An Unanswered Question Today

[H2O Man]

“Someone has to die so that President Nixon won't be, and these are his words, ' the first President to lose a war.' And we are asking Americans to think about that because how do you ask a man to be the last man to die in Vietnam? How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?”
John Kerry, statement to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, 1971


Those of my generation remember the news reports on John Kerry's haunting questions, at a time when it was obvious that the Vietnam war was a mistake. When a criminal in the White House would rather send American youth to kill or be killed than admit defeat. I keep thinking about it as I watch media reports on the increasing violence in the Middle East.

[mopinko]

1. had the last part of that quote on a button.

made buttons and bumperstickers to survive the w yrs. wish i had the energy to do it now.

[H2O Man]

3. We are the Elders now.

I miss being able to protest in the same manner as I did a quarter- or half-century ago. We were good at sparking the nation's conscience. One of the best things was when the Elders stepped up, and played the role of Elders. Since my mind is young at the same time this bag of bones & lard suffers, I have to accept I actually am old now, and take on the responsibilities of being old, kind of pathetic, but with a heck of a lot of experience to share with those darned younger generations.

[mopinko]

5. oooooo boy.

my back has turned to shit. every protest reminds me i’m a has been.

[H2O Man]

9. I hear you!

In 2001, a gentleman on a cell phone changed my life. Being Irish by nature and nurture, I avoided surgery until a doctor from the gentleman's insurance company told me, "Kid, if you don't get that surgery very soon, you will be in a wheelchair wearing diapers." After much surgery, I was told that I would need even more within five years. Later for that noise! I have decided to never have any surgery for any reason ever again.

I'm satisfied being a "has been," or even a "never was." When I attend protest rallies, my friends recognize that I'm not able to walk far, or be on my feet for extended periods. It seems like in one's 40s, every old injury starts visiting one's body every now and then, despite not being welcome. In one's 50s, they move back in full-time. Then in one's 60s, they seem to want to evict you.

[mopinko]

12. i'm planning to get surgery.

have tried pain shots, meds, and pt. nothing has even been helpful. i do know it is likely to set off a chain reaction, but at least i shd have a few more good yrs.
it’s either that or sit down and rot.

[H2O Man]

15. The surgeries available now

are so much better than they were twenty years ago. Back then, although they didn't tell one beforehand, it was to reduce the pace that things became worse. Today, the goal is to make things better. Surgery is never pleasant, of course, but these days there are very real advantages to it. I think that you will start feeling better after you do.

[mopinko]

25. i had a double fusion 18 yrs ago.

i def hope they have more to offer these days. it was great, tho. i was in soooo much pain, and woke up feeling pretty fine. necks r easy, tho, compared to lower back.

[malaise]

2. A very serious question my friend

Rec

[H2O Man]

4. It is.

Watching the news, it is obvious that some people haven't even considered the question, much less the answer. Certainly the fella in the White House hasn't. He is only concerned with how to declare victory.

I'm curious if you have seen any of the podcasts regarding a new weapon that Iran has acquired?

[malaise]

7. No I haven't seen any of them

Will have a look

[Ponietz]

6. MAGA: Go ahead and hate your neighbor, go ahead and cheat a friend

🎶

[2naSalit]

10. The whole song is worth hearing...

[PatSeg]

13. I love that song

A lot of people are critical of Billy Jack today, but I still find it very effective even if it was rather low budget.

[2naSalit]

14. It was an indy film...

But it had an impact on many. It was discussed for a long time among my Jr High friends at the time. The words to the song were what really stuck with me.

[PatSeg]

20. It was made on a budget of only $800,000

but went on to gross $98,000,000 worldwide. People were really receptive to the message in spite of the low budget and amateur performers. It has stayed with me all these years and especially that song.

[H2O Man]

19. I loved those movies!

Still do.

[PatSeg]

24. Did you watch any of the sequels?

I only saw the original. The sequels didn't seem to do very well at the box office.

[H2O Man]

27. There were five.

The first was "Born Losers," followed by "Billy Jack," then "The Trial of Billy Jack," then "Billy Jack Goes to Washington," and finally "The Return of Billy Jack." The second is the best known, and the third is very good. The others were not of the same qualit.

[PatSeg]

29. Thanks

I didn't know there was one BEFORE "Billy Jack". At least that one is available for streaming on Amazon Prime. I'd like to see "The Trial of Billy Jack", but I can't find it anywhere for streaming and I feel $5.99 is too much for a rental of an old movie.

Thank you!

[Ponietz]

17. Thank you!

The MAGA anthem.

[RB77]

31. Tee-hee 🤭

Yep!

[H2O Man]

18. Great!

Thank you!

[H2O Man]

16. Beautiful!

Well done! And thank you!

[Martin Eden]

8. John Kerry broke my heart in October 2002

Last edited Sat Jun 6, 2026, 03:40 PM - Edit history (1)

Not irreparably broken, but extremely disappointed and discouraged.

I joined DU in 2002 when GW Bush and his neocons were ginning up lies for war in Iraq. It was here that I learned about PNAC and their need for a "new Pearl Harbor" to gain public approval. There were loads of information on their deliberate campaign of deceit about WMD and conflation of Iraq with the 9/11 terrorists.

As the vote by Congress on the Iraq War Resoltion approached, I looked to strong Democratic leaders to speak truth to power against this needless war of choice based on lies.

More than anyone else, I looked to John Kerry, who rose to prominence speaking truth to power about the senseless waste of blood and treasure he experienced.

But when the vote came to empower Bush with the authority to launch his war, nearly half the Democrats in Congress voted for it -- including senators John Kerry, Hillary Clinton, and Joe Biden.

Today, we look again to strong Democratic leaders to stop the madness. We are more united now against a stupid war and an existential threat to our democracy.

Will it be enough?

[malaise]

11. THIS

But when the vote came to empower Bush with the authority to launch his war, nearly have the Democrats in Congress voted for it -- including senators John Kerry, Hillary Clinton, and Joe Biden.


The sad truth is that the vast majority of them support US hegemony

[H2O Man]

22. Exactly.

I have been thinking about posting an essay I put on another forum yesterday. In it, I spoke about a time long ago, when I was discussing what I viewed as a complicated situation. My brother-in-law said, "Actually, it is simple, and not complicated. We have too many of the wrong people in office in Washington."

[Martin Eden]

23. In the wake of 9-11, Democrats didn't want to look "weak" on national security

The IWR vote came just before the 2002 midterms. First and foremost, support for the war was a political calculation.

But you are correct, as was Smedley Butler -- war is a racket, and a bipartisan one at that.

The war in Vietnam grew from the Democratic administrations of JFK and LBJ. The Tonkin Gulf Resolution should live in infamy along with GW's IWR.

The USA was full of promise for a better future when JFK asked Americans to ask what they can do for their country. The Peace Corps was a good start, then our young men were sent to kill and die in the jungles of Vietnam for the nebulous "Domino Theory" of communist takeover.

On the home front we had a lot of liberating counterculture and great music, but I long for the better future in which our war in Vietnam never happened.

[H2O Man]

28. Vietnam

There is a good book, "Vietnam: A History of Documents" that shows the US involvement started under Truman, who was supporting the French effort to regain control of the country after WW2. Truman said that "yellow people were not ready for democracy." Ike expanded the number of "military advisors" after the 1954 defeat of the French in Dien Bien Phu. The Geneva Accords then divided the country into the north and south, to avoid Ho from winning a national election. Then came JFK, and then LBJ. Then Nixon. So both parties played a role.

There is reason to believe that Kennedy was going to end direct involvement if he was re-elected, but that obviously didn't happen.

[H2O Man]

21. Very well said.

I think that one does well to look at the campaign funding the Democrats who supported the Cheney war in Iraq were getting. That can lead to examining the funding of the current pro-war politicians today. It's not a coincidence.

In one of the books after the 2004 election, the author told of a discussion Kerry had with top campaign people just before the election. He expressed concern about what his administration faced in Iraq if he were to win.

[EncantoCatColony]

26. Mine too

I felt betrayed by ALL who voted to support the Iraq War Resolution. It seemed so clearly a wrong move at the time, never adequately explained or justified. Even so political leaders I most respected gave George W the war he always wanted. And likely helped him get reelected.

[cliffside]

30. Recommended, so many great antiwar songs back in the day ...

agree with others who mentioned their disappointment with Dems who voted for the IWR ... some Dems did not.

War is good for the stock market though, I remember the day 10/10/2002 when the market bottomed after 2 1/2 years and lost about 50% ... somewhat another topic, though everything is connected. My foray into politics began with looking at the market.

https://edition.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/10/11/iraq.us/

About war, sad thing is there are those who were forgotten like the unknown soldier and the line "war is over" is over for them, but not so for others who survived and still struggle every day.

It never is over for those who served, my Dad was a Marine in WW2, I saw how it affected him at a certain time of the year, most likely when most of his unit was wiped out, being a survivor has challenges.

Decades later I learned he told my male cousins he would take them to Canada if they were drafted for Vietnam. He also said it is not what you know ... but who you know. We're seeing that now with this administration.

[H2O Man]

32. Very good.

In his day, the family said my great uncle was "shell-shocked" to describe his post WW1 behaviors. My grandfather had a tough time after WW2. An uncle wasn't the same after Korea. I have known a lot of guys damaged mentally from Vietnam. And those from my sons' generation frequently have serious issues after Iraq. And this, of course, impacts families.

[Saoirse9]

33. Something tells me

This war will not end until trump ends, either by dying or being removed from office.

What do you think?

[H2O Man]

34. I sure hope it ends

as soon as possible. The US media is not really reporting on the meetings that Pakistan has been having not only with Iran and the clowns from the US, but also China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and others in the Middle East, including Lenanon recently. We are at risk of violence escalating, and that is something that would be very bad for the world. And there isn't going to be a never-ending stalemate that lasts two more years.

Thus, I am hoping that the president leaves office very soon.

[kentuck]

35. I listened to that song when I was in Vietnam...

I was always supportive of John Kerry and the Vietnam Veterans Against the War.

It seems such a long time ago.

The peace sign was more than just a symbol. It was a statement of our beliefs.

[H2O Man]

36. Right.

I've been having a conversation with a fella I've know since childhood. He was upset because he thought I was implying the military lost the Vietnam war. I said that even after the surprise Tet offensive, the US regained control quickly. I noted that Ho had told the french that even if they killed ten Vietnamese for every French soldier Vietnam killed, Vietnam would eventually win. A later Vietnamese leader said something very similar to his US counterpart. They were not talking about winning militarily,but rather due to the serious foreign policy positions of France then the US.

Just my opinion, but I don't think there was anyone more responsible than Robert McNamara.