Kerry Met With Viet Cong And North Vietnamese In Paris In 1971

Congressional Record ^ | March 6, 2004 | John F. Kerry

[Hon]

A couple of weeks ago I posted this thread about a photograph that I wound in a book about Kerry's group, the Vietnam Veterans Against The War:

Kerry's Group Met With The Viet Cong In Paris In 1971

The Vietnam Veterans Against The War (VVAW) sent their own delegation to Paris to meet with the representatives of the National Liberation Front (AKA Viet Cong) in 1971. At this time John Kerry was their spokesman and defacto leader.

This photograph is from the book "The Winter Soldiers", by Richard Stacewicz, page 284:

Caption: First peace meeting between VVAW and the NLF, Paris, 1971.

Since Stacewicz did not mention whether Kerry had attended this meeting and I did not see it mentioned anywhere else, I assumed he did not attend go on this trip.

I was wrong. Kerry did go to Paris. He did talk with the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese. In fact, he was quite proud about it. For it was the first thing that he brought up once he was done with his speech before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on April 22, 1971:

LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS RELATING TO THE WAR IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1971

UNITED STATES SENATE;
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS,
Washington, D.C.

The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 11:05 a.m., in Room 4221, New Senate Office Building, Senator J. W. Fulbright (Chairman) presiding.

Present: Senators Fulbright, Symington, Pell, Aiken, Case, and Javits.

Thank you. [Applause]

The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Kerry, it is quite evident from that demonstration that you are speaking not only for yourself but for all your associates, as you properly said in the beginning.

COMMENDATION OF WITNESS

You said you wished to communicate. I can't imagine anyone communicating more eloquently than you did. I think it is extremely helpful and beneficial to the committee and the country to have you make such a statement.

You said you had been awake all night. I can see that you spent that time very well indeed. [Laughter.]

Perhaps that was the better part, better that you should be awake than otherwise.

PROPOSALS BEFORE COMMITTEES

You have said that the question before this committee and the Congress is really how to end the war. The resolutions about which we have been hearing testimony during the past several days, the sponsors of which are some members of this committee, are seeking the most practical way that we can find and, I believe, to do it at the earliest opportunity that we can. That is the purpose of these hearings and that is why you were brought here.

You have been very eloquent about the reasons why we should proceed as quickly as possible. Are you familiar With some of the proposals before this committee?

Mr. KERRY. Yes, I am, Senator.

The CHAIRMAN. Do you support or do you have any particular views about any one of them you wish to give the committee?

Mr. KERRY. My feeling, Senator, is undoubtedly this Congress, and I don't mean to sound pessimistic, but I do not believe that this Congress will, in fact, end the war as we would like to, which is immediately and unilaterally and, therefore, if I were to speak I would say we would set a date and the date obviously would be the earliest possible date. But I would like to say, in answering that, that I do not believe it is necessary to stall any longer. I have been to Paris. I have talked with both delegations at the peace talks, that is to say the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the Provisional Revolutionary Government and of all eight of Madam Binh's points it has been stated time and time again, and was stated by Senator Vance Hartke when he returned from Paris, and it has been stated by many other officials of this Government, if the United States were to set a date for withdrawal the prisoners of war would be returned.

I think this negates very clearly the argument of the President that we have to maintain a presence in Vietnam, to use as a negotiating block for the return of those prisoners. The setting of a date will accomplish that.

http://ice.he.net/~freepnet/kerry/index.php?topic=Testimony

[Fedora]

Tying down exactly when Kerry went to Paris and with whom would be rather a valuable piece of information...

Yes. It'd also be worthwhile to crossreference Kerry's Paris contacts with those involved in the Paris peace negotiations during the 1968 campaign. As I recall in 1968 Averell Harriman and Bobby Kennedy were involved in some similar shenanigans trying to undercut LBJ's Vietnam policy by conducting their own negotiations via Paris. Would be interesting to see if any of their Paris contacts linked with Kerry's--especially in light of Kerry's own connection to Ted Kennedy.

[Jorge]

Kerry was negotiating with the enemy. He recommended that we immediately accept the enemies terms.

Just when I though Kerry's record couldn't get any worse.....

[windchime]

Urgent ping to posts #165, #168 and #171.

[FairOpinion]

A you noticed, I tried to get the Admin Moderator's attention -- even posted the Corbis copywrite thread, but it is being ignored.

I try to keep FR out of trouble, doing what's up to me, but, well...

Maybe the Admind Moderator on duty now is awake and will read your post and my earlier ones.

[claudiustg]

Kerry is no more electable than Senator Byrd, something that the Democrats are determined learn the hard way.

[MaineVoter2002]

Kerry has done the same for North Korea in the 1990s and for Iran since President Bush had referred to Iran as part of the Axis of Evil.

This article and photo should be sent to all the major a news networks from Drudge to CBS and posted in Usenet Newsgroups where it the democrats are succeeding in the flooding of their outright lies in the attempt to define the Bush Presidency for the American people

http://members.tripod.com/~jednet207/PoliticalNewsGroups-PC.html

[atomic conspiracy]

As I said in this post a while back, it is not time to set the Vietnam War aside.

The real accounting has barely begun and Kerry's nomination could well be the catalyst for a national reappraisal that will expose the dominant pop-culture/lefty/academic version of Vietnam for the murderous lie it is.

Millions died or spent their lives in slavery because of these traitors, they should be held to account.

[An.American.Expatriate]

Just found this great tidbit!!!

At the time the Kerry went to Paris (and all of his time as a protestor!!), he was still an officer in the Navy Reserves!!!

He was discharged from the Naval Reserves on Feb 16 1978!!!

source http://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/timeline.htm

Now, what I would like to know, was that "inactive" reserves, or was he required to attend drills? If so, did he??

[memaw]

When I look in the face of John Kerry,all I can see is evil. He has the look of satan & pure hatred in his eyes. It is beyond my belief that anyone could support such a person to be the President of our Country & the Commander in Chief of our military. What kind of generation are we raising that would vote for a traitor to be the leader of our Country? I cannot believe that we have sank so low that people would give their vote to Kerry. I am completely shocked in this generation.Where is the decency, & loyalty to America? We have a decent President I hope & pray that he is re-elected. He has restored intgrity & honor to the White House after eight years of Clinton, we need all the help we can get sooo let's keep President G.W. Bush!!!!!!

[gaspar]

#163 answered my question. Thanks.

[pushforbush]

Bump

[pushforbush]

Your posts are fantastic. Keep up the good work

[Hon]

"He was discharged from the Naval Reserves on Feb 16 1978!!!"

Somehow Kerry got out of the regular Navy in January, 1970 but didn't go back into the reserves until 1972. Others have suggested that that is highly unusual. Normally there wouldn't be a gap.

As I understand it, as an officer he had a six year committment. So he should have had to serve straight through. But it looks like he managed to get around that so that he could pursue his anti-war activities.

[Robert DeLong]

Big Bush Bump

[Tennessee_Bob]

OH NO! Our fighting men jump up and yell "KILL!"

How shameful.

[malia]

Well now, I know! that is a doctored pix Right? It is isn't it? Yea, it is!!!

[Bigg Red]

Good catch, Hon!

Thanks for the flag, nutmeg.

[Bigg Red]

Thank you for your service to our country.

[Publius6961]

Isn't it illegal for a private citizen to enter into agreements/arrangements/deals with another nation we are at war with ?

Treason. Sedition.
And there is nothing "borderline" about it.

I can't believe this jackass has the balls, 33 years later, to presume to be have what it takes to be our president!

Is there a statute of limitations on treason?

[nopardons]

It's arrogance. He lacks gonads...always has.