Al Zeller wrote in message news:...
> Since you lack the knowledge to understand some of the things he says,
> I'll translate it for you:
>
> Gary Aguilar wrote:
> > After 17 months observing pacification efforts in Vietnam as a state
> > department official, I laid eyes upon an unmistakable enemy for the
> > first time on New Year's Day in 1967. I was walking point with three
> > members of a company from the US army's 25th Division, moving through
> > tall rice, the water over our ankles, when we heard firing close
> > behind us. We spun around, ready to fire. I saw a boy of about 15,
> > wearing nothing but ragged black shorts, crouching and firing an AK-47
> > at the troops behind us. I could see two others, heads just above the
> > top of the rice, firing as well.
> >
> 17 months in Saigon living high on the hog, reading dispaches.
>
Ah, so in addition to being a traitor, he's also a liar. No wonder
those commies in Washington placed him in so high a federal position
when he got back! Thanks for the clarification.
>
> > They had lain there, letting us four pass so as to get a better shot
> > at the main body of troops. We couldn't fire at them, because we would
> > have been firing into our own platoon. But a lot of its fire came back
> > right at us. Dropping to the ground, I watched this kid firing away
> > for 10 seconds, till he disappeared with his buddies into the rice.
> > After a minute the platoon ceased fire in our direction and we got up
> > and moved on.
> >
> Translation: Gee, I never read about the Pacific Island campaigns in WWII.
>

Right ho! Ellsberg is clearly saying that what happened to him has
never happened in history before. You're just so damned astute!

>
> > One thing was clear: these were local boys. They had the advantage of
> > knowing every ditch and dyke, every tree and blade of rice and piece
> > of cover, like it was their own backyard. Because it was their
> > backyard. No doubt (I thought later) that was why they had the nerve
> > to pop up in the midst of a reinforced battalion and fire away with
> > American troops on all sides. They thought they were shooting at
> > trespassers, occupiers, that they had a right to be there and we
> > didn't. This would have been a good moment to ask myself if they were
> > wrong, and if we had a good enough reason to be in their backyard to
> > be fired at.

> Translation: Because I didn't read anything about the Pacific battles I
> didn't understand that reconing the battle ground gives one familiarity
> with the terrain. Therefore, I have to find out what they're thinking by
> ESP. Gee, maybe I better get back to Saigon.
>

Yup! You're right on the money. Ole Ells don't know the doo doo you
do.

> >
> > Later that afternoon, I turned to the radio man, a wiry African
> > American kid who looked too thin to be lugging his 75lb radio, and
> > asked: "By any chance, do you ever feel like the redcoats?"
> >
> > Without missing a beat he said, in a drawl: "I've been thinking that
> > ... all ... day." You couldn't miss the comparison if you'd gone to
> > grade school in America. Foreign troops far from home, wearing helmets
> > and uniforms and carrying heavy equipment, getting shot at every
> > half-hour by non-uniformed irregulars near their own homes, blending
> > into the local population after each attack.
> >
>
> Translation: Boy am I glad I'm not up in I or II Corps where there are
> PAVN regulars with uniforms, cannons and even tanks.
>
Say, what?

....

Gary