All Jihad, No NVA

(My reprinted response to Dawn Legg's 9/30/05 post.)

Hi Dawn,
I was one of those terrified Americans in combat in 1968 and what you say about the horror of war is very true. In the middle of the cold war, with the communists of the Soviet Union AND China backing the North Vitnamese and vowing to take over the world, the fear of such a possibility was greater than the horror and death.

That the war was fought in such a ridiculous fashion, much like what we see in Iraq, has to do with strategic thinking and planning AND responsible execution.

There is however, Dawn, one HUGE difference between what happened in Vietnam and what subsequently took place since the deaths of 1 to 2 million at the hands of Pol Pot and other communists.

Not a single NVA (North Vietnamese Army soldier) seized the American embassy in Iran in 1979. Not a single NVA was involved in the deaths of 63 people at the US Embassy compound in Beruit in 1983 nor the deaths of 241 Marines six months later.

No NVA in '85 in Madrid, none in August at Rhein-Main Air Force base where 22 were killed. It wasn't an NVA on the Achille Lauro that pushed Abe Klinghoffer over the side in a wheelchair. No NVA were involved in the Pan Am bombing over Lockerbie that killed 259.

It goes on and on to our embassies in Africa with a death toll of 224, to the World Trade Center (first time). There was the USS Cole, then came the beaut, as the World Trade Center towers collapsed, the Pentagon was also attacked and the passengers dove their plane into a field in Pa.

About 4,000 were killed altogether and not a single NVA was involved. Sine then ther's been Madrid, London, and most recently Bali. This Jihad has NO discernable end and if you do not kill the terrorists they will most certainly try and kill you or those you love...GUARANTEED!

So, I don't know what "THE ANSWER" is but I know it isn't capitulation because there is no such thing under these circumstances. No NVA this time kiddo, just people who will deliberately kill anyone including themselves.

What to do????

Bill Benica, Gunners Mate 3/c USN
Boat Captain T-111-10 RivDiv 111
Task Force 117, Dong Tam, Vietnam