I knew about Vietnam. I knew about the atrocities at My Lai. I have seen the documentaries. I knew about "search and destroy" missions. I knew about napalm and Agent Orange. I was aware of the secret wars in Laos and Cambodia. I learned all about the prisoners of war we left behind. I watched Apocalypse Now and Born on the Fourth of July. I have never been a believer in government propaganda; I search for the truth through the lies of the popular story. I knew everything about Vietnam and nothing at all.
             I was completely unaware that the United States, France, Great Britain, China, the Soviet Union, representatives from North and South Vietnam met in Geneva in 1954 and agreed to temporarily divide the country at the 17th parallel. There were to be nationwide elections in 1956 to create a new united government. Ho Chi Minh, a Communist, ruled the North. Ngo Dinh Diem, who the United States supported, ruled the South.
             It was Diem who later refused to allow nationwide election. His government became a dictatorship, rather than a democracy. He placed his family in positions of power and used a secret police force to suppress any decent. We continued to support him. Even after he executed 12,000 political prisoners and jailed another 40,000 in just four years, we continued to support him. Why would we do such a thing?
             According to President John F. Kennedy:
             "Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty."
             Vice-President Lyndon Johnson may have been a little more honest when he said, "Shit, Diem's the only boy we got out there."
             "(T)o assure the survival and success of liberty", Kennedy increased the number of military advisors from 700 to 12,000 including over 2,000 Special Forces "Green Berets"...