CHAPTER SIX EXCHANGES WITH MAX Robertsfors, Sweden Dear Max, Thanks for your letter. I will address a number of points in your letter which I found interesting. I think that "insisting" on the point that we won the war in Vietnam isthe wrong approach. I have a very strong believe that the war in Vietnam is certainly not over. Perhaps we, including the Vietnamese have won some military victories on the battlefield and the United States for the first time in history was forced to retreat in a very humiliating way, however, in reality the war in Vietnam has merely entered another phase. For numerous years, after 1975, the U.S. imposed an embargo on Vietnam, the propaganda about Vietnam was on the "Rambo Films" level. When Clinton came to office he dropped the embargo and recently revived diplomatic relations with Vietnam. I am quite sure that the present administration in Washinton has not turned over a new leaf and are talking about peace and love with the Vietnamese. No, not at all. The Americans have a plan and a economic system which demands world wide domination and expansion. The war goes on all the time, sometimes with guns and sometimes with other means. I believe that the sudden interest, by the Washinton administration, towards Vietnam has to do with the situation in the whole area, especially countries like China and Japan who historically are a real threat for the U.S. Why it would not surprise me a bit that the Americans would like to use Vietnam as a springboard into China or Japan. Historically the Vietnamese have no love for the Chinese or the Japanese. In fact we know the Americans have to find allies in the far east. Why they might even begin to like the Vietnamese if they could convince them to be an ally against China and Japan. History my friend is a pyramid of skulls! Yes, there are numerous examples of people who in different ways and different times in history stand as a beacon of progress for the human race. Although I certainly will not be named in the history books, I am quite proud of the things I was doing during the Vietnam war. I am also very happy that I was part of something that imposed such a humiliating defeat on the American Military machine. However to say that we won would be foolish. A good example and partially the reason I wrote the letter (appeal) is Richard M. Nixon who you mention in your letter. Recently he received almost a state funeral, with the military honours,propaganda, and all the rest.This man was a war criminal, a torpedo during the McCarthy era, a burglar, was given a place in history. It was a spectacular show by the American ruling class pointing out exactly the opposite of which you claim in your letter. The whole show went out with the message that we won i.e. "we the American ruling class". I was enraged by this show and my letter is an attempt to point out that people like us better wake up and start doing something to counteract the fact that the ruling class is claiming exactly the opposite of what you claim in your letter. Therefore I ended my letter (appeal) with the question "is the war over?" I certainly will not try to take away from you the wonderful work you were doing here in Sweden. In fact I would like to thank you for your work. It probably helped me when I came here in 1972. When I came, there were over 500 deserters here! However that is not the end of the story. Most of these people returned to the U.S. The only thing the American government asked was that the deserters apologise for there actions. The majority of them did and went home. Finally, here in Europe the class war goes on. The Fascists have come back to power in Italy. Sweden is dropping its neutral position and joining the common market. Russia is disintegrating. The middle class is getting desperate. Etc. Etc. Etc. Yes Frank is still around. He is a member of parliament for the Social Democrats. He is still working with refugees. Send my letter to any and everyone! Is it possible to get it on Internet? By the way I live quite near the Polar circle. The sun has been gone for months, but spring is on its way. Regards, Robert Malecki P.S. Lots of lawyers have been offered. However I am not a criminal. But you may send a copy of my letter to your friends mentioned in the letter. Perhaps they can do something which will give me the right to return to the U.S. I also have a deep mistrust for people like this. A working class kid like myself usually gets the shitty end of the stick when dealing with these kinds of people. P.P.S: Phil Berrigan rang me. He thinks I should go back and stand trial. However I am not Jesus Christ. I am only Bob Malecki a guy who was working in a General Motors factory when this all started. But I did my best. The problem with Catholic priests is that they always want to get nailed to a cross! That has been my big difference with the Berrigan brothers. I mean people like me have been getting crucified for centuries. We are always the victims. When I was 19-20 years old the military sent me to Cuba during the missile crisis. My task was to kill Cubans. In 63 it was Vietnam and kill Vietnamese and when I got home into a factory , kill myself! Yeah, I am a bit pessimistic when people begin talking about we won the war! However one thing I have learned is that as a working class kid you had better fight them - because one way or another they, "the ruling class" are always trying to kill me in one way or another! Bye for now, Bob This letter is an answer to Max Watts letter in Chapter 4... Authors Note... >From Max Watts, Dear Robert, Thanks for your letter of 21-2-95 I,ll try and at least start an answer right away,for there is one particular point that keeps coming up in letters, discussions and work on many occasions, and particularly "these days" - a point, I feel you raise very well: DO WE WIN? and which I, for many years, have anwsered: YES! WE DO WIN, an even more briefly: WE WIN! The fundamental importance in this discussion is: THEY ( yes, "they" , they do exist these they, who obviously also shift, change, as do our "WE" - but they and we also remain "constant" - how's that for a (dialectical) contradiction. - the SHIFTINGCONSTANT? THEY They want to, they NEED TO CONVINCE US THAT "WE CAN'T FIGHT CITY HALL"! What "they" mean as - obviously - some of U.S. are - fighting "city Hall" (them, the establishment, the "RIGHT" is: "YOU CAN'T WIN - (when fighting city hall) And - for "THEM" this is, in no way, an abstract, philosophical, discussion - Oh, No! This is a "weapon" in their Fight Against Us (TFAV?) - their CLASS STRUGGLE is that "horrible" phrase out of date? in-applicable? (Perrime? excuse my french!) NO WAY For reason(s) I tried to bring out in my letter to June (of 4,3,95) I,ll buy make Xerox of that part, enclose WE are particularly susceptible to that "You can't, you didn't, win. For "we" - as long as we remain "onside" (active) an Australian, (=OZ) expression.are open more than the "DON'T ERS",who try to see (nothing?) no evil... to "losing our cool" (suffering?) faced with PRESENT STRUGGLES. Good, Necessary, Essential. BUT: IF IT HIDES from us, our allies, present past + FUTURE! THE PAST VICTORY - if it gives Ammunition to the other side, it weakens our own struggle, the on-going one(s), by reinforcing THEIR "You can't win," ( against "city hall") WEAPON! oof! Max has spoken! Written. In a hurry. Before breakfast! Rosie (women friend) says, said on reading copy of my first letter to you: "Max, your preaching again!" You'll offend him (you,R.M.). Hope I didn,t, OF COURSE I am aware of the "Good/Evil" element - "THEY" (Ruling Classes? Fascists of my youth? you can chose!) being "DEVIL" Does that make US Angels? -Good? etc. FY1 - I have long been an atheist, but have frequently found various religiously motivated people on -(our) - side. The Berrigans? secondarily interested in why they "fight the good fight" - do our thing the WHAT is primary- I,ll have a quick stab at answering, commenting on the rest of your letter (of 21-2-95) may not finish. Vietnam: Brings us back to "Do we Win?" again. Each struggle, each of course only PARTIAL LIMITED Victory - opens the door to NEW struggles. "We" (includes the Resisters inside the (US) Army + their Friends, RITAs, FRITAS) most definitely won, in 1972-75, in Vietnam. We have - in no way - YET won the battle against CAPITAL ism, as a world-wide fast increasingly - world - integrated system. Let's leave something for the future!?! We don't want them softly sitting on cloud (s) 9, lovely strumming their harps - for all eternity?! So - Vietnam - as anywhere else in the world, Sydney, Stockholm Sweden- too are involved in futher capitalists "manoeuvres" Yes. And there, then, later, will be other struggles. Incidentally, "we" must (usually) be careful when using, accepting, terms, concepts, such as Vietnam, U.S. (America) Japan, China, etc. which - of course - include very diverse, contending conflicting GROUPS (CLASSES!) + Individuals."The" Americans? Who are these "The""have a plan" the Ruling Class, who love it when they can get away with grabbing the LABEL (+excluding their domestic opposition AMERICA, etc. "The Army" - Who? The Brass? on the G.M.? The owners? Directors? Workers?Incidentally - that includes "the" Vietnamese. My restaurant owner, last nights supper, was an ARVIN air - born Ranger. Refugeed to he was fighting for "America(n)" (capital against "the" Vietnamese. Unavoidable to do this "grouping" - but we must help keep it in mind Why SHOULD you not be named in the history books? Depends who's writing them! You'll certainly be in mine! Tricky Dick Nixon: so? He gets a state funeral? He certainly didn't win in SAIGON/HO CHI MIN CITY in 1975! (More important! then what kind of funeral he got!) That is, was, then, over. The CLASS WAR is alive+well. The U.S. deserters/AWOLS - in Sweden, France, Canada, Australia etc. - were one in 1966-68 very important, leading part of RITA - later, the fight spread and the main fronts were more "on base" but the existence of a "secure rear" (including Sweden) gave - "ON-BASE" RITA,s more confidence. When spec/4 Mike M. -6/73.. gave me my Military Intelligence phone tap transcripts (in Heidelburg, W. Germany) He said "publish", (said: They'll find who leaked, + you'll go to jail " McD: " I,ll desert-go to France".He didn't have to, because "we" were (on a) winning (roll) + could cover him with publicity. "illegal Army Wiretaps - in W. Germany" but it was good to have the fall-back option. I hope life in Sweden has been good to (+for) you! There are still quite a few Vietnam war GI,s in Australia + France (+Canada) - but I have lost touch with those I knew in Sweden. Of course most RITAs - off + on base - now live ( or have-like SN/ John H - died) in the US. some are still active, + I sometimes hear from some of them! Good old Frank: if in touch, give him my best! I will try to get (via someone move into this "new fangled stuff) your first letter = RITA NOTE 3077. onto Internet - but no promises! Polar circle: Yes - spring! We just now went OFF summertime - last night - Autumn! But still hot - warm. Lawyers: Bob R. (ex spec/4 Bob R. wrote "Draftees, Soldiers Guide to Military Justice) 1968 and Bill S. (edits: COVERT ACTION uncovers C.I.A. misdeeds) and "Oh,But no lawyer can approach you (unethical!) you must take the first step. Berrigans: Noam CHOMSKY - said something similar while here last months we "Speaking Truth to Power" - (wrong address) Your conclusion: "You" (we) had better fight" "IF YOU DON'T FIGHT YOU LOSE" (oz soup) Right on! What do you, (do others) do in Robertsfors? How about a stab at the AUTO-BIOGRAPHY? (on tape, if you think you can do it faster, better?) Then there's a better chance for you to get in the history books! All very best, MAX