A Reminder of Who the Bitterman Is
In the next day or two regarding Kerry the name John O'Neill will be heard.
He will express outrage about the statements Kerry has made about American Troops in Vietnam committing atrocities (a statement Kerry has admitted was too far today).
Well O'Neill will emerge and more than likely will not reveal a couple of things -- and not have them revealed for Kerry.
First, he did not serve with Kerry, but came TWO MONTHS after Kerry left Vietnam.
Second, he and Kerry debated in 1971 on Dick Cavett, and Kerry frankly wiped the floor (intellectually) with the guy ON THE SAME ISSUE. O'Neill was put on the Cavett show through the machincations of the Nixon White House (how non-partisan). O'Neill strongly claimed we were winning the war too (In 1971!!).
As the Houston Chronicle reported about three weeks ago:
President Nixon and top aide Charles Colson had taken a keen interest in O'Neill as part of their effort to discredit Kerry and the anti-war movement, according to memos and tapes in the National Archives. A clean-cut Naval Academy graduate, O'Neill was viewed by Nixon's team as an effective messenger against Kerry, who was causing the administration headaches as the leader of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War.
O'Neill, Nixon, and future felon Charles Colson in the White House 1971.
When he says he is just now coming forward...apparently "just now" means 34 YEARS.
Mr. O'Neill is now a lawyer in Houston at a large law firm and claims to be an independent (my ass!). One of his fellow partners is Margaret Wilson. Ms. Wilson was General Counsel to George W. Bush 1998-2000 and Deputy General Counsel in the Bush Commerce Department 2001-2002.
Mr. O'Neill & Ms. Wilson's firm can be found here.
That's how laughable Mr. O'Neill's coming forward now is.
UPDATE:
Lest there be any doubt on this. There ARE atrocities committed in almost any war of more than short duration (and even those too, of course). There are allegations of atrocities this very moment in Iraq that will be sifted through. Certainly Americans remember the My Lai Massacre and one Lt. Calley do they not? Certainly Colin Powell would like us to forget certain aspects of it.
Sometimes the atrocities are singular, unfortunately sometimes they are systemic, and sometimes they are societal (The Holocaust for example). There is little doubt that the United States was involved, in systemic atrocities in Vietnam. That does not mean that ALL soldiers who served in Vietnam are war criminals, but to deny war crimes were committed is blindingly insane.
Don't just rely on me, of course. Look no further than the recent series that won a Pulitzer Prize this year on that very subject, war crimes by the American Military in Vietnam. You can find the series here.
Is it shameful. Yes. But without admitting to crimes and errors we are due to repeat them.
O'Neill, Nixon, and future felon Charles Colson in the White House 1971.
When he says he is just now coming forward...apparently "just now" means 34 YEARS.
Mr. O'Neill is now a lawyer in Houston at a large law firm and claims to be an independent (my ass!). One of his fellow partners is Margaret Wilson. Ms. Wilson was General Counsel to George W. Bush 1998-2000 and Deputy General Counsel in the Bush Commerce Department 2001-2002.
Mr. O'Neill & Ms. Wilson's firm can be found here.
That's how laughable Mr. O'Neill's coming forward now is.
UPDATE:
Lest there be any doubt on this. There ARE atrocities committed in almost any war of more than short duration (and even those too, of course). There are allegations of atrocities this very moment in Iraq that will be sifted through. Certainly Americans remember the My Lai Massacre and one Lt. Calley do they not? Certainly Colin Powell would like us to forget certain aspects of it.
Sometimes the atrocities are singular, unfortunately sometimes they are systemic, and sometimes they are societal (The Holocaust for example). There is little doubt that the United States was involved, in systemic atrocities in Vietnam. That does not mean that ALL soldiers who served in Vietnam are war criminals, but to deny war crimes were committed is blindingly insane.
Don't just rely on me, of course. Look no further than the recent series that won a Pulitzer Prize this year on that very subject, war crimes by the American Military in Vietnam. You can find the series here.
Is it shameful. Yes. But without admitting to crimes and errors we are due to repeat them.
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