SOUNDBITE:
"Right now I fight not only for my honour, not only for money but also for the future of America that is exactly what I want to see in the United States of America because I think this nation is the best nation of humans."
Ha Van Son, Former South Vietnamese Commando. June 19/1996
TRIỆU XA - TRIỆU QUÁT
Sau thời tiền sử lâu dài, nước Trung Hoa bước vào thời hữu sử văn minh của Tam Hoàng, Ngũ Đế. Hai thời kỳ nầy, dân được thái b́nh an lạc, phong hóa tốt đẹp nên được gọi là thời Hoàng Kim. Kế tiếp là thời Tam Đại: Hạ, Thương, Chu. Vua Kiệt nhà Hạ v́ mê nàng Muội Hỹ mà mất ngôi về nhà Thương. Vua Trụ nhà Thương mê nàng Đắt Kỷ khiến mất ngôi về nhà Chu. Nhà Chu cai trị từ thế kỷ 11 trước Tây Lịch, được hơn 800 năm. Vua U Vương nhà Chu mê nàng Bao Tự mà sinh giặc giả, và chết trong đám loạn quân. Nhà Chu suy yếu hẵn.
Các vua nhà Chu thường phong hầu và chia đất đai rộng lớn cho các công thần và thân tộc cai trị và thâu hoa lợi. Nên tạo ra hằng trăm nước chư hầu tự trị. Mỗi năm họ chỉ phải lễ nghi triều cống thiên tử nhà Chu mà thôi.
Từ sau U vương, nhà Chu suy yếu, các nước chư hầu lớn bé không c̣n thần phục thiên tử nữa, tự quyền đánh giết lẫn nhau, tạo thành một thời kỳ chiến tranh lâu dài, gọi là thời Xuân Thu.
Theo đà lớn nuốt bé, sau chỉ c̣n lại 7 nước: Yên, Tề, Triệu, Ngụy, Hàn, Sở, ở phía Đông và Tần ở phía Tây. Tần hùng mạnh hơn cả và t́m cách diệt 6 nước kia. Sáu nước kia cầm cự lâu dài, nhờ sự liên minh theo kế Tô Tần. Nước Tần lại dùng sách lược của Trương Nghi để phá vỡ sự liên minh nầy và thôn tính dần từng nước cho đến hết. Thời nầy gọi là thời Chiến Quốc.
Trong bối cảnh Xuân Thu, Chiến Quốc nầy, xảy ra hàng ngàn chuyện mưu trí ngoại giao và quân sự ngoạn muc. Ở đây tôi chỉ xin kể lại chuyện cha con Triệu Xa và Triệu Quát làm tướng nước Triệu, để các bạn giải trí và học hỏi một đôi kinh nghiệm:
Danh tướng nước Tần là Bạch Khởi vây đánh thành Ô Dữ nước Hàn. Hàn cầu cứu Triệu. Vua tôi nước Triệu thấy quân Tần quá hùng mạnh nên rất bối rối. May nhờ tướng Triệu là Triệu Xa nghĩ có cách đánh bại được binh Tần nên xin cầm quân đi giăi vây cứu nước Hàn.
Triệu Xa đem binh ra gần biên giới, thay v́ thốc binh đánh Tần lại hạ trại đồn binh bất động, và lệnh cấm quân lính nói việc cứu nước Hàn. Tướng Tần nghi hoặc cho sứ giả đến thăm ḍ hỏi tại sao không đến giao chiến. Triệu Xa bảo với sứ Tần rằng ông chỉ được lệnh pḥng thủ nước Triệu, chứ không dám giao chiến với Tần. Sứ giả về báo, tướng Tần không c̣n đế pḥng quân Triệu nữa, và cứ tiếp tục lo đánh thành Ô Dữ của Hàn.
Sau khi tiển sứ giả về đến dinh Tần, Triệu Xa truyền quân: người ngậm thẻ, ngựa cất lạc, ngày đêm cấp tốc theo đường tắt tiến đến thành Ô Dữ để bất ngờ đánh úp quân Tần. Nghe theo ư kiến của Hứa Lịch là lính trong quân, Triệu Xa cử Hứa Lịch dẫn lính tiền thám chiếm đỉnh cao quan sát trận địa.
Quân Triệu tuy ít, nhưng nhờ quân Tiền Thám trên đỉnh cao ra hiệu hướng dẫn, vẫn có thể phục binh đánh lại quân Tần đông gấp bội. Cuối cùng quân Triệu bất ngờ dồn toàn quân đánh mạnh vào chủ lực của Tần. Quân Tần tan vỡ bỏ chạy. Quân Triệu giải cứu thành Ô Dữ và đuổi theo chém giết vô số quân Tần.
Triệu Xa được vua Hàn tạ ơn và được vua Triệu phong là Mă Phục Quân, ngang hàng với tướng quốc Lạn Tương Như và lăo tướng Liêm Pha.
Triệu Xa có một người con trai là Triệu Quát, từ nhỏ đă ham học binh thư, sách lục thao tam lược đều thuộc ḷng cả. Khi lớn lên, ngày nào Quát cũng nói chuyện binh thư đồ trận và tự phụ, coi thiên hạ không ai ra ǵ.
Triệu Xa không vui, nói với vợ rằng Quát không thể nối gịng làm tướng được. Mẹ Quát thấy con trai thông minh, tài trí, mà sao chồng ḿnh lại nói thế, nên ngạc nhiên hỏi tại sao. Triệu Xa mới đáp rằng:” Làm tướng là cầm cái sống, cái chết trong tay. Lo lắng, sợ hải, học hỏi mọi người, mà chưa đũ. Huống hồ nó lại tự đắc, không coi ai ra ǵ.”
Người mẹ thuật lại lời ấy với Quát. Quát nói cha già sinh ra nhút nhát, làm tướng là không khuất phục một kẻ nào.
Hai năm sau Triệu Xa đau nặng. Trước khi chết, dặn Triệu Quát rằng :”Ta làm tướng đă bao năm trời. Ngày nay mới mừng khỏi cái nhục thua trận, nay dầu chết cũng an ḷng. Con không có tài làm tướng, chớ nên nhận chức ấy làm bại hoại gia phong“. Triệu Xa c̣n dặn vợ: ”Sau nầy vua Triệu có phong cho Quát làm tướng, bà nên thuật lời nói của ta với vua mà từ chối. Việc làm tan quân mất nước là điều sỉ nhục, tội ấy rất lớn.”
Sau khi Triệu Xa mất, vua Triệu tưởng nhớ công ơn Triệu Xa, nên phong Triệu Quát làm tướng thế chức Mă Phục Quân.
Chẳng bao lâu sau, Tần lại đem binh xâm lấn. Vua Triệu sai lăo tướng Liêm Pha đem binh chống giữ. Trong trận đầu, tướng tiên phong của Liêm Pha tử trận, quân Triệu thua. Liêm Pha thấy đại binh Tần quá mạnh, bèn đóng quân cố thủ. Quân Tần đánh măi không thắng được. Vua Tần bèn hỏi kế tướng quốc là Phạm Chuy. Phạm Chuy biết lăo tướng Liêm Pha kinh nghiệm chiến trận và rất giỏi binh pháp. Nay binh Tần đường xa kéo đến, Liêm Pha muốn giữ cho binh Tần đánh lâu ngày không thắng sinh ra chán nản, sẽ liệu thế phản công. Vă lại tướng Tần là Vương Hạt c̣n trẻ chưa phải là đối thủ của Liêm Pha. Muốn thắng trận phải t́m kế loại trừ Liêm Pha trước.
Phạm Chuy bày vua Tần dùng vàng bạc làm lễ vật, cho gián điệp đi dường tắt sang kinh thành vua Triệu, đút lót với kẻ tả hữu để nói với vua Triệu rằng: “Vơ tướng của nước Triệu không ai giỏi bằng Mă Phục Quân Triệu Xa, nay nghe nói con của Triệu Xa c̣n giỏi hơn gấp mấy. Nếu cho con của Triệu Xa làm tướng, quân Tần sẽ không chống lại nỗi.
Vua Triệu thấy Liêm Pha cố thủ không đánh, ḷng không vui, nay nghe lời nói ấy, tự nghĩ Liêm Pha là dũng tướng, nhưng nay đă già sinh ra nhút nhát, chi bèn sai con Triệu Xa ra thay thế là hơn. Liền đ̣i Triệu Quát vào hỏi có thể đánh lui được quân Tần chăng.
Triệu Quát tâu nếu tướng Tần là Bạch Khởi trước kia đă đánh Hàn, Ngụy, Sỡ, bách chiến bách thắng, có lần hạ được 61 thành, chém hàng 24 vạn thủ cấp, th́ mới là đối thủ của Quát, chứ c̣n Vương Hạt là tướng trẻ, băn lĩnh có là bao, chẳng qua Liêm Pha tuổi già sức yếu không thắng được đó thôi. Vua Triệu mừng rỡ, cử Quát làm Đại Tướng ra thay thế Liêm Pha.
Mẹ Triệu Quát hay tin thất kinh và nhắc lại Quát lời nói của Triệu Xa lúc lâm chung. Quát đáp rằng chẳng phải con không muốn từ chối, nhưng trong triều không c̣n ai giỏi hơn Quát nầy. Bà mẹ liền dâng thư lên vua Triệu, kể lại lời trối của Triệu Xa, nhưng vua Triệu vẫn nhất quyết phong Quát làm tướng.
Vua Tần được gián điệp báo tin nầy, sai Bạch Khởi bí mật làm đại tướng chỉ huy quân Tần. Quát ra thay Liêm Pha chỉ huy quân Triệu, bỏ việc cố thủ, chuẩn bị phản công quân Tần.
Bạch Khởi cho lệnh tướng Tần giả vờ thua chạy. Triệu Quát thắng được trận đầu, cho quân mở tiệc rượu ăn mừng và ra chiến thư, hẹn ngày mai giao chiến. Hy vọng hôm sau sẽ bắt sống được tướng chỉ huy quân Tần là Vương Hạt để làm tṛ cười cho chư hầu.
Bạch Khởi cho quân lui ra xa, hạ trại và bố trí các mặt trận, để gài quân Triệu vào thế bị động mà đánh. Thấy quân Tần lui, Quát tưởng là quân Tần đă khiếp sợ, nghĩ rằng chỉ một trận nữa là sẽ tiêu diệt được quân Tần.
Sáng sớm hôm sau, Quát đem đại binh đánh quân Tần. Hai bên đối địch hồi lâu, quân Tần giả thua bỏ chạy. Quát đốc binh đuổi theo. Tướng Triệu là Phùng Đ́nh can Quát rằng quân Tần nhiều man trá, không nên đuổi theo mà lầm kế. Quát không nghe, tiến quân thẳng đến dinh Tần. Nhưng bị quân Tần kháng cự mănh liệt, quân Triệu không thắng được. Trong lúc đó Bạch Khởi đă cho quân đánh bọc hậu phía sau, cướp mất hậu cứ của quân Triệu. Quân Triệu đầu đuôi bị đứt ra nhiều mảnh, không tiếp ứng nhau được, bị quân Tần luân phiên tấn công liên tiếp, không nghỉ ngơi và bổ sung được.
Phùng Đ́nh bàn với Quát rằng quân ta tuy thất thế, song binh lực hăy c̣n, xin Quát cho quân mở đường thoát. Quát không nghe cứ đốc quân đánh tới , nhưng không sao tiến lên được. Binh thế lần lần yếu ớt, lương thực không thể tiếp tế. Binh sĩ người ngựa đói khát ră rời chân tay.
Bây giờ Quát mới hay Bạch Khởi chỉ huy quân Tần. Quát sợ hải muốn dẫn quân bộ hạ mở đường máu chạy trốn. Nhưng đă bị Bạch Khởi tính trước, mở đường cho Quát chạy và dùng quân cung nơ bắn chết. Mấy chục vạn quân của nước Triệu lớp chết lớp đầu hàng toàn bộ.
Bạch Khởi bắt giữ hơn hai mưoi vạn hàng binh của nước Triệu. V́ số tù binh quá đông, sợ nổi loạn, Bạch Khởi truyền lệnh ban đêm cho quân sát thủ cởi trần, cầm đoản đao, lẻn vào trại tù binh ṃ vào ai bận áo là đâm chết cả. Đầu quân Triệu chết chất thành một núi đầu lâu.
Hiện tại, mươi năm gần đây, ở vùng chiến trận nầy, người ta t́nh cờ đào được một mồ chôn tập thể, mấy vạn hài cốt, một số vẫn c̣n nguyên vẹn. Người ta chắc đó là mồ chôn tập thể của chiến binh nước Triệu thời xưa vậy.
Trong sáu nước chư hầu đối địch với Tần, quân Triệu được coi là tinh nhuệ và hùng mạnh hơn cả. Thua trận nầy, nước Triệu không c̣n được coi là một lực lượng đáng kể. Quân Tần thừa thắng như chẻ tre, tiếp tục thôn tính sáu nước chư hầu. Chẳng bao lâu sau, vua Tần Thủy Hoàng hoàn tất việc chinh phục, thống nhất nước Trung Hoa lên làm Hoàng Đế, băi bỏ việc phong kiến, đặt ra lối cai trị trung ương tập quyền, độc tài, đốt sách, chôn học tṛ, xây cất hoàn tất vạn lư trường thành, dựng lập cung A Pḥng chứa 4000 mỹ nữ, xây dựng lăng tẩm. Nhân dân vô cùng khốn khổ, lao dịch nặng nề.
Để kết thúc, đây là một câu chuyện đáng được suy gẫm và học hỏi:
Người tuổi trẻ dù có tài cao cũng phải cẩn thận học hỏi kinh nghiệm của kẻ khác sẽ tránh nhiều thiệt hại hơn tự ḿnh kinh nghiệm lấy.
Những lời trối trăn bất hũ của Triệu Xa dạy chúng ta ư thức được trách nhiệm và thái độ đứng đắn của kẻ lănh đạo hoặc tướng chỉ huy đối với quân đội và xứ sở. Mua quan bán chức hay lầm lẫn bổ nhiệm kẻ tay chân bất tài, thiếu kinh nghiệm vào chức lớn là phá hư đại cuộc của đất nước. Nhận của hối lộ, phao tin theo dụng ư của gián điệp là phản bội quan trọng không kém việc bán vũ khí lương thực, rừng đất cho địch lập căn cứ. Kẻ làm quan, tướng nắm giữ trọng trách, mà quân đă tan, nước đă mất, tất phải sỉ nhục. Trong hoàn cảnh mất nước, chức càng lớn, tội càng nặng, không thể đổ vấy lẫn nhau hay cho ai khác được. Người ta sẽ hổ thẹn hơn là vênh vang xưng tụng lẫn nhau chức tước cũ. Bại binh chi tướng bất khả ngôn dũng, Vong quốc chi đại phu bất khả ngôn trí.
Nếu so sánh sự thua trận lớn lao và nhanh chóng của quân Triệu do sự dùng tướng và tham mưu sai lầm của vua Triệu và sự chỉ huy bất cẩn của Triệu Quát với sự sụp đỗ nhanh chóng của quân đội Miền Nam do Thiệu lănh đạo và các tướng tá chỉ huy cũng có đôi điểm tương đồng. Kẻ chiến thắng có quyền lực trong tay tha hồ tự do hành động, số phận sống chết của kẻ chiến bại nằm trong tay kẻ chiến thắng.
Bài học cha con họ Triệu nầy, không những chỉ áp dụng về mặt quân sự, mà c̣n có thể áp dụng trong nhiều phương diện của cuộc đời, ví như bài bạc, làm ăn kinh doanh, lúc nào cũng thăm ḍ cẩn thận, học hỏi, vừa công, vùa thủ. Nếu cứ chủ quan tự phụ, nhắm tới một chiều, không tham khảo ư kiến ai cả, để rủi thất bại, mất nhiều vốn liếng, sự nghiệp trắng tay cũng là điều khổ nhục.
SERVED IN A NOBLE CAUSE
Vietnamese commandos : hearing before the Select Committee on Intelligence of the United States Senate, One Hundred Fourth Congress, second session ...
Wednesday, June 19, 1996
CLIP RELEASED JULY 21/2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLEr4wlBhmZ8qYiZf7TfA6sNE8qjhOHDR6&v=6il0C0UU8Qg
Vietnamese commandos : hearing before the Select Committee on Intelligence of the United States Senate, One Hundred Fourth Congress, second session ... Wednesday, June 19, 1996
Published on Jul 21, 2015
English/Nat
South Vietnamese commandos trained by the US and dropped into the communist North during the Vietnam war are still campaigning for back pay they claim they are owed.
Many of the South Vietnamese were captured, tortured or killed after they were dropped into enemy territory.
Those who survived the ordeal returned to the US - only to discover that the US government had written them off as dead and had stopped paying their families.
South Vietnamese trained by the US military attended a Congressional hearing Wednesday - another step in their fight to get back pay they say the US still owes them.
SOUNDBITE:
"Our government is not facing up to the facts. Not facing up to basic humanity."
SUPER CAPTION: Senator Arlen Specter, (R - Pennsylvania) Chairman of Foreign Intelligence Sub-Committee
About 500 commandos infiltrated into North Vietnam as part of a disastrous US operation throughout the 1960s.
Many of them were killed - others were captured and put in prison.
But nearly 200 survived - only to discover that during their stay in jail the US government declared them killed in action and stopped paying their salary to their families.
The survivors - who now live in the US - have filed a lawsuit in the US Court of Claims in an effort to obtain two-thousand US dollars each for every year they spent in prison.
They're supported by Vietnam veteran and Senator John Kerry and other members of Congress who served in Vietnam.
They are filing legislation authorising the payment to the commandos.
SOUNDBITE:
"In a sense one of the things they have indicated that they want more perhaps than even money is this process of public acknowledgement for what they went through and the service they gave."
SUPER CAPTION: Senator John Kerry, (D - Massachusetts) Vietnam Veteran
The lawyer for the Vietnamese commandos says it is important to find out exactly what happened to the South Vietnamese.
SOUNDBITE:
"The hearing was to look into the issue of how prisoners of war have been left behind, how prisoners of war have been written off as dead, when we knew they were living. And how we treat those who serve and suffer on our behalf."
SUPER CAPTION: John C Mattes, Lawyer
One of the commandos officially back from the dead, Ha Van Son, told a Senate committee how he was abandoned to years of imprisonment in North Vietnam.
He went on to accuse the US of breaking its promise to care for his family.
SOUNDBITE:
"Right now I fight not only for my honour, not only for money but also for the future of America that is exactly what I want to see in the United States of America because I think this nation is the best nation of humans."
SUPER CAPTION: Ha Van Son, Former South Vietnamese Commando
The government has asked for dismissal of the commandos' suit because it involves a secret contract for a covert operation and therefore is unenforceable in US courts.
But it supports senator Kerry's legislation which has passed the Senate on a voice vote as an amendment to the Defence Authorisation bill.
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US SENATE APPROVED VIETNAMESE COMMANDOS COMPENSATION BILL
http://www.c-span.org/video/?73094-1/senate-session&start=15807
BẮT ĐẦU TỪ PHÚT 4:22:12 - 4:52:10 (13.20 - 13.50)
04:22:12
MR. MCCAIN
Despising center from Arizona Mr McCain . Mispresent death .
04:22:20
THE PRESIDING OFFICER
I say Senate. The Center for Massachusetts on the floor right now you know the former
04:22:26
MR. MCCAIN
04:22:27
THE PRESIDING OFFICER
president carried Massachusetts Mr Kerry is recognized. Mr President
04:22:34
MR. MCCAIN
. I send them and. What is the Parliamentary. Situation where
04:22:40
MR. KERRY
we
04:22:41
THE PRESIDING OFFICER
vote on the idea of the
04:22:47
MR. KERRY
cream amendment to the to the brim and has been postponed till two fifteen. So senator may offer them and. I I thank the chair. I therefore send an amendment to the desk on behalf of myself Senator McCain Senator Bob Show Less Text
04:23:00
THE PRESIDING OFFICER
Kerrey Bob Smith Larry Pressler . Chuck Robb. Tom Daschle and have Leahy.
04:23:07
MR. KERRY
Click report to the Center for Massachusetts . Mr Kerry. Poses an amendment number forty two and I asked for the reading of the none of the dispense of...
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04:23:19
THE PRESIDING OFFICER
. Mr President this is an amendment that
04:23:23
THE CLERK
seeks to address . Yet another
04:23:27
MR. KERRY
painful chapter in the long
04:23:30
THE PRESIDING OFFICER
legacy of painful
04:23:32
MR. KERRY
chapters with respect to Vietnam . And its pacifically addresses. What some might characterize as our own form of a bureaucratic. Phoenix program that sought to eliminate from existence. It's a group of commandos who served faithfully during the war . Under our organizational effort in command effort. This amendment would reimburse . This group of commandos for their years of incarceration . In North Vietnamese prisons. While they served in the mutual cause . And together with our. In the war in Vietnam. What the amendment seeks to do is to authorize twenty million dollars for payment. To Vietnamese personnel who infiltrated into North Vietnam to perform. Covert operations. During the Vietnam era . And who were captured and incarcerated by. The Democratic Republic of Vietnam . Under the amendment. A lump sum payment. Of forty thousand dollars. Would be provided to each claimant determined eligible. By the secretary of defense . And I'm pleased to say that the administration has worked very closely . In designing this amendment . And signing off on it . And now fully supports it. As do I believe . The of chairman the Armed Services Committee and the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee. Those of us who are for this amendment. Recognize that the United States worked with many Southeast Asian forces during the Vietnam war. But our intent here. Is to only single out for recognition. The Vietnamese commandos who participated in a specific program in OP land thirty four . A and its predecessor. And who sought . Under that program to infiltrate into North Vietnam. Who were captured . And who are incarcerated in the process . In devising guidelines for proof of eligibility for payments under this amendment the secretary of defense . Is to take into account that these claimants because of the war in the incarceration . May not have complete documentation proving eligibility. But it's our intent that the standard of proof here. Be set low enough to do justice in this situation . Mr President thirty years ago Vietnam presented us with a host of questions and. Difficult. Contradictions. And now. In this situation we find a new chapter that is a surprise for all of us . In many ways . This chapter is old because we've always known through the centuries that war is cruel. On the other hand. It's new because as Americans. None of us have ever expected that we would allow something to happen . That purposefully or inadvertently. Attacks or diminishes. Our own sense of honor . The truth is that we sent. Heroic Vietnamese commandos into North Vietnam to do our bidding. Risking their lives. And even their family lives . And then we left them there. Denied their existence. And walked away leaving them to be imprisoned tortured or killed. So we're here today . Simply to right a wrong . To pay for an injustice and to seek fairness and put this . Still another disturbing chapter of a behind us . These are the facts and I'll just run through them very very quickly . In the early days of the war . The United States and South Vietnamese governments initiated a joint. Covert intelligence gathering operation against North Vietnam and. Recruited . Were commandos from among Vietnamese civilians . And the armed forces of Republic of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam . And the United States through the CIA. And later through the Defense Department. Provided training and funding. Including salaries allowances bonuses. And death benefits . Together the United States and South Vietnamese officials determine where and when the commandos were organized into teams . Would be infiltrated into North Vietnam. Many were dropped by parachute but some were inserted by land or sea . Some also can die. Acted counter-intelligence activities against North Vietnam and against Laos. Iris. Which was the first team Ariz was. Was inserted in early one nine hundred sixty one. By the early. By nine hundred seventy S. there were fifty two teams comprising nearly five hundred commandos who've been inserted behind enemy lines. Initially the mission was it was confined to intelligence gathering but subsequently. It grew to include sabotage. And psychological warfare . From the very beginning. Mr President . It was clear that this operation was a failure. Recently declassified Defense Department documents show that the teams were killed or captured . Very shortly after landing. And that the CIA and the Defense Department which took over the operation in early nineteen sixty four . Knew it at that time. It's now apparent that the missions were compromised . And that Hanoi ran a counter-espionage operation against us in our South Vietnamese ally . By forcing our commandos to radio back the information that they had no i wanted us to hear . The preponderance of evidence that has come to light in the last year leaves little doubt that the US government. At that time continued to insert Vietnamese commandos behind enemy lines . Knowing full well that it was sending them on near impossible missions. With little chance of success . In the Defense Department then compounded this tragedy. By writing off the last commandos. As dead. Apparently. In order to avoid paying their monthly salaries and example a six month . Called. Attila was dropped into new province. On April twenty fifth one nine hundred sixty four. The team was immediately captured . Two months later on July sixteenth radio Hanoi announced the names and addresses of the sixteen members . Dates that they were captured. And the start of their trials . Declassified Defense Department documents indicate that we knew the team had been captured. But never the last by the beginning of one nine hundred sixty five. Only months later. The Defense Department had declared the entire team dead. And paid small death benefits to their next of kin . The process of declaring the commandos dead on paper. Was reaffirmed in one nine hundred sixty nine . By the colonel in charge of the operations for max. The military assistance studies observation group. And he said and I quote . We reduced the number of dead gradually by declaring so many of them dead each month until we've written them all off and removed them from the monthly payrolls. So. Mr President after sending these men on these extraordinary missions. After cutting off their pay . We then committed the most egregious act of all we made no effort to obtain their release. Along with the American P.O.W.'s during the peace to go Szish ns in Paris . And as a result. Many of these brave men who fought alongside us for the same cause. Spent years in prison. More than twenty years . In some cases . After their release from prison in nineteen seventies or eighties a number of the commandos made their way to the United States. And they're now seeking acknowledgement from our country . For their service and payment from the government for their period of incarceration . In a lawsuit they have asked for two thousand dollars a year . For an average of twenty years spent in captivity. We believe those of us . Supporting this amendment . That the United States owns these men the debt that can never be repaid . And. And we can at least give them the recognition that they deserve . And the small of count of Mount of compensation that they were promised. Three decades ago. Speaking for myself. I'm not here nor do I think any of us are here to try to point fingers at people individually . Nor even to find scapegoats or scalps. I don't think any purpose is served by that. But we do want people to understand what happened. Twenty five and thirty years ago so that it won't happen again. And we're here also to do the right thing. It is clearly important not to compound judgments that were wrong twenty five and thirty years ago . With judgments that are wrong today . And it would be wrong to avoid. Executing our responsibility today. So Mr President . We can honor their service and make it clear to those who might join us again at any time. Now or in the future . In the struggle for freedom and democracy that we are big enough in our country to admit mistakes when they are made and to move to rectify them . And that while sometimes people may make mistakes a great country will always honor. And thank those who fight with us in a common cause . And this president I believe the amendment that we are offering today will help to provide that recognition . And I urge its adoption special Mr McCain is recognized as president the amendment requires the secretary defense to make payments to Vietnamese nationals who were trained commanded by the U.S. government. To fight behind enemy lines here in the war
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04:33:40
THE PRESIDING OFFICER.
It meant purposely created a low standard of proof to be met by the commandos.
04:33:45
MR. MCCAIN
And it is our intention . And hope that it be interpreted liberally. All of these men must prove in order to receive payment for their services is that when they entered. North Vietnam during the war under an operation called Op Plan thirty four A or its predecessor . And that they were captured incarcerated by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam is result. Was present for a price we seven years beginning in one nine hundred sixty one the United States apparently contracted with. It's South Vietnamese nationals. To can duck. Covert military operations in North Vietnam. But first under the authority of the CIA and later under the authority of the Defense Department. Hundreds of commandos were sent into North Viet Nam and more than four hundred fifty were killed or captured . Those captured. Were convicted of treason and remain in captivity until one nine hundred seventy nine when they began to be released at a minimum. Each served fifteen years at hard labor. Many of them suffered through more than twenty years of imprisonment. A recently declassified study done in one nine hundred seventy by the Joint Chiefs of Staff which oversaw the commando program. Indicates that the commandos were funded by Deal D. and that the majority of them were captured alive and taken prisoner by North Viet Nam . More recently only weeks ago. Eighty boxes of documents were documents were discovered in the National Archives related to the employment of these brave men. These documents twenty four two hundred forty thousand in total. Include D.O.D. payroll rosters for the commandos and records. Of Death gratuity. To address this in just in just as the amendment provides the commandos with twenty million dollars in back pay a price me forty thousand dollars each . And as the senator from Massachusetts pointed out this amounts to about two thousand dollars for each year each Kommando spent in prison . We have chosen is the number of commandos. The outside estimate of five hundred. The cost may ultimately be as low as eleven million dollars. But because the number of eligible Vietnamese veterans main. Crease as time goes by we thought it important to give the secretary of spending authority to meet the contingency . Of more claims . It ministration until very recently citing eight hundred seventy five Supreme Court case maintain that it had no obligation to these men . Because they were employed under secret contract. I'm pleased to report however that the commandos now have the support of the administration. Senator Kerry and I and Senator. SMITH And Senator Robb. And senator. Other senators. Have worked very closely with the administration. In formulating this amendment. The CIA began the program but later turned it over to the part in defense at which time the numbers of teams an individual sent in a North Viet Nam approximately doubled. Late former CIA Director William Colby. Who in one nine hundred sixty one is the chief of the agency's Far Eastern Division was tasked with directing the commando program . He indicated his support for the commandos claims . And specifically endorsed a legislative solution. I also asked to be included in the record a letter from the current. Acting CIA director George Tenet. Supporting a legislative solution to the problem. The objections senators littoral be included in a record . I would point out. Mr President that the amendment has a support of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion . All of the details and legalities aside one thing is clear .
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04:37:11
THE PRESIDING OFFICER
He's been sacrificed for a cause . The same
04:37:14
MR. MCCAIN
cause for which all veterans of the Vietnam War sacrificed a free Viet Nam. And they suffered horribly for their commitment. For many years U.S. immigration policy has provided programs which ease the process . For those Vietnamese associated with the United States war effort. We do so because it is our obligation to our wartime allies. All of the co-sponsors of this amendment are asking is that we similarly honor. The full extent of our obligations to the commandos. And correct this gross injustice . One of the commandos is quoted in Saturday's New York Times as saying quote. They didn't want to remember us. Because we represent the failure of the United States in Viet Nam I've always made the case it is a nation that is individuals we must put the Vietnam War behind us . To continue to deny the service of these men. Is not the way to do it. I also strongly subscribe to the words of President Reagan who said it. As a success. Lee and his call here is possible that. When he stated that the Viet Nam veterans who served. Served in a noble cause . I repeat. A noble cause. As did these the South Vietnamese commandos was present. We send a bright signal by passing this legislation today the United States of America . Lives up to its agreements with its friends. Because it is a nation of honor and a nation of laws. Expression I strongly urge the passage of this amendment . And I you know this president. Center Virginia Mr Rubb is recognized. Mr President I'm very pleased to join with my colleagues in co-sponsoring this particular reservation. This particular. Amendment.
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04:39:01
THE PRESIDING OFFICER
The case for support. Has been eloquently stated by the distinguished senator from Massachusetts the English. To Senator from Arizona. And could be made by others I won't repeat it . I will simply say that. What was done in the name of the United States. In the instance of these particular commandos. Is appalling. In unconscionable. And this is clearly the right thing to do to atone for the actions that were taken some time ago and without the knowledge of apparently very many people in the government. At that particular time in any event. I applaud my colleagues for taking this particular action was to present what I have the floor for just one moment. The last. Amendment that was debated and. On which . The days and days have been ordered and was temporarily set aside for a vote at two fifteen. I would like to just say. As I was prepared to say at that time that could not that I am a co-sponsor of that particular amendment . And I would. Would reiterate for my colleagues particular on the side of the aisle who may not have heard the arguments. This is simply a sense of the Senate resolution. Which is a. Attempting to deal with a very difficult problem here in the nation's capital. It does not direct the president or the secretary of the Treasury or the Secret Service . To do anything . It is a sense of the Senate resolution that asked him in effect to work together to try to solve the problem. And I would hope that my colleagues would join in this case in opposing the motion. Table. When we vote on it at two fifteen Mr President . When that. Mr President. With the gentleman from Virginia yield for question . The mispresent I would be happy to yield to my distinguished friend and colleague from Nevada Senator events. I would say to my friend the. And I ask this inform the question . The sense the Senate resolution does direct. It is the sense of the Senate
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04:40:58
MR. ROBB
that the president should direct. And I list number of people . On to my. My friend Mr
04:41:05
MR. REID
President that it is a sense of the Senate we are simply expressing the sense of the Senate. That what we hope the president will do. In that particular instance. It is not prescriptive it is. It is not statutory it does not require that
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04:41:18
MR. ROBB
particular action. Mr President I'm a might also say that when the distinguished senator from Minnesota . Initially. Drafted the particular piece of legislation and sent it to my office. There was some language that I felt could easily be interpreted as partisan in nature and I didn't think that. It was appropriate . And I asked him if he would be willing to make some concessions in that regard which he was kind enough to do so that we would approach it on a bipartisan basis . And attempt to deal with the problem. In a way that involve the various agencies of government to have some responsibility for this particular action . Again I would agree wholeheartedly with my distinguished friend from Nevada. That the. The floor of the United States Senate is not the place to debate. Or to make a decision . This is simply a request to go through the kinds of procedures that I think will lead to a proper to. And more importantly reinforce the people who live in and around the nation's capital in particular that this is the best solution to this particular problem. No one wants to place. Either the. The first family of United States. Or others. In particular jeopardy. And I agree with the senator from Massachusetts. The senator from Minnesota . That any inclusion of some of the additional. Street closings would also be appropriate for. Study and . Consideration. Mr President I ask unanimous consent that a letter from the president of the term growth United States him of commerce be included in the record as part of that particular debate . And again. With respect to the. The amendment that is before the for. It is my understanding that there is no objection on either side the senator from New Hampshire may wish to comment. If he does not. I would ask that the Senate proceed to take action on that. Amendment by voice vote at this particular time when objections senators letter will be included in a record. Thank you Mr New Hampshire Mr Smith is recognized as present I would say to the center of Virginia. There is no objection on this side and we have no objection to. Voice voting and
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04:43:23
THE PRESIDING OFFICER
I do have a few remarks I'd like to make and subsequent to those we can . We can proceed to do that. Prior to that Mr President in regard to
04:43:32
MR. SMITH
the previous unanimous consent request for a vote at two fifteen. There are some members to currently have. Are tied up in a White House meeting so I'm going to ask unanimous consent that the vote which was previously scheduled for two fifteen . Now occurred two thirty. Today. You're going on the vote will occur occur at two thirty and so as president I had something great. I ask unanimous consent that my remarks regarding this amendment appear in the in the record
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04:44:05
THE PRESIDING OFFICER
. At it without being interrupted by the other the objections ordered. Was present I'm pleased to join the senator from Arizona
04:44:12
MR. SMITH
. Her from both senators from the senator from Massachusetts Senator Kerry and Senator from Nebraska Senator Kerry . And the senator from Arizona
04:44:21
THE PRESIDING OFFICER
. In offering this amendment it it's an amendment that needs to be
04:44:28
MR. SMITH
offered. And
04:44:30
MR. SMITH
it's one of those. Very painful chapters in American history that occasionally we . We have to deal with. But it is a great tribute I think to America that when we find a wrong. That we do have the capacity to admit that wrong and to write it. Over thirty five years ago the United States government asked the Republic of Vietnam. To provide some South Vietnamese military personnel . For special commando missions in the North Vietnam . And the best figures that we have and there are some variation here but that approximately three hundred fifty of these commandos were trained by U.S. government agencies. They were inserted into North Vietnam by our military forces . And has already been said they were captured by the communist forces. And forced to spend the next twenty to thirty years . In reeducation camps and . The term reeducation camp . That's not really Mr President. Accurately define what exactly . These men went through we know that they were tortured and. So reeducation was hardly the correct word. For the record Mr President it's clear that these commandos. Knew what they were doing. They knew they were taking great risks . Indeed many of their fellow comrades died during these very operations . And some after the missions while they were in North Vietnam . But they also knew what it was it what was at stake with the communist aggression. If we had not contained if we could not did not contain the Communist aggression in Southeast Asia. More importantly the United States certainly was aware of the dangers involved with these missions. That's why I believe it . A solemn commitment was made to these commandos and their families. That they would be compensated for the sacrifices they made. It's interesting. These Vietnamese work for the CIA and the U.S. military . In a basically a doomed effort to infiltrate North Vietnam between one thousand nine hundred eighty one and sixty nine . They were dropped behind enemy lines by parachute . Some of them secretly swam ashore . After being taken there and speedboats and then they were captured . It is clear that as we stand here now the United States has yet to live up to that commitment. That was made to the South Vietnamese commandos in the sixty's. In point of fact . A cold and uncaring bureaucracy was allowed to write these men on. Literally as dead. Three decades ago . Even though there was convincing evidence that many of them had been captured . To put it bluntly their families were told they were dead . When in fact they were alive . It's a documented historical fact that in one nine hundred sixty nine . In then secret testimony before the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A D.O.D. official stated and I quote . We reduced the number of commandos on the payroll gradually. By declaring so many of them dead each month. Until we had written them all off and removed them from the monthly payroll. Unquote . Truly bizarre to think. These kinds of things do happen in our government but again as I said earlier . The fact that we write these wrongs . Is perhaps a better comment about what America really is like the families were paid a very small token of death gratuity . And that was it . Knowing these men were alive. The D.O.D. official told the Joint Chiefs of Staff . That we were writing them off as dead. And the widows and. Surviving family members were paid a small stipend. And being. And then informed that these people were dead when in fact they knew they were not the majority of these men had put their lives on the line for United States national interest they weren't Americans. But they put their lives on the line for America. And they were shackled in North Vietnamese presence. And our government knew it and our government ever told the families. The amendment. That our colleagues are off my colleagues are offering today along with me. Will authorize back pay. Very simply for the men who participated in these daring missions to bit late for sure . But it comes out to about two thousand per commando for each year spent in North Vietnamese prison. It's the least we can do. And I would note that . Just as a comparison that. Our distinguished colleague from Arizona and many others who were captured by the North Vietnamese and imprisoned in into and tortured. They received full pay. As they should have. During the time they were in Communist activity. So there is certainly a well established precedent for this of men. So there's nothing dramatic about it. Just the right thing to do. Let me also point out that after a year of fighting this case and US claims court . Even astray she has decided that granting this back pay to these commandos is the right thing to do. And I think we should give credit to National Security Advisor Tony Lake . Because she has has been very supportive and very helpful in getting this done . I think that the tragedy which befell these commandos was only made worse by the initial attitude by the Justice Department . And D.O.D.. And the CIA in the claims court. Again. We had to drag and kicking and screaming into right the wrong . But the wrong is righted. So I want to come in again . Tony Lake . For reversing this attitude . And coming out in support of the. Men. And finally Mr President as we continue to seek as we continue to seek answers. About the fate of our own. Missing American servicemen from the Vietnam war. I think it's imperative for the administration to assure that each of these South meet Vietnamese commandos. Has been interviewed for any information they might possess on any missing American dead or alive . It's very important . These men have been in prison . In South Vietnam some of them for twenty years in now in Vietnam excuse me in North Vietnam. For twenty years. Who knows what they might know they all should be a brief thorough . This would include making arrangements to speak to all of them . Who are reportedly still in Vietnam . Awaiting. Its approval for departure . To the United States. Let me again commend my colleagues who serve with me on the Senate committee . In one thousand nine hundred two cleaning. The senator from Virginia who's here on the floor. For working with me on this amendment we're all concerned. When we saw the news accounts. And we were all committed to doing something about it we reacted quickly . And I'm proud to be an original co-sponsor and urge all of my colleagues to support it. Mr President let's say it there as there is no one on our side. That I know of now who wishes to speak on the amendment and. Yield to the senator from Virginia to move the amendment. This president I know Rodel soonest has requested that opportunity speak on this amendment. I therefore move the adoption the amendment is a further debate on the moment . Going On the question is on the imminent. Those in favor will
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04:51:47
MR. ROBB
respond by saying I I I those oppose the eyes of your beard have the eyes to have a Can human misery to reconsider is laid
04:51:54
THE PRESIDING OFFICER
on the table without objection so ordered . Mr President. We realize recognized. Thank you Mr President would do
04:52:09
MR. SMITH
04:52:10
MR. ROBB
what is the order of business now before......
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