Yesterday the Air Force Board, Secretary of Defense Gates and President Obama asked the Senate to exonerate 4 star General Lavell and restore to him his rightful rank after he was thrown under the Bus by the President Nixon during the Vietnam War. 4 Star General Lavell was demoted and forced to retire in 1972. He died in 1979.
He was demoted, relieved from duty, and his name dragged through the mud ostensibly for violating Presidential orders during the war. The Problem, he wasn't guilty and
"It is clear the White House, the Department of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff all possessed evidence which, if released, would have exonerated him."
Tapes recorded in the oval office between Kissinger and President Nixon reveal that not only did the President know that the General was only following orders, he apparently did not like the idea of throwing the "General under the bus."
He did it anyway for the sake of public opinion and re-election. And nobody from that administration was held accountable for the the disgrace handed to General Lavell for doing his duty.
You can google "President Nixon, General Lavell" to get any number of articles reporting this story.
The Vietnam era was turbulent times in this country as the Government lied. Foreign terrorism was not the issue as this country damn near tore itself apart.
Fast forward to today. Whats changed. We were lied into Iraq by Government lies. The words corrupt, liar and politician have become synonyms and if your in the way? Well your thrown under the bus and nobody is held accountable.
And like the Vietnam era, we have an ever growing divisiveness in this country, that we would assert, still leaves the country more at risk from it's own citizens than foreign terrorists.
