Word: indochina
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...enough to beat back this ugly argument For one thing, there's a grain of truth in it and for another. Podhoretz's version of Vietnam is politically ascendant. Only a few weeks ago, speaking off the cult at a press conference. President Reagan rewrote the history of Indochina to suit his Central American agenda. The idea, endorsed by Podhoretz in his concluding paragraph that the U.S. role in Indochina was "noble," "idealistic," and "morally sound" is winning converts: it must be denied and defused, and to do that it must first be taken seriously...
America erred in Indochina in many ways and at many times. It makes similar errors in its current support for dictatorships of both the left and right. However, this does not change the fact that the "anti-war" demonstrators claimed that an American pull-out from Indochina would grant the people relatively free and humane governments. The protestors were horribly wrong, a fact which they, and Mr. Barrett, continue to obfuscate. America is responsible for much of the suffering in Indochina. Neither the hawks nor doves are entirely innocent both should now honestly assess their responsibility for the plight...
Indeed, some may argue that the bill does not do enough for the Amerasians. After the French left Indochina, for example, they took 25,000 Eurasians with them. And those left behind with even the slightest trace of French blood were given the option of French citizenship when they turned 21. Perhaps America should be as liberal towards Amerasians...
...Vietnam tragedy was not, of course, an isolated series of events U.S. actions in Indochina reflected a pervasive policy that continues today oppose any group that happens to label itself "communist," regardless of the material and psychological damage of our violent interference and the violations of basic human rights inevitably committed by our right-wing allies. Since 1945 the Soviets have pursued equally vicious policies abroad: they deserve no credit for working toward peace and against colonialism. Only U.S. blundering has given Moscow the opportunity to pass itself off as the protector of the underdeveloped...
When the conservative revisionists argue that communism is the source of all hardship in Indochina, they hypocritically ignore the more important role of America's twisted, self-destructive foreign policy. And when they point a quavering finger at the red specter looming over Central America, they make the same egregious over-sign. The United States planted the seed of violent conflict in nations such as Salvador and Nicaragua by maintaining obedient dictatorships and failing to nuture genuine democracy. It is the force of war that rips the soul from third world societies, not the power of one or another...