Thank you, John. I find your questions eloquent, well-reasoned, and important. As for Vietnam, one has to ask what it means to fight heroically in an unjust cause, whether it is possible at all to commit a war crime honorably..
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Americans were outraged at Japan's sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. No declaration of war. Like Japan, we never declared war on Vietnam. What became know as "The Gulf of Tonkin Incident" took place on August 4-5, 1964. President Johnson deemed it a causus belli, and Congress agreed on August 7 in the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. President Johnson signed it three days later, giving him authority to "take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression." Unfortunately, the Resolution was based on misinformation -to put the matter generously.
The US Naval Institute offers a detailed account of the Incident, based on material declassified in the '00s. The gist of the precise account is summarized by Navy Commander James Stockdale, who " had no doubt about what had happened: 'We were about to launch a war under false pretenses, in the face of the on-scene military commander's advice to the contrary.' "
In addition to the lying, there is a question of international law. Although it was held to satisfy our own Constitutional requirements for Congressional approval, did the Resolution of August 7 constitute a declaration of war? If not, McCain and the other participants in the bombing, like the Japanese pilots of the "Day of Infamy", were war criminals, whatever their targets. I would be interested in John Shattuck's opinion: did the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution amount to a declaration of war in international law?
On Sun, Sep 16, 2018 at 5:10 PM John Brightly <jbrightly@gmail.com> wrote:
Some people didn't get the attachment so I'm sending again..
Bill+
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GLORIA ENIM DEI VIVENS HOMO ~ VITA AUTEM HOMINIS VISIO DEI
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GLORIA ENIM DEI VIVENS HOMO ~ VITA AUTEM HOMINIS VISIO DEI
- Irenaeus of Lyons, CIRCA AD 180
Letting go is all we have to hold on to
- Gregg Eisenburg
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