Friday, January 18, 2008

Predicting the Past?

Taking what is clearly a page from the past and using that to predict the future is risky business.

The IVAW is attempting just that this March with Winter Soldier II. And overview of Winter Soldier in 1971 can be found here.

The first Winter Soldier and the subsequent congressional hearings succeeded in painting all Vietnam Veterans with a stain we carry today.

Check out Denis Keohane's piece here for more background.

Candidly, I missed the first Winter Soldier 'Investigation' myself. I was well aware of the fallout without being really aware of the event. It wasn't until Kerry decided to run for President that I began connecting the dots. Others had been for, and before, me to whom I owe a debt of thanks.

One difference of note is that this time around I will be there! The IVAW has asked for Milbloggers to participate (at least as observers) in the up coming event. My application is pending as a second tier candidate according to this:
Claiming active duty to get first preference and maybe help with travel? You'd need to show some proof. Claiming to be a vet? DD214 and verifiable service record. Plain identification if you fall into the third tier of someone who just blogs about the military.
The folks doing this have 4 decades of experience and with little doubt efforts will be made to exploit our presence for propaganda purpose. As Denis K., points out the concept, then and now, is theater rather than honest fact finding.

Myself, I hope to do some live blogging and maybe toss in some pix.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Obiter Dictum: Attention Milbloggers!

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