedom impeach bush now]

History repeats.....

http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/%7Ergibson/girevolts.htm

GI Revolts
The Breakdown of the U.S. Army in Vietnam

by Richard Boyle

May 1973

The Vietnam War was one of the least popular in American history. It was also the least "popular" with the GI's who were sent to fight it. By the late 1960's, news of GI unrest was being carried on TV and in newspapers around the country and Vietnam vets were speaking at anti-war demonstrations.

But word of the GI resistance in Vietnam itself trickled back more slowly - the soldiers flashing peace signs and Black Power salutes, the group refusals to fight, anti-war petitions and demonstrations, and even the fragging of officers. What we've read in the newspapers, however, has just been bits and pieces. Seldom have we had a chance to hear the whole story from the GI's themselves.

This pamphlet tells in vivid terms two stories of GI revolts -- the shooting of a top sergeant and the mutiny of Bravo Company at Firebase Pace near Cambodia. They are taken from Richard Boyle's book Flower of the Dragon - The Breakdown of the US. Army in Vietnam (Ramparts Press, 1972). Boyle spent three tours in Vietnam from 1965 through 1971 as a war correspondent, and was on hand personally to record many of these events as they happened.

Not all of the stories of GI resistance told in Boyle's book are as dramatic as the story of Doc Hampton or the mutiny at Firebase Pace. Boyle could only cover a few of the thousands of GI revolts in Vietnam.

MORE.........

[Zorra]

1. Unjustifiable wars weaken our defense

capabilities. Once troops realize they've been scammed by the government and are stuck in a senseless quagmire, what else are they supposed to do? The current misadministration has severely weakened our defense capabilities by lying us into this senseless war.

1) Troop morale is low, and they are living under awful conditions
2) The military is spread way too thin for no reason.
3) The military is losing it's ability to recruit. No one in their right mind wants to enlist in the military for senseless wars. People join the military to defend America, not to enrich corporations.
4) Re-enlistment rates will drop sharply. Troops have lost faith in the military.

Weakened national defense is the republican, PNAC legacy. Republicans are not strong on National Defense. They are strong on economic and military imperialism, and lack of common sense. Their idiotic foreign policy is putting our nation at greater risk from terrorism, and making us vulnerable to full scale attack.

Is there some ulterior motive behind this, or are these people just flat out stupid?