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Issue: June 1999
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History Corner
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UPDATE TO STUPIDITY 1999-STYLE
OK, LISTEN UP TROOPS!
The old Drill Sgt. here and I am seriously confused with the current developments in the former Yugoslav Republic. It seems to me that everyone, and I mean everyone, involved has totally ignored the historical progression of the region. But what else is new? Humans have been ignoring their own history for as long as we have been making it. Humans may be cute and cuddly, but we as a species are as dumb as a box of rocks. And that is insulting the rocks. It is also apparent to me that the Joint Chiefs of the Pentagon, President Clinton, and the leaders of NATO have not read my column. If they had read my first column, they would have known the folly of their effort to stop what has happened in Kosovo. At least the way they (NATO & US) have approached the problem. It's not to say that something should not be done to stop the misery and destruction, that is not the question. There is no doubt in anyone's mind, (except maybe Milosevich and his buddies), that the the killing has to stop. How to do that is a totally different ball game. For those of you that are new to this column, I suggest that you read my first column, an historical time line of the region. It will help fill in the blanks. And that goes for you in the Joint Chiefs, Pres. Clinton, and NATO. The Serbs already know this time line, they're just ignoring it for convenience.
UPDATE 6/14/99: I started this column three (3) weeks ago and had to stop because things were moving so fast that I could not keep up. I also was getting ready for my daughter, Joleen, to graduate from high school here in Northern California. And that, my friends, was a priority of the first degree as far as I was concerned. I knew that the events in Kosovo would still be stumbling along and that I would be able to pick it up, and it would be just as big a mess as when I stopped this column. Well, guess what, troops? You know what I'm going to say: IT IS! Only now we have a whole new group of geopolitical dumb dumbs to play with. I will get to that soon, but first I would like to share with you some info. I have received since I stopped writing a few weeks ago. The only thing that would have made this whole Kosovo mess more screwed up than it already was, would be... now close your eyes and imagine this. (No, don't close your eyes, then you can't finish this column.)... if Outer Mongolia had invaded Luxembourg as a distraction to the main attack of Hari Krishna militant extremists seizing the US Embassy on Tonga, demanding that everyone on the planet "Visualize Whirled Peas", as a way for the human race to reach enlightenment. Now wouldn't that have been fun and added a little flair to a very sad situation? My daughter, Joleen, said, "Visualize Whirled Peas", is such a cliché, and is not used anymore. Well, clichés are fun and I'm old and out of date on some things so bear with me.
This little piece of wisdom came to me via e-mail from a friend. Seems my friend thought I would get a kick out of these pearls of enlightened thought. These reflections come from one Lt. General Tom Griffin, US Army (ret.). I guess before I go much farther I should explain the chain of command in the US Army. First off, this will be the Officer's chain of command. Second, you must understand that in the US military, the officers are in charge and YOU'RE NOT!!! OK, here goes, there are three (3) command positions in the officer corps: Company grade, Field grade, and Staff officer.
Company grade, these people command at the first position of officers, the back- bone of the Army. Company grade has 2nd Lt. (platoon leader), then 1st Lt., company executive officer, and finally Captain, company commander. Now it has been said that there is no one more dangerous then a 2nd Lt. with a map and compass. And in the infantry, that can have grave consequences. I can attest to that. But if you think of it, it is a heavy burden to hand a young man ( and soon woman) whether they are from West Point, R.O.T.C. (Reserve Officers Training Course, college). or O.C.S. ( Officers Candidate School, in Army training): the lives of 40 personnel, with the orders to get the mission done, but don't get anybody killed or we will be pissed at you for that. You following me here?
Field grade, this is middle management folks, Battalion, Brigade, and Division level. Major, Lt. Colonel, and full Colonel. If you make it to this point, it means that you did something right somewhere. Didn't get too many people killed doing it. Or that someone up there really likes you, and you are a nice guy regardless of all your faults. Now don't get me wrong, there are many competent officers in the military, no argument there. But I was a Drill Sgt., Infantry Paratrooper, and from the N.C.O. (noncommissioned officers) ranks, and I just calls them as I sees them.
Staff Officers, this is the guys with the BIG SWORDS, the ones that everyone else answers to. There are four levels to this group.
We're talking executive management. As the vernacular goes, "It all rolls down hill from here".
Enter one Lt. General Tom Griffin (ret.), with his outlook on this situation.
"Now let's see if I understand all this correctly."
Kosovo-VietNam
An entrenched enemy
A politically motivated enemy
An enemy backed by the Russians
An enemy on their home ground
An enemy in a foreign civil war
An enemy fighting in difficult terrain
With limited objectives
With bombing restrictions
With boundary and operations restrictions Supported by queasy allies
At a distance far across the ocean
With uncertain goals
Without prior consultation with Congress With the real potential for escalation
While limiting the forces at his disposal With the majority of Americans uncertain about it being worth American lives.
So, just what was it that Bill Clinton was opposed to in VietNam?
That's what Lt. General Tom Griffin U.S.Army had to say.
You know troops, this is going to be fun going over all this. O.K., let's take a look at what the General is running down here and why.
1. An entrenched enemy
No Argument there, except the word enemy.
2. A politically motivated enemy
What politics; I thought Communism was dead in the area, and that this was a one man dictatorship. That's what the Gov. line has been anyway. As far as the VietNamese were concerned, western democracy meant, "Foreign Power in charge and You're Not!!!". Both peoples were coming from strong nationalism. Only in Kosovo, age old hatreds have turned nationalism into insanity.
3. An enemy backed by the Russians
Well duh, Yugoslavia was an old Warsaw Pact country, after all. You do remember the Warsaw Pact, now don't you? That was the Iron Curtain folks, the buffer between Western Europe and Russia. Russia had been invaded twice in this century, and at the end off WWII they were going to make sure it did not happen again. Thus, the Warsaw Pact. From Poland to Rumania, these folks were going to take the first hit. NATO was formed for the same reason, western Europe to protect us,(United States) from the mindless Atheist, Communist, marauding Russian hordes. If you don't believe me, go down to the John Birch Society Book Store and pick up some literature on the subject. It's all true, just like wrestling. Then with the stage set and well lit, the super powers (Russia & United States) sat back and had themselves a nice little cold war. Safe in the knowledge that some other peoples would suffer from their geopolitical chess game. And we will add nuclear holocaust to the script to keep everyone in line. 40 years of geo-bullshit for what? Now the Russians are working with NATO as Peacekeepers. Oh, they (Russians) did get to the Airfield first; I thought that was a real kick. The VietNamese, well what were they going to do, buy the guns and ammo from the people they were fighting? I don't think so. I do know though, they stole a whole bunch of weapons and supplies from American forces during the VietNam War. If the Internet was in place then, I bet Ho and the boys would have gone with "Guns For You" at a discount, and told the Russians to pound salt. When the Russian troops showed up after we left, they were considered by the Vietnamese people as Americans without money. They didn't stay long.
4. An enemy on their home ground
Now isn't that astute! The strange thing here is that the Generals of the Pentagon completely ignored this little fact in VietNam. The Russians, by the way, did the same thing in Afghanistan, with similar results as ours in VietNam. I guess stupidity and arrogance are blind to political ideology.
5. An enemy fighting in a foreign civil war This revelation is a real kick in the butt. At no time did the powers that be, Government and Generals, admit that the VietNamese were in a civil war. It was, the Commies were coming to enslave the world and we got to circle up the wagons to protect us from nuclear attack. Now this guy says it was in fact a civil war. Thanks much, Sir! Now go out to the wall in D.C. and say that to all those names. I'm sure they will appreciate that little bit of information.
6. An enemy fighting in difficult terrain I would like to explain something here. No matter what the terrain, if two- way live ammunition is employed, it is difficult terrain, period. Having been shot at a lot I can affirm that. Ask any grunt, it's not the terrain, but staying alive that's difficult.
I would like to interject something here. All through this, the word "Enemy" has been used. I don't remember at any time the Serb people or their military being declared the enemy of the United States of America. I guess it's a "General" thing. Dehumanize the target to the all encompassing "Enemy", then it is easier to blow their heads off. You get my drift here.
7. With limited military objectives
What's this guy talking about? I thought it was, Serb's out, Albanians in. And Nam, well it was "Kill as many Commies for Mommy", as you could. At least that's what I was told. Now that's a military objective, isn't it?
8. With bombing restrictions
What bombing restrictions? We hit the Chinese Embassy without any problem. Rumania got a taste, plus some civilian buses here and there. And lest I forget, some residential areas and a hospital... Oops, sorry about that! The only thing we didn't hit was the proverbial orphanage. VietNam, come on, we bombed everything at will, including the proverbial orphanage. Can't forget Cambodia and Laos, that was our secret bombing campaign that was waged for years. The only people it wasn't secret to this was the people under the bombs. The Plain of Jars in Laos became a moonscape. North and South Vietnam and Cambodia became a multimillion hole golf course. Bombing restrictions, my ass. This Lt. General wouldn't know reality if it were presented to him on a silver platter.
9. With boundary and operational restrictions Here again the General has his head securely planted where the sun don't shine. In The Nam, US forces went where they wanted, did what they wanted to, to whomever was in the way. Now maybe the American people were not told of these operational activities, but it was clear to the troops that ran the ops. In late 1967 the 1st. Bde. of the 101st. Airborne Division was operating west of Song Be. If you spit west of Song Be you hit Cambodia. From what I can get from friends that were with me in the 1st, Bde. we were, in fact, in Cambodia 2 1/2 years before the US ever admitted US forces crossed any border with VietNam. We were there to deal with the NVA that were coming into Nam for the Tet '68 offensive. How many special ops. (Special Forces, CIA, and who knows what) were conducted, may never be known. As far as Kosovo goes, we have not yet been there long enough to piss off the other neighbors in the area..... NOT YET!!
10. Supported by queasy allies.
You know, I'm sure the British, French, Italians and Germans liked hearing that. Just goes to show the arrogance of American military officers toward our allies. And to the Australians, Thai's, Koreans, Filipinos and South Vietnamese that backed our play in S.E. Asia: Well mates, it was nice, but as far as the Big Boys in the Pentagon are concerned, you were backwater, second string. Isn't it nice to know where you stand with the people you support? On top off everything else the US Government created SETO
(South East Asia Treaty Organization) to do what NATO was doing in Europe. To protect the US from the mindless atheist, commie, marauding Chinese hordes.
11. At a distance far across the ocean
Ah Yo, General Tommy, It's always across one pond or another; it's called the Monroe Doctrine, or Manifest Destiny. Anybody remember that old saying, "Gun Boat Diplomacy"? Here's an interesting note to all this. The Military Industrial Complex ( bet you haven't heard that cliché in a while), in 1946 changed one word and that took bullshit to an art form. What they did was change the name of the War Department to the Defense Department. One little word and we have been defending ourselves ever since. Interesting how that works now, isn't it?
And it's not always been across the ocean. How many times did the US visit Mexico in the 1800's and early 1900's? In the 1980's we played a lot in Central America, defending the US from the mindless, atheist, commie marauding Nicaraguan hordes. Ronald Rayguns even said that "Texas was only a day and a half by tank from Managua". He obviously never drove a Winnebago through the region. The only place we have not gone to is Canada, our little friends to the north. Well I guess you could call the movie "Canadian Bacon", with John Candy and Alan Alda, an attempt.
12 With uncertain goals
We didn't have goals in the Nam, why start now. 13. Without prior consultation with Congress The military and Pres. Kennedy and Johnson didn't consult anybody, let alone Congress, so why bring it up now?
14. With real potential for escalation
The US went right past potential and straight to escalation in S.E. Asia. Give us a bit in Kosovo, I'm sure we can fix that.
15. While limiting the forces at his disposal Refer to # 9, boundary and operational restrictions 16. With the majority of Americans uncertain about it being worth American lives.
Now ain't this nice, and I thought the American people were squarely behind the troops. At least, that's what I was told while I was humping the bush in the "The Nam". Don't worry son, they love you back in the world. Little did I know, when I got home that was not the case!
So, just what was it that Bill Clinton was opposed to in VietNam?
What Bill Clinton and many millions more American citizens were against in VietNam, opposed to Kosovo, was that the US started the mess in VietNam, and it turned into a deadly mess for millions of innocent people. We got sucked into the mess in Kosovo and the whole region because of our commitment to NATO. The NATO countries backed our play against Russia for 40+ years. And now it was our turn to back NATO, when Yugoslavia went belly up. The General's stupid litany was just to discredit the President. Now I got my problems with the Pres., but VietNam is not one of them. Bill Clinton did nothing more than what a whole bunch of other American citizens did: exercise their right under the Constitution of the United States of America, the right to digress of grievance with the government. And many people here did just that. But when they did that, they were called commie dupes and traitors. Funny how that works. Also, Bill Clinton was a Rhodes Scholar, and Rhodes Scholars don't go to the INFANTRY!!
UPDATE, UPDATE, UPDATE.....6/29/99
The troops are in Kosovo, where chaos and insanity is the name of the game. They seem to be running up against folks that are not happy see to them. One headline read, "Marines Fired On", by men in civilian clothes carrying AK-47s. Deja vu to the MAX... And I mean Beirut, Lebanon, early 1980's. The returning Albanians, the ones we are helping, are collecting their pound of flesh, burning Serb villages, looting same, raping and killing at will. Check the time line, you will see that this part is a national pastime, been going on for almost 2,000 years, why stop now. Oh, the bomb damage and damage to the Serb military wasn't quite like it was reported to be. Well, here's how they did it in 'The Nam"...
Body count math is: Two guerillas, plus one probable, plus one pig = 37 enemy killed in action... Get my point?
Stay tuned, I'm sure there will be much more.
Now here's one more piece of history I'm sure you will enjoy...
"History of Giving the Finger"
Before the battle of Agincourt in 1415, the French, anticipating victory over the English, proposed to cut off the middle finger of all captured English soldiers. Without the middle finger it would be impossible to draw the renowned English longbow and therefore soldiers would be incapable of fighting in the future.
This famous weapon was made of the native English yew tree, and the act of drawing the longbow was know as "plucking the yew (or pluck yew). Much to the bewilderment of the French, the English won a major upset and began mocking the French by waving their middle finger at the defeated French saying, "See, we can still pluck yew! PLUCK YEW!"
Since 'pluck yew' is rather difficult to say, the difficult consonant cluster at the beginning has gradually changed to the labiodent fricative 'F', and thus the words often used in conjunction with the one-finger-salute are mistakenly thought to have something to do with an intimate encounter. It is also because of the pheasant feathers on the arrow used with the longbow that the symbolic gesture is known as " giving the bird".
And yew thought yew knew everything!
The above was another e-mail from a friend...
Well troops, that's it for now. Remember to keep reading those newspapers and watching the news on the tube, and we can all stay abreast of what we love so much:
The US Historical Process around the world and here at home.
And today's tips are:
See you around the base camp........
Airborne, Drill Sgt. Hassna........OUT!!
copyright Steve Hassna, 1999
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