A Ho Chi Minh City museum that honors
Vietnam war protesters features a photograph of Sen.
John Kerry being greeted by the general secretary of
the Communist Party, Comrade Do Muoi.
A
snapshot of the display in the Vietnamese Communist
War Remnants Museum formerly known as the "War
Crimes Museum" was acquired over the weekend
by Jeffrey M. Epstein of Vietnam Vets for the Truth,
a group opposing Kerry's campaign for the presidency.
Vietnam veteran Bill Lupetti took this
photograph of a display at a Ho Chi Minh City museum
honoring war protesters.
A spokesman with Kerry's national campaign
did not return a call from WND seeking comment.
The snapshot of the display, which depicts
a July 1993 meeting, was forwarded to Epstein by Bob
Shirley, one of more than 200 members of Swift Boat
Veterans for the Truth who signed an open letter questioning
Kerry's fitness to serve as commander in chief.
Epstein said the picture of the display
was taken by Bill Lupetti, a Swift Boat Veteran who
currently is visiting Vietnam.
Epstein said the display photograph's
"unquestionable significance lies in its placement
in the American protesters' section of the War Crimes
Museum" in Ho Chi Minh City, the former Saigon.
"The Vietnamese communists clearly
recognize John Kerry's contributions to their victory,"
he said. "This find can be compared to the discovery
of a painting of Neville Chamberlain hanging in a place
of honor in Hitler's Eagle's Nest in 1945."
Below the display photograph are explanatory
placards in English, French, Vietnamese and Chinese.
The English placard reads: "Mr.
Do Muoi, Secretary General of the Vietnamese Communist
Party met with Congressman and Veterans Delegation in
Vietnam (July 15-18, 1993)."
Epstein's group says the exhibit refutes
Kerry's insistence his anti-war protests did not render
support to the enemy in time of war.
"The Vietnamese communists clearly
feel that the American anti-war protesters were a very
important force in undermining support in the United
States for American war efforts, a force that contributed
materially to ultimate communist victory in 1975,"
the group said in a statement.
Vietnam Vets for the Truth says it was
established to organize a rally publicizing "Kerry's
lies" during the "Winter Soldier" hearings
in the U.S. Senate in 1971. The rally, called "Kerry
Lied," will be held on Capitol Hill Sept. 12.
The Swift Boat Veterans also have called
on Kerry to stop unauthorized use of their images in
national campaign advertising.The group says only two
of the 20 officers in one photo support him and 11 have
signed the letter condemning the candidate.
One veteran in the photo, William Shumadine,
said Kerry's use of the photo "is a complete misrepresentation
to the public and a total fraud." |