Greetings Readers, Whether we slept in a muddy foxhole or sat at a desk, Vietnam left its indelible mark on all of us. Those that were not directly involved in combat and those that were, many of t…
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Monthly Archives: September 2016
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The Disregarded Lesson of Vietnam
Posted at 1:39 pm , on September 30, 2016
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The Disregarded Lesson of Vietnam
Posted at 1:31 pm , on September 30, 2016
Greetings Readers,
Whether we slept in a muddy foxhole or sat at a desk, Vietnam left its indelible mark on all of us. Those that were not directly involved in combat and those that were, many of those veterans and the general American public at large, began asking over the course of the war and thereafter, why we were there at all? The more cognitive shared feelings of uncertainty and guilt as to the objective and the exact extent of reasoning for the massive military effort. The answer is not complicated it’s pretty simple and straight forward: American Nationalism and President Johnson’s political overreach.
It has been proven in academic publications, Senate investigations, and in the recollections of authoritative men and women who were there, the American public was misinformed and lied into serving in a political, demographic, and historic experiment to protect a non-existent ‘Asian democracy’ and to funnel it into our way of life. It was not my feeling as a civilian at the time, I clearly knew what I was doing in the Nam, but for the lion’s share of those who served they continued to question our involvement and how after presentations and praise it so disastrously turned out to be a military and national moralisic defeat.
The human cost was 258,000 young American lives and the loss of millions of Vietnamese and other Asians dead or crippled for life. It is factual that more ordinance was exploded on the surface of this small country than by all the participants in World War II.
At the end of a ten-year period of cruel warfare, basically 1965 to 30 April 1975, the U.S. abruptly relinquished the country to defeat and ruin as the most devastated and poverty-stricken in the world. The U. S. then began an embarrassingly lengthy grudge campaign for nearly 25 years and did nothing to assist in rehabilitating the battered country attempting to improve its deplorable condition. The public, and particularly the politicians, sensing it a non-issue forgot about the war as if it was a bad dream.
But many of us could not forget, could use the conflict as a testimonial in misguided strategy, the flare of nationalism, and of course political and commercial greed as the main feature that got the U. S. into the mess. Twenty-seven years after the experience of a failed Vietnam policy America made the same mistake again in an intelligence fabricated over-hyped, and unnecessary Iraq II, apparently believing to know better and trusting comparable politicians and generals that got us into Vietnam.
Today there exists more than a slim chance Iraq and Syria could become another deadly creeping Vietnam trap. If the worst happens it will be under a Trump style leadership, and the fault of Congressional politicians, along side their neoconservative buddies who will unfortunately be the most adept, capable, and culpable in initiating war and perpetuating current conflicts.
For the presidential candidates and the soon to be elected Congress, there is an unwritten back-door escape clause that will always exist for disregarding domestic campaign pledges, and that is when major multi-social benefits, rebuilding deteriorated infrastructure, pentions, and health and education programs because less comparatively important. The United States is obliged by too many overseas commitments to over 40 countries for military and commercial support that can at any time interfere, reduce, or cancel economic and domestic plans and programs. This situation of too many commitments is worrisome, and it should be taken into serious consideration when casting a ballot for your candidate.
All the Best.
Ron Miller
(Memoir author of: Ten Years In Vietnam)
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Asian Headline News Briefs #49
Posted at 12:08 pm , on September 28, 2016
Greetings Readers, Asian news for the busy reader to be read in two point five minutes or less. World Bank warns firms on N.Korean sanctions compliance. Twelve soldiers killed at army outpost in Af…
Source: Asian Headline News Briefs #49
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Asian Headline News Briefs #49
Posted at 12:04 pm , on September 28, 2016
Greetings Readers,
Asian news for the busy reader to be read in two point five minutes or less.
- World Bank warns firms on N.Korean sanctions compliance.
- Twelve soldiers killed at army outpost in Afghanistan.
- Typhoon Megi slams into Taiwan 4 dead 400 hundred injured.
- Typhoon Megi kills one injures dozens in China after Taiwan destruction.
- India pulls out of key Kashmir negotiations summit with Pakistan.
- Three blasts kill 22 wound 167 in Baghdad suicide attack.
- Syria, Russia continue airstrikes on Aleppo and surrounding areas.
- At least 400 killed in Aleppo last week.
- Syrian army offensive begins to retake Aleppo city center.
- Pentagon reports mustard gas used by ISIS near Mosul.
- Pentagon to rapidly deploy U. S., S. Korea anti-missiles defense.
- Britain vows to oppose any EU army, but stays a member of NATO.
- Turkey sacks 87 in spy agency over failed coup attempt bid.
- WHO states nine out of ten people worldwide breath poor air.
- WHO declares America continents three years measles free.
- Oil prices fall 03% after Saudi, Iran dash hopes of quota reduction.
- Two bombs go off near mosque in Dresden, Germany.
- U. S. sends $367 million in aid for Syria, total to date 5.9 billion.
- First baby born with three person gene participation method.
- U.S. appoints first ambassador to Cuba since 1961.
- Jim Jong Kim reappointed World Bank President.
- Former Israel President peace-seeking Shiron Peres dies at 93.
- State funeral planned, dozens of international figures to attend.
- Former Iran President Mohamajad withdraws from election.
- Clinton, Trump on campaign trail again after first debate.
- More than 82 million people watch as Clinton wins debate.
- Final debate results Clinton approval rate 62%, Trump 27.
News items gleaned from ChannelnewsAsia.com, Aljzeera, France 24.
All the Best.
Ron Miller.
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Asian Headline News Briefs #48
Posted at 1:26 pm , on September 26, 2016
Greetings Readers, For the busy reader Asian news to be read in two minutes or less. Typhoon Megi gains strength before land fall in Taiwan, China. Taiwan evacuate tourist ahead of Megi Typhoon. Ch…
Source: Asian Headline News Briefs #48
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Asian Headline News Briefs #48
Posted at 1:20 pm , on September 26, 2016
Greetings Readers,
For the busy reader Asian news to be read in two minutes or less.
- Typhoon Megi gains strength before land fall in Taiwan, China.
- Taiwan evacuate tourist ahead of Megi Typhoon.
- China Air Force performs maneuvers in areas within South China Sea.
- China shows off world’s largest terrestrial telescope and facilities.
- India’s Modi to sign international climate control pact in October.
- UN Security Committee asks Russia to negotiate new Syrian truce.
- U.S. accuses Russia, Syria, and Iran of ‘Barbarism.’
- UN, 124 killed 350 wounded in and near Aleppo during Friday, Sunday.
- UN’s Ban Ki-Moon urges world to stop Syria’s ‘Nightmare.’
- Warplanes pound Aleppo, Syria as diplomatic solutions fade.
- ISIS claims suicide bomber that killed 6 in Tekreit, Iraq was its soldier.
- USRC delivers aid to four besieged Syrian towns.
- Jordanian journalist killed after publishing anti-Muslim cartoon.
- Thousands of women march in Turkey for freedom to wear shorts.
- African elephant population tumbles due to poaching.
- Two teenage girls arrested in Paris for plotting terror attack.
- Israel PM Netanyahu meets with Trump in New York City.
- Clinton slams Trump for NYC bombing comment.
- Trump says ‘It’s going to get worse, expect more bombing attempts.’
- Clinton, Trump to debate on Monday, 9 PM, ET, U.S. time.
All the Best.
Ron Miller.
News items taken from Channel News Asia.com, France 24, Aljzeera.com
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(I’m being held against my will in a Muslim country, ransom is only, only, 500,000 U.S. dollars)
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Asian Headline New Briefs #47
Posted at 12:53 pm , on September 23, 2016
Greetings Readers, Breaking Asian news to be read by the busy reader in two minutes or less. Indonesia seizes fertilizer ship suspected in bomb plot. Indonesia reports less haze, fewer Jungle hot …
Source: Asian Headline New Briefs #47
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Asian Headline New Briefs #47
Posted at 12:48 pm , on September 23, 2016
Greetings Readers, Breaking Asian news to be read by the busy reader in two minutes or less. Indonesia seizes fertilizer ship suspected in bomb plot. Indonesia reports less haze, fewer Jungle hot …
Source: Asian Headline New Briefs #47
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Asian Headline New Briefs #47
Posted at 12:05 pm , on September 23, 2016
Greetings Readers, Breaking Asian news to be read by the busy reader in two minutes or less. Indonesia seizes fertilizer ship suspected in bomb plot. Indonesia reports less haze, fewer Jungle hot …
Source: Asian Headline New Briefs #47
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Asian Headline New Briefs #47
Posted at 12:05 pm , on September 23, 2016
Greetings Readers,
Breaking Asian news to be read by the busy reader in two minutes or less.
- Indonesia seizes fertilizer ship suspected in bomb plot.
- Indonesia reports less haze, fewer Jungle hot spots.
- Indonesia national bank cuts interest rates to lift business.
- Malaysia deports three foreign terrorist suspects.
- Japan PM demands ‘New Way’ to deal with North Korea provocations.
- South Korea will not provide flood assistance to North Korea.
- Taiwan asked Google to blur images of disputed South China Sea Islands.
- Cambodia proposes verbal ceasefire amid internal political tensions
- 795 Turkish labor ministry members sacked over coup attempt.
- Duarte invites UN Chief, EU to debate democratic rights issue.
- Violence restrained on 4th night in Charlotte NC over shooting of black man.
- UN resumes Syrian aid convoys with ceasefire guarantee
- Syrian meeting breaks up without progress to renew ceasefire.
- Syrian army regroups in offensive to take rebel held Aleppo.
- U. S. confirms elements of mustard gas-fired near Mosul. (3 U. S. injured)
- Israel all but cancels dreams of a two state solution. Palestine PM.
- Netanyahu.’Middle East conflict not just all about settlements.’
- Canada, China confirm new mutual free trade agreement.
- UN boosts the effort to curb female circumcision.
- U. S. weekly unemployment claims fall to two month low.
- Internet’s Yahoo admits 500 million accounts hacked in 2014.
- North Korea has only 28 Internet Websites.
- Actor Star Brad Pitt under investigation for child abuse.
All the Best.
Ron Miller.
New gleaned from ChannelnewsAsia.com, France 24, BBC. and Aljzeers.com
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