September 4, 2002

Michael Tsai's article on women war correspondents, and Honolulu's Denby Fawcett (9/1/02), formerly of the Advertiser, was interesting. The new book, "War Torn" should be a good read.

The article was informative; Ms. Fawcett's lack of preparation for covering an Asian war ("sundresses, pearls, bathing suit"), her attitude change attitude toward America, our military, and a belief that Vietnam is the most beautiful country in the world. Comments from other women may explain in part the current beliefs of some who now report on political and military news.

Most disturbing, however, were some critical misstatements of fact. Tsai wrote,"Even as the country came to reconcile its most devastating military defeat...." When was America defeated militarily by the communists? What crucial battle did we losse causing our "surrender?" Of course there was none. America lost the political and media war through efforts of Jane Fonda, segments of the media and less than honest politicians. Those who supported the North Vietnamese, and others who just disliked America, would have a younger generation believe we lost militarily. They should tell the truth.

Fawcett adds to the confusion, by stating, "Vietnam was a declared war,..." When was that decalration? Wasn't that one of the problems-there never was a clear and defining declaration?

Then there's Tsai's description of Big Island resident Tad Bartimus who, "went to Vietnam in the peaceful period between the U.S. pullout of 1973 and the final North Vietnamese offensive of 1975. " Peaceful period?" When the last U.S. helicopters took off-with Vietnamese dangling on skids to escape-wasn't there systematic murder of thousands of those who remained, who had held office, who worked or supported the U.S. or who fought against the North?

The Advertiser had a very clear editorial point of view during Vietnam-not supportive of the American military-and it appears that that clouded perspective prevails even in supposed news columns more than 30 years later.

Aloha,

Sam Slom

READ DENBY FAWCETT'S REBUTTAL TO THE ADVERTISER