President's speech to America
August 4, 1964January 8, 2008
My fellow Americans: - As President and Commander in Chief, it is my duty to the American people to report that renewed hostile actions against United States ships on the high seas in the Gulf of TonkinPersian Gulf have today required me to order the military forces of the United States to take action in reply.
The initial attack on the destroyer MaddoxPort Royal, on August 2, was repeated today by a number of hostile vessels attacking two U.S. destroyers with torpedoesmines. The destroyers and supporting aircraft acted at once on the orders I gave after the initial act of aggression. We believe at least two of the attacking boats were sunk. There were no U.S. losses.
The performance of commanders and crews in this engagement is in the highest tradition of the United States Navy. But repeated acts of violence against the Armed Forces of the United States must be met not only with alert defense, but with positive reply. That reply is being given as I speak to you tonight. Air action is now in execution against gunboats and certain supporting facilities in North VietnamIran which have been used in these hostile operations.
In the larger sense this new act of aggression, aimed directly at our own forces, again brings home to all of us in the United States the importance of the struggle for peace and security in southeastsouthwest Asia. Aggression by terror against the peaceful villagers of South VietnamIraq has now been joined by open aggression on the high seas against the United States of America.
The determination of all Americans to carry out our full commitment to the people and to the government of South VietnamIraq will be redoubled by this outrage. Yet our response, for the present, will be limited and fitting. We Americans know, although others appear to forget, the risks of spreading conflict. We still seek no wider war.
I have instructed the Secretary of State to make this position totally clear to friends and to adversaries and, indeed, to all. I have instructed Ambassador StevensonKhalizad to raise this matter immediately and urgently before the Security Council of the United Nations. Finally, I have today met with the leaders of both parties in the Congress of the United States and I have informed them that I shall immediately request the Congress to pass a resolution making it clear that our Government is united in its determination to take all necessary measures in support of freedom and in defense of peace in southeastsouthwest Asia.
I have been given encouraging assurance by these leaders of both parties that such a resolution will be promptly introduced, freely and expeditiously debated, and passed with overwhelming support. And just a few minutes ago I was able to reach Senator GoldwaterReid and I am glad to say that he has expressed his support of the statement that I am making to you tonight.
It is a solemn responsibility to have to order even limited military action by forces whose overall strength is as vast and as awesome as those of the United States of America, but it is my considered conviction, shared throughout your Government, that firmness in the right is indispensable today for peace; that firmness will always be measured. Its mission is peace.
Updated to reflect tomorrow's events. Original speech by Lyndon Johnson ushered the United States into the Vietnam War. The Gulf of Tonkin incident, of course, did not really happen. Yet newspapers still uncritically report government pronouncements of "attacks" upon U.S. ships as if they really happened, with no attempt at independent verification. 1964, 2008... nobody learns. Nobody ever learns. Sigh.
-- Badtux the History Penguin
Many a politician has proven to be less than deserving of our trust at some point or another, warranting at least some skepticism of their statements. George W. Bush and his administration have proven themselves so dishonest that it's simply best to skip straight to disbelief and then (maybe) try to see if there's a shred of truth.
ReplyDeleteThink about it, though. Iran stopped their nuclear (nucular?) weapons program in 2003. When GW and crew got that info, it made no difference to them. In fact, they desperately attempted to bury the fact from the American people because it blocked Cheney from getting his much wanted confrontation with Iran. So how to move around this obstacle of truth? By saying Iran is attacking us!
Barely more than a year left, but Bushco can still do immeasurable damage to our country.
Cue up the scene in front of the French castle from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
ReplyDeleteAfter the USS Vincennes shot down an Iranian airliner, I would hope that the Navy would avoid problems.
The "international waters" claim is based on treaties to which the US is not a signatory and, given the Hedgemony's treatment of treaties in general, is rather pointless.
The Strait of Hormuz is 21 miles across. There is a generally recognized 12-mile territorial limit off coasts, so there is only a treaty between Oman, the UAE, and Iran that allows the existence of two 2-mile wide channels for passage. The US Navy's safety record in the channel is not exactly stellar.
What are you tonkin about? There's no connection at all!
ReplyDeleteyup, glad to know i wasn't the only deja vunik out there.
ReplyDelete