by Jim Kouri, CPP

Columnist Sher Zieve filed a story today that US draft dodgers, who fled to Canada during the Vietnam War are reuniting in British Columbia for a celebration and memorial.  US military deserters are also said to be amongst those joining the group.

The event will honor those who refused to serve their country and part of the festivities will be a memorial statue dedicated to the draft dodgers.

But many American war veterans aren’t taking what they see as a travesty lightly. One Vietnam vet who later served as a New York police officer said, “Now we’re honoring cowards and turncoats? I never thought I’d see the day. What’s happening with this country?”

Another vet, now a New Jersey police officer was more blunt. “Those yellow bellies have some nerve glorifying their cowardice. It’s disgusting.”

Surprisingly, Joe McDonald, the lead singer of the legendary anti-war rock band Country Joe & The Fish appears to see things differently, although he will appear at the British Columbia event.

His band is most famous for the lyrics: “Well, it’s one, two, three what are we fighting for? What it is I don’t give a damn. Next stop is Vietnam….”

McDonald told Fox News that while many at the event see a parallel between Vietnam and Iraq, he doesn’t. He said that after 9-11 it’s understandable why we are fighting in Iraq and it hasn’t come to the level of a Vietnam.

Former US Democrat Senator George McGovern will be the keynote speaker at the Saturday session.  Leftist activist Tom Hayden said he believes Canada is still sympathetic to the dodgers and deserters and commented:  “There’s not a public in Canada wanting to send these guys back.”

McGovern ran for president on an anti-war platform against President Richard M. Nixon at the height of the Vietnam War. Polls showed that many Americans opposed the war, but on election night McGovern got clobbered by Nixon. Pundits believed McGovern’s rhetoric is what did him in and American didn’t trust someone that far to the left.

Hayden, a high-profile activist, became the husband of the actress who became known as “Hanoi” Jane Fonda, because of the famous photo of her clad in North Vietnam Army helmet and fatigues sitting atop an anti-aircraft gun used to shoot down American planes and pilots.

One alleged “celebrity” draft dodger who won’t be in attendance in Canada is former President Bill Clinton.

“For Clinton to show up and honor these men would be political suicide for his hopes of being the First Spouse in a Hillary Clinton White House,” claims political analyst Mike Baker.

One Vietnam vet, now a law enforcement agent with the federal government, says it’s one thing for the draft dodgers to celebrate their actions over 30 years ago, but deserters from a volunteer army celebrating is a different story.

“No one drafted those men. They’re just a pack of cowards trying to pass themselves off as heroes,” he said.

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police and he’s a staff writer for the New Media Alliance (thenma.org). He’s former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed “Crack City” by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations.  He’s also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country.   Kouri writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others. He’s a news writer for TheConservativeVoice.Com.  He’s also a columnist for AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he’s syndicated by AXcessNews.Com.   He’s appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc.  His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com. Kouri’s own website is located at http://jimkouri.us
   

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