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Nothing But The Truth

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By George Moon

Published: October 7, 2007

This concerns a recent article titled "Republicans Get Ready To Pucker Up." The assertions fall way short of keen accuracy. In fact, most of the claims distort the facts and obscure the truth. Time and space prohibits exposing every claim, however, I would like to offer the following facts with the rest at a later date.

The second World War was a lot more than just the Allies getting together and overwhelming Germany. WW II was the deadliest conflict in human history resulting in over 70 million casualties of which two-thirds were civilians. In 1939 Hitler invaded Poland and the war began. England and France had a treaty with Poland, pledging military assistance in the event of attack, but did nothing in hopes diplomacy would appease the tyrant. Diplomacy did not work.

Later they would declare war but would not engage in hostilities. That became known as the Phony War and in 1940 Germany captured Denmark, France, the Low Countries and began battering England from the air.

All this time America maintained a policy of neutrality and pacification while giving some aid to England. It wasn't until we were attacked at Pearl Harbor that we got involved by declaring war on Japan. Germany declared war on us four days later.

At that point the Allies had suffered tremendous loss of life since the fighting was on their homeland. The Soviet Union suffered most of all with over 65 percent of total military deaths. Our casualties were to come during the next four years of grueling combat. Without question our effort was the deciding factor that saved Europe, the rest of the world, and ultimately ourselves.

The Vietnam War came about due to fear of the spread of Communism, our greatest threat after World War II.

President Truman recognized this and sent military advisers and aid to the French when they were fighting Communist Vietminh from the North.

Eisenhower, while understanding the need to defend Indochina, condemned colonialism and was reluctant to approve more than a limited role of support. After the French left, Eisenhower dispatched military advisers to train a South Vietnam army.

President Kennedy secretly sent 400 special operations forces (Green Beret) to teach South Vietnamese how to fight Communist guerrillas infiltrated in the south. In short order he had run the total to over 16,000 U.S. advisors with 400 killed.

After the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, President Lyndon Johnson committed the United States fully to the war.

Liberal America and the media grew tired of the war and began the anti-war protests. The anti-war movement believed that American power and military was itself a source of evil in the world. And during the Nixon administration, Congress refused funding which forced the U.S. to negotiate a withdrawal.

The Paris Peace Accord promised the ability to defend the treaty by continued economic and military assistance. Washington, however, became "weak kneed" as civil disobedience and conflict demanded total abdication. The result was a cut off of military and economic assistance to allies whom we had encouraged to count on our protection.

Almost immediately, after our withdrawal, the North violated all agreements and attacked the South. The domino effect finally took place and 2 million people were killed in Laos and Cambodia.
The principle of post war American foreign policy, that the United States had an obligation to protect and sustain free people, was dashed asunder. Perhaps this is part of the reason other countries and our European friends mistrust America.

Today we find our freedoms once again at risk. This time by fundamental and militant Islam.
Their goal is to convert the world democracies into theocratic states governed by Sharia Law. Their method is terrorism. Just as Vietnam had strategic significance in the past, Iraq has similar importance today.

Should the Middle East be controlled by radical regimes our way of life will change dramatically for the worse. The far Left and anti-war protesters are demanding much the same as they did before. They are willing to dishonor the military and demand withdrawal from Iraq. Ironically, just when success begins to take place. The passage of time has eased some of the embarrassment and pain of Vietnam. Time won't heal the wounds of an abdication from the Middle East.

George Moon

Lake Placid

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