60 minutes tonight

[curmugeon]

Tonight on 60 minutes they spoke to the soldier who blew the whistle on Abu Ghraib. If Rummy was to do one last thing before he left office, he should honor this man for doing his duty. However the story is something other than honorable, as his story is one of death threats, and never being able to go home, as he is considered a 'rat' for turning in his fellow soldiers for their crimes. This story is sad because people have turned on this man when all he did was the right thing. If this story goes without some sort of honor, it is a sad statement on our military and our society. The VFW commander in this story needs to be removed by the national chapter. He is not a veteran of honor but a man who places his fellow soldier above what is morally right. I wonder what crimes he committed while in uniform?

Comments

When will they ever learn?

[flyvapnet.livejournal.com]

I regret not having watched that broadcast, Alan, but at least I'll be able to find the gist of the relevant report on the web — tomorrow, when I'm done with my semi-annual physical examination at the veterans' hospital. The plight of that G.I. who reported the unlawful activity taking place at that military prison in Iraq reminds me of a scenario I'm sure you'll recall, as I have done.

Commonly known in the Occident as the My Lai massacre, it's known in Viet Nam as the Song My massacre: The killing took place at the hamlet My Lai 4 in Song My village. Here's an excerpt from My Lai Massacre - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Lai_massacre):

The massacre was halted when Warrant Officer Hugh Thompson, Jr., a 24-year-old helicopter pilot, landed his OH-23 and confronted Lt. Stephen Brooks about attacks on wounded Vietnamese civilians hiding in a bunker. Thompson threatened to have his two door gunners open fire on American servicemen with his ship's heavy machine guns if the attacks continued.[3] Thompson also called in two additional helicopters to provide medevac for twelve wounded Vietnamese civilians.[4]

[3] refers to An American Hero, Vietnam Veteran Speaks Out About My Lai - CBS News (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/05/06/60minutes/main615997.shtml).

[4] refers to BBC NEWS | Americas | My Lai massacre hero dies at 62 (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4589486.stm).

Perhaps, one day, armed forces worldwide will learn to distinguish criminals in uniform from those who do their duty in an honorable and lawful manner. Let's hope it doesn't take 30 years for Pentagon politicians to recognize the valiant service done our nation by the courageous whistle-blower to whom you referred.

=^..^=