[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 53 (Thursday, April 22, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H2298]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            JOHN KERRY SHOULD APOLOGIZE TO AMERICAN VETERANS

  (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, 33 years ago today, John 
Kerry appeared before the Senate to talk about Vietnam. Many veterans, 
including myself as a veteran, view John Kerry's testimony that day as 
one of the worst public slanders ever against the valor and character 
of the American military.
  In a sad act of political theater, John Kerry accused American 
soldiers of rape, torture, murder, and even offered up comparisons of 
Genghis Khan. What he said that day has been discredited. Some of the 
men used as sources for war crimes later were found to have never been 
to Vietnam.
  Yet just last Sunday on ``Meet the Press,'' John Kerry failed to 
apologize for his extremist accusations. His words in 1971 are 
important because he used false information to turn public opinion 
against the men who were serving their country honorably, such as the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson), who survived 7 years as a POW 
in Vietnam.
  These troops returned to face unfair persecution, and John Kerry owes 
them an apology.
  In conclusion, may God bless our troops, and we will never forget 
September 11.

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