As the Ukraine crisis worsens, Official Washington fumes only about “Russian aggression” — much as a half century ago, the Tonkin Gulf talk was all about “North Vietnamese aggression.” But then and now there were other sides to the story – and questions that Congress needed to ask, writes Robert Parry....
…here’s the truth about Official Washington: if you run with the pack – if you stay within the herd – you’ll be safe. Even if things go terribly wrong – even if thousands of American soldiers die along with many, many more foreign civilians – you can expect little or no accountability. You will likely keep your job and may well get promoted. But if you stand in the way of the stampede, you’ll be trampled.…
Though the last Congress already whipped through belligerent resolutions denouncing “Russian aggression” and urging a military response – with only five Democrats and five Republicans dissenting – members of the new Congress could at least ascertain the facts that have driven the Ukraine conflict. Before the world lurches into a nuclear showdown, it might make a little sense to know what got us here.…
Now, the United States is hurtling toward a potential nuclear confrontation with Russia over Ukraine and this congressional ineptness could become an existential threat to the planet. The situation also has disturbing similarities to the Tonkin Gulf situation although arguably much, much more dangerous.
It's true that Congress needed to ask those questions right way, but when Congress did finally ask and the Navy agreed to open the files, the investigators did not know where to look, and the Navy people who knew were told not to offer any information, but rather to provide only what was asked for specifically. The investigators did not know what to ask for that specifically.
BTW, the Gulf of Tonkin incident took place in August, 1964, leading to escalation of US forces that ultimately took 50,000 US lives, many more wounded and many maimed, and orders of magnitude more Vietnamese death and casualties, many of the them civilians. In fact, the country is still recovering from environmental destruction wrought, for example, by Agent Orange, a toxic and long-lasting defoliant.
In the end, the Gulf of Tonkin incident was found to be a false flag operation. I was on active duty in the US Naval Reserve at the time serving in the area and had friends aboard the ships that were reportedly attacked. I asked about it when I saw them next and was told that everything about the operation was secret so they couldn't say anything about it all.
This should give fair warning.
BTW, the Gulf of Tonkin incident took place in August, 1964, leading to escalation of US forces that ultimately took 50,000 US lives, many more wounded and many maimed, and orders of magnitude more Vietnamese death and casualties, many of the them civilians. In fact, the country is still recovering from environmental destruction wrought, for example, by Agent Orange, a toxic and long-lasting defoliant.
In the end, the Gulf of Tonkin incident was found to be a false flag operation. I was on active duty in the US Naval Reserve at the time serving in the area and had friends aboard the ships that were reportedly attacked. I asked about it when I saw them next and was told that everything about the operation was secret so they couldn't say anything about it all.
This should give fair warning.
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