Honor restored for general blamed after Nixon denied authorizing Vietnam bombing

[SecularMotion]

Source: Washington Post

During the summer of 1972, official Washington was dragging Air Force Gen. John D. Lavelle's name and reputation through the mud. Multiple investigations by the Pentagon and Congress concluded that the four-star commander had ordered unauthorized bombing missions in North Vietnam and then tried to cover them up. He was demoted to major general and forced to retire, in disgrace.

Lavelle maintained his rectitude until his death, saying he was acting on orders. Nearly four decades later, it turns out he was right.

On Wednesday, after an exhaustive reexamination of Lavelle's actions, President Obama asked the Senate to restore his honor and his missing stars. The decision officially sets the record straight about who really lied during the controversial chapter in the Vietnam War, who told the truth and who was left holding the bag.

Historical records unearthed by two biographers who came across the material by happenstance show that Lavelle was indeed acting on orders to conduct the bombing missions and that the orders came from the commander in chief himself: President Richard M. Nixon.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/04/AR2010080407297.html?hpid=topnews

[Demeter]

1. Nixon Was a Bastard--but We Knew That

We could spend the next 1000 years cleaning up the messes that Nixon, Reagan, Bush and the Lesser Bush, aka Shrub, made.

[Ichingcarpenter]

2. No doubt Kissinger was there when he approved it

And was the one that suggested it to Nixon.

If Nixon had gone to jail maybe this country would have been better today.

I hated Ford's Pardon and knew it would lead this country down the wrong road.

[Demeter]

3. Still Looking Forward--after All These Year!

Another failed ideology, like trickle-down economics and globalism and PNAC and...

[SemperEadem]

4. Nixon... say no more

what a thug.

And why is Kissinger still walking around a free man?

[Kolesar]

5. God damn America

I am so ashamed of this country sometimes.

[Sherman A1]

6. Are they going to restore his lost pension $'s

to him, his family or estate?

If he was demoted and forced to retire for this cover-up, I believe we owe him what he would have received in the difference in pension that he lost.

[Soylent Brice]

7. K&R

[No Elephants]

8. Most Congressional investigations seem farcical to me.

[leveymg]

9. Let's impeach Nixon posthumously. Reduce his rank, salary and pension, too.

[saigon68]

10. Still going on -----except Black-Water is doing the Dirty Work

More "Change you can believe in"