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MailbagHi guys!Just found your web site through Information Clearing House. I am an Army Vietnam vet from down under and am very impressed with what you are doing. Now I am an instructor with the Navy cadets. Just can't stay out of uniform! I have great compassion not just for the American troops, but also for the ordinary people. Your great nation has been hijacked by corrupt people who don't give a stuff about how many people die to keep big business (usually theirs) profits rolling in. There are 2 wars being prosecuted. The Middle East mess that would probably go away if Israel got the hell out of Gaza and the West bank, and the drug war that is spawning the massive crime wave we are all suffering and the authorities are wasting their time fighting. That war would go away if drugs were decriminalized. They argue that we would all turn into junkies, but that argument falls down in the fact that the US population did not become alcoholics after prohibition. But wars are profitable things. Arms industry, security industry, media, all controlled by people who make war or make political donations to those who do. Then there are the bribes from drug barons and criminal mobs that distribute the stuff. The only way to win a war is to eliminate the cause, not engage in combat. Vietnam is not the greatest place on earth but at least the people are not getting shot and bombed any more, and after 40 years of war that was a blessing. Australia quickly developed a close relationship after the war and it is still close and very strong. Lots of people here visit Vietnam and vice versa. We are good friends now, and as you said the domino theory was all BS and came to nothing anyway, but the BS kept the war going. You are so right. Let the Iraqis sort out Iraq. I can just imagine how indignant Washington would have been if someone had tried to mediate the [American] civil war??? Keep up the great work guys. I will pass your site on to the local vets, they may want to touch base if they have not already done so. Take care and keep well. - B.G. I am Larry Syverson of Richmond, VA. I have three sons in the military. Two are serving in Iraq. Branden is a master gunner for Abrams tanks in Tikrit with the 4th Infantry. Bryce is a gunner on a Bradley in Baghdad with the 1st Armored. I spoke at the August 13th Military Families Speak Out press conference. A picture of me holding my protest sign was included in your September 2003 issue. I was pleased to have my sons' pictures in your article. I have news about my sons, Branden and Bryce, that you may find interesting. Both are safe; however, they are still in Iraq. Both joined the Army with the intention of making it a career. In October both Branden and Bryce have said they will not re-enlist. They have said they don't want to be sent back to Iraq. Branden should leave Iraq in April and will get out of the Army in October 2004. Bryce should leave Iraq in May and will get out of the Army in November 2005. Unfortunately, there is the possibility he will have to be in Iraq one more time. As I stated in the press conference, I protest every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at noon in front of the Richmond Federal Courthouse. I began protesting prior to the war starting. On Friday, December 12th, I will have my 100th protest in front of the Courthouse. In peace, Larry Syverson lwsyverson@deq.state.va.us Page 6--> |
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