ALL THINGS CONSIDERED

[luckyleftyme2]

--- Breaking News from NationalMemo.com ---



Right Wing Fumes As Powell Endorses Obama

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell endorsed President Barack Obama for re-election this morning, crossing party lines -- and setting off an ugly reaction from the right wing. Read more
If the general with one of the greatest military minds in our countries history feels safe with president Obama then I do!
vote to re-elect president Obama!

[HERVEPA]

1. That would be, of course, the general that helped us into the Iraq war with obviously ....

bogus evidence and was part of the coverup of the Mai Lai massacre

[immoderate]

2. +1

Powell's only relatively not a scum bag.

--imm

[DreamGypsy]

3. Until your comment, I didn't know about Powell's connection with the Pinkville ...

... Mai Lai massacre.

A recent re-acquaintance with some documents from my past brought Mai Lai and other events back into my daily life.

In 1970, at age 17, as part of my filing as a Conscientious Objector, I wrote to the Illinois draft board:

I recently read an article which, perhaps more than any other influence,
clarified and resolved my opposition to war. The May, 1970 issue
of Harper's Magazine contained an analysis of the incident at Mai Lai,
written by Seymour Hersh. The article graphically portrayed the massacre,
and Mr. Hersh concluded that such incidents are inevitable in any war.
After reading the article, I was almost physically ill. The slaughter
at Mai Lai epitomizes the way in which war totally dehumanizes men, leaving
them without conscience or reason. The incident showed that in war there
can be no dignity for either victor or victim. Now, as reports of massacres,
tortures, and other atrocities multiply, I am completely convinced
that dehumanization is the inevitable result of the violence of war. It
has become clear to me that all violence is wrong and that I must oppose
all war.

So, now I knowi that in 2004 Powell said "I mean, I was in a unit that was responsible for My Lai. I got there after Mai Lai happened. So, in war, these sorts of horrible things happen every now and again, but they are still to be deplored."

These disclaimers just reopen some of those old wounds of the past.