How did Americans react to the My Lai massacre

May 26, 2010

Posted by knowledge

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Hi p43boutelle,

Army investigators estimated that more than 400 villagers died in the My Lai massacre.

In the U.S., antiwar activists asked how President Nixon who had won the presidency in 1968 could justify a conflict in which some American soldiers could pillage and kill the very people they were supposed to be protecting from the Communists.

Defenders of the war dismissed the reports of atrocity as enemy propaganda amplified by a gullible American media.

But the atrocity was real, and now the Pentagon had to undertake a real investigation. A panel led by a three-star general interviewed 398 witnesses and recommended action against dozens of men for the crimes and their attempt to cover them up.

Captains, colonels, and generals were charged with cover-ups of mass killings, with lying about them, and with dereliction of duty.

But in the end, charges against the higher-ups were dismissed or the trials ended in acquittals, and they were allowed to resign.

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