A tricky question re: Kerry's "atrocities"

[MirrorAshes]

Ok, so last night I posted a question and got some good replies, but since I am using this in my arguments I want to make completely sure I'm getting it right. Heres a link to the previous discussion this is coming from, so please don't take this post as flame-bait.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x659775#top

My question--everyone in the thread above said that Kerry was merely paraphrasing but I keep getting hammered by this freeper with the following quote-

"SEN. KERRY: There are all kinds of atrocities, and I would have to say that, yes, yes, I committed the same kind of atrocities as thousands of other soldiers have committed in that I took part in shootings in free fire zones. I conducted harassment and interdiction fire. I used 50 calibre machine guns, which we were granted and ordered to use, which were our only weapon against people. I took part in search and destroy missions, in the burning of villages."

I think that is from MTP, right? Well, everything else I've read suggests that Kerry was merely repeating what he had been told when meeting with other veterans, which I believe is the truth. But this quote makes it seem like he is talking about himself personally. Am I missing something? Did Kerry just mis-speak here or am I getting the quote wrong? whats the deal?

I just want to make sure I'm 100% correct when I tell people that Kerry never burned down villages and such.

[troublemaker]

1. Kerry committed acts outside the Geneva and Hague conventions, but

was under orders, and they were standard operating procedures in Vietnam.

(Free fire zones and harassing fire have high civilian risk.)

Kerry said that he only learned after he came home that some of the tactics they had been using routinely were outside the international laws of war.

So Kerry did nothing any American could much object to. (Unless one had his heart set on objecting)

[papau]

9. Free fire zones and harassing fire are Kerry's only admitted "war crime"

I agree -

The GOP are as usual trying to put words into his mouth to confuse folks -

Confusion always helps the GOP for some reason.

:-)

[MirrorAshes]

2. Kick-- help needed!

It just seems like Kerry mis-spoke but I can't figure it out. Help!

[troublemaker]

5. he's talking about himself -- he did all that.

I think "TOUR OF DUTY" probably covers it pretty well. Seems I've read an excerpt about burning stuff on land. (VC supplies in river side villages)

[MirrorAshes]

11. Ok, well I guess its cleared up then.

I wish the original thread had been clearer so I wouldn't have stuck my foot in my mouth over this one, sigh.

[DoBotherMe]

3. What he is saying in that paragraph is

yes, he followed orders. Those were military tactics designed, approved and ordered by military officials. Search and destroy includes the burning of human habitat.

[Sparkly]

4. From debate on Cavett

MR. KERRY: Well, I have often talked about this subject. I personally didn't see personal atrocities in the sense that I saw somebody cut a head off or something like that. However, I did take part in free fire zones and I did take part in harassment interdiction fire. I did take part in search-and-destroy missions in which the houses of noncombatants were burned to the ground. And all of these, I find out later on, these acts are contrary to the Hague and Geneva Conventions and to the laws of warfare. So in that sense, anybody who took part in those, if you carry out the applications of the Nuremberg principles, is in fact guilty.

http://ice.he.net/~freepnet/kerry/index.php?topic=KerryONeill

[girl gone mad]

6. Kerry is paraphrasing there..

Here is a link to Kerry's full testimony:

http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/082204F.shtml

[troublemaker]

10. In the Cavett clip he's not characterizing his testimony,

he's talking conversationally about his own experiences.

[girl gone mad]

12. Yeah. I didn't read closely enough.

I was referring to the swiftvet ad which they edited to make sound as if Kerry is saying he personally witnessed all of the atrocities listed.

[wishlist]

7. He did participate in some activities against Geneve conventions such

as shooting in free fire ranges and being involved in burning of villages (presumably the residents had fled when they did that). He did not participate in the other more violent personal atrocities he mentioned such as blowing up bodies and cutting off ears etc.

[dogman]

8. Kerry reported attrocities testified to by others.

He also testified to the actions he took part in which is what you have quoted. As noted above this is how this war was fought. That was his point, that these actions were taken under orders and ultimately the fault lay with the commanders all the way to the commander in chief. Just like Bush is responsible for Iraq even though he doesn't accept that just like he did not accept responsibility when he served in the TANG. This is why Nixon attacked him so actively, enlisting that stooge who has resurfaced now.

[troublemaker]

13. .