American Legion criticizes anti-war protesters

By ALEXANDRE DA SILVA
The Associated Press

HONOLULU - During his 26-month service in Vietnam, James Vialard said the toughest times came when actress Jane Fonda spoke her mind, or when anti-war protesters took to the streets, making the front pages or the evening news.

"How would you like to be 10,000 miles away from home knowing that people in your country are against you?" said Vialard, of Denville, N.J., a former Army sergeant who blamed protesters for strengthening Vietnamese resistance at the time. "It gave them power over us."

Vialard's concern was echoed on Tuesday by the more than 13,000 members of the American Legion who kicked off their 87th annual, three-day national conference at the Hawaii Convention Center.

Some 4,000 legion delegates unanimously passed a resolution pledging to unite in support of the war on terrorism and against anti-war activists, fearing that protests could motivate insurgents in their battle against U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Let's not repeat the mistakes of the past," said Thomas P. Cadmus, the legion's national commander. "I urge all Americans to rally around our armed forces and remember our fellow Americans who were viciously murdered on Sept. 11, 2001."

The 2.7 million-member American Legion is the nation's largest veteran organization.

Their message arrives amid a renewed discontent about the Iraq war among the thousands of Americans who have sympathized with Cindy Sheehan, the California woman whose public grief over her soldier son's death has drawn nation attention.

Vialard, the state commander for the legion's New Jersey department, said he understands why many Americans are upset with the war, but warned that their demonstrations weaken overworked troops who are thirsty for support.

"I'm appalled that a few people can cause so much discomfort," said Vialard. "The people we are dealing with see that as a sign of weakness ... and they kill just for the sake of killing."

Jim Hales, commander of the organization's Pennsylvania department, got extensive applause for calling anti-war activists "traitors."

"I think it's high time that ... your Jane Fondas, your Michael Moores, not have the high media profile recognition that they have," said Hales, who served as a military policeman in Vietnam from 1966-67. "I know first hand the impact that these protests on the United States had on the morale of the enemy."

The delegates were praised by Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as Gov. Linda Lingle, U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, U.S. Rep. Ed Case and Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann.

Myers said American support for the war on terrorism is critical because "success is hard to define and hard to measure" in a conflict lacking front lines.

"It's vital for Americans to stay resolved, to stay committed, and to be patient," said Myers, who is ending a ten-day tour visiting military bases around the globe and who said the war on terror would "continue to be challenging for some time to come."

"Resolve or will is ultimately what will decide whether we defeat ... extremism and terrorism or whether we give in," he said.

---

On the Net:

American Legion: http://www.legion.org/

I understand his point and I can see why you guys with tunnel vision can't. Your way is the only way. If we don't agree with you, fuck us.

The irony is thick.

"Let's not repeat the mistakes of the past," said Thomas P. Cadmus, the legion's national commander.

Why do I get the feeling this guy is speaking from an experience that none of us on this board can? You know, it's really easy to tell someone like this to fuck off and go fuck himself, but it's quite another to be able to stop for one moment and try to put ourselves in the perspective this guy has (namely, a war vet, not a 20 or 30-something Pearl Jam fan using a keyboard as a bully pulpit). Do I agree with this guy? No. But am I going to demonize him? Absolutely not.

Will you give the same level of empathy to Cindy Sheehan?

Empathy? Of course. The only thing I posted in that thread was that it was absolutely absurd of her to demand a private audience with the President. I don't agree with her, just like I don't agree with this guy in the article. But am I empathetic that she lost a son in the war? Absolutely.

The irony is thick.

I understand his point and I can see why you guys with tunnel vision can't. Your way is the only way. If we don't agree with you, fuck us. Funny how Clinton wasn't a liar when he said the same thing about Iraq that Bush did.

This shit really gets old, but I'm glad you guys get to come here and jerk each other off over it.

As is the perspective.

Why do I get the feeling this guy is speaking from an experience that none of us on this board can? You know, it's really easy to tell someone like this to fuck off and go fuck himself, but it's quite another to be able to stop for one moment and try to put ourselves in the perspective this guy has (namely, a war vet, not a 20 or 30-something Pearl Jam fan using a keyboard as a bully pulpit). Do I agree with this guy? No. But am I going to demonize him? Absolutely not.

I'm going to demonize anyone that signs a resolution for uniting against the first amendment. Protesters during the Vietnam War were dicks. Hey, I get that, but shutting up and supporting an unjust war in order to make the unjust war easier is the stuff that autocracies are built on.