The past few weeks have covered the Vietnam War through many different angles, all of which were attempted to be covered up by the American government. These topics were meant to remain a secret. With events like the attempted cover up of the My Lia massacre in mind, the question that is to be debated is the morality of secret actions in the terms of protecting the American public. The American policy towards secrecy should be to declassify any document that is not relevant in any ongoing act, in order to keep the public informed on what its country is doing during a time of war. With the public aware of the actions of its government is the only small checks and balance the public will have in hopes of keeping the government on a morally
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On March 16, 1968, American troops killed hundreds of people with no regard whether or not they were combatants. Immediately after, the commanding officers tried to cover up this incident by calling in false reports about the number of Viet Kong that were killed. This event had nothing to do with protecting national security, but the government tried to cover it up any way. The truth would eventually come out from the brave few who actually stood with the Vietnam civilians, protecting them from our American troops. Larry Colburn, who was one of ones protecting the Vietnam people, had this to say about that men that they were fighting on March 16, 1968 “They didn’t capture any weapons. They didn’t kill any draft-age males. I’ve seen the list of dead and there were a hundred and twenty some humans under the age of five. It’s something I’ve struggled with my whole adult life… how people can do that”. Colburn was one of three troops that help to protect a group of Vietnam civilians that were trapped in a bunker, and were about to be killed by American troops. This attack was clearly against the Geneva accords, and would not help in the efforts in winning the Vietnam War. This was originally reported as an attack that received resistance from the Viet Kong. The My Lia massacre was another attack that was shrouded in secrecy to keep the public in the dark. Once the public was informed, there was outrage. So much so, that when the military put up their scapegoat, Lieutenant William Calley, the public wanted him to be free because the actions of one man, who was following the orders given to him, could not be responsible for the entire
On March 16, 1968, American troops killed hundreds of people with no regard whether or not they were combatants. Immediately after, the commanding officers tried to cover up this incident by calling in false reports about the number of Viet Kong that were killed. This event had nothing to do with protecting national security, but the government tried to cover it up any way. The truth would eventually come out from the brave few who actually stood with the Vietnam civilians, protecting them from our American troops. Larry Colburn, who was one of ones protecting the Vietnam people, had this to say about that men that they were fighting on March 16, 1968 “They didn’t capture any weapons. They didn’t kill any draft-age males. I’ve seen the list of dead and there were a hundred and twenty some humans under the age of five. It’s something I’ve struggled with my whole adult life… how people can do that”. Colburn was one of three troops that help to protect a group of Vietnam civilians that were trapped in a bunker, and were about to be killed by American troops. This attack was clearly against the Geneva accords, and would not help in the efforts in winning the Vietnam War. This was originally reported as an attack that received resistance from the Viet Kong. The My Lia massacre was another attack that was shrouded in secrecy to keep the public in the dark. Once the public was informed, there was outrage. So much so, that when the military put up their scapegoat, Lieutenant William Calley, the public wanted him to be free because the actions of one man, who was following the orders given to him, could not be responsible for the entire