[IP] more on CNN special on Iraq war intelligence failures

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Richard Wiggins <richard.wiggins@gmail.com>
Date: August 25, 2005 8:38:56 PM EDT
To: David Farber <dave@farber.net>
Cc: chodge5@utk.edu
Subject: Re: [IP] more on CNN special on Iraq war intelligence failures


Dr. Hodge, and Dave,

Thank you for thoughtful and insightful words, but forgive me for  
questioning the notion that Americans who opposed the war in Vietnam  
expressed widespread antipathy towards our soldiers.  Too many were  
brothers or cousins or friends.  They were doing what they were  
drafted to do.

PLEASE, can we move beyond this false razor's edge, the notion that  
if you oppose a war, you don't support the troops.  Please?

I grew up in the Vietnam Era, just south of you in the Tennessee  
Valley, and was one of the cohort last to be given a draft number  
before the U.S. declared "victory" and cut and ran.

I believe the notion that those who opposed the war in Vietnam  
disrespected American soldiers is overblown.  People think in terms  
of Oliver Stone and Jane Fonda stereotypes.   Personally, I opposed  
the war starting circa 1970, at age 14, but I never looked down on  
American troops doing their duty, and I never met else anyone who  
did, either.

One can oppose a war while respecting troops doing their duty.  That  
was true in the Vietnam era -- and, as you observe, it is most  
definitely true now.

The problem is that supporters of this war tar opponents with this  
canard.

/rich


On 8/25/05, David Farber <dave@farber.net> wrote:

Begin forwarded message:

From: chodge5@utk.edu
Date: August 25, 2005 12:57:47 PM EDT
To: "Robert C. Atkinson" <rca53@columbia.edu>
Cc: Rich Kulawiec <rsk@gsp.org>, David Farber < dave@farber.net>
Subject: Re: [IP] more on CNN special on Iraq war intelligence failures

I think you're right about our attitude to the soliders being different
this time, but I don't think that's necessarily a good thing for those
supporting the war. In Vietnam, the anti-war movement often took out  
their
frustration on soldiers for actions taken by the policymakers.
-c


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