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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, JANUARY 18, 1985
I've been studying and researching this type of material for 15
years and he told it all to me tonight. It's such a joy to find
out this information. I'm so thankful.
F.N. (Millbrae, CA)
I've never heard anything like this in all my days. When I heard
it was free, I could hardly believe it. I'll believe it when I
see it.
ON THE WORLD SCENE
VIETNAM SYNDROME PERSISTS;
KENNEDY'S "FACT-DENYING" TRIP
V.D. (Oakland, CA)
--Richard Rice, Mail Processing Center
It hardly seems possible, but it has been almost ten years (April 1975)
since the downfall of South Vietnam and America's first defeat in warfare.
That war changed the nation permanently, making it hesitant at best, fear
ful at worst to project and protect U.S. interests abroad. For both the
politicians and the military leaders, avoiding "another Vietnam" whether in
Central America, the Middle East or elsewhere guides major foreign policy
decisions.
In short, America's pride in its power was shattered (Lev.
26:19).
The relatively safe adventure in Grenada did little to change
this. In the January 14 WALL STREET JOURNAL, a major article appeared en
titled "Vietnam's Legacy: A Decade After War, U.S. Leaders Still Feel Ef
fects of the Defeat." Here are excerpts:
In the decade since the Vietnam War ended, the world has changed
in ways that no one could have predicted •.•• Who would have ima
gined then that Vietnam's archenemy today would be China, that
Washington and Peking would be friends, that Ronald Reagan would
be elected president, twice, and that West Point would be swamped
with applicants for admission? •••
Vietnamese Premier Pham Van Dong expresses the general sense that
things haven't turned out quite as expected. "Yes, we defeated
the United States," he says. "But now we are plagued by prob
lems. We do not have enough to eat. We are a poor, underdevel
oped nation. [ Confirming the fact that those who curse Abraham's
descendants are not blessed--Gen. 12:3.] Waging� war is simple,
but running� country is difficult."
What haven't changed� the painful memories of Vietnam•••• The
wound hasn't healed. "No more Vietnarns" has become� guiding
principle--� would say� crippling obsession--of American for
eign policy. Yet there is no consensus, even now, about what
went so wrong in Vietnam or how the U.S. can use military power
abroad without making similar mistakes. The soul-searching over
Vietnam extends even to the Reagan cabinet. Secretary of Defense
Caspar Weinberger argues that the nation should avoid future
Vietnams .QY fighting only popular, winnable�-···
Vietnam frightened America. It was the nation's first defeat in
war, and it made Americans more cautious and less certain about
the world.
Indeed, in the decade after Vietnam, the U.s. has