Featured

Vietnam, Xmas Bombing

Published

10 years ago

December 26, 2013

December 18, 1972, after peace talks had broken down President Nixon started a massive bombing campaign over north Vietnam. These bombings came to be known as the Christmas Bombings. They continued until the 29^th of December at which time the North Vietnamese agreed to resume negotiations.

Also, in 1972, President Nixon mined Haiphong Harbor and other waterway inlets in order to interdict the flow of supplies from Russia to the North Vietnamese troops who were fighting in the South.

One of the famous landmarks of Hanoi and touted as the best hotel in the city is the Sofitel Metropole. At the risk of sounding like a shill for this grand hotel, its historical backdrop during the Christmas bombings has become an important symbol in large part due to a Life Magazine front page layout of the manhole bomb shelters running the length of its eastern facade. Jane Fonda took up residence here in June of 1972 during her infamous trip to Hanoi, and Joan Baez traveled with an American peace delegation the same year in December to the hotel only to find herself trapped in the Christmas bombings. “Where Are You Now, My Son?” was partially recorded by Joan in the bomb shelter during one of the night bombings. The song is played in the Hotel’s bomb shelter as a feature of the free tour.

Three and one-half hours (by car) to the east of Hanoi and consisting of thousands of islands jutting out from the Gulf of Tonkin waters is Halong Bay. Its breathtaking beauty will belie its historical struggles. These limestone islets provide a serene ambiance and majesty in which to aimlessly navigate preferably on an old Chinese styled Junk.

However, as the entrance to Haiphong Harbor located west of Halong Bay, its 1972 mining represented an important pressure-lynchpin in breaking the will of a recalcitrant north at the Paris peace talks. Mindful that the ground fighting took place south of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and never in the North–the Americans in conjunction with the South Vietnamese Army fought a war of attrition. Kill as many NVA (North Vietnamese Army) and VC (Viet Cong) until they cry Uncle. In contrast, the NVA invaded the south consistently with personnel and supplies (Via the Ho Chi Minh Trail) and with its Southern Vietnamese Nationals they took the fight to the South with the intention of reuniting the entire country.

For more information, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7NgDw2MwzE

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

2 days ago

April 26, 2024

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

6 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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City Government

Vallejo Welcomes Interim City Manager Beverli Marshall

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10. Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Published

6 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Beverli Marshall began her first day with the City on April 10. ICMA image.

Special to The Post

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10.

Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Current City Manager Michael Malone, whose official departure is slated for April 18, expressed his well wishes. “I wish the City of Vallejo and Interim City Manager Marshall all the best in moving forward on the progress we’ve made to improve service to residents.” Malone expressed his hope that the staff and Council will work closely with ICM Marshall to “ensure success and prosperity for the City.”

According to the Vallejo Sun, Malone stepped into the role of interim city manager in 2021 and became permanent in 2022. Previously, Malone served as the city’s water director and decided to retire from city service e at the end of his contract which is April 18.

“I hope the excellent work of City staff will continue for years to come in Vallejo,” he said. “However, recent developments have led me to this decision to announce my retirement.”

When Malone was appointed, Vallejo was awash in scandals involving the housing division and the police department. A third of the city’s jobs went unfilled during most of his tenure, making for a rocky road for getting things done, the Vallejo Sun reported.

At last night’s council meeting, McConnell explained the selection process, highlighting the council’s confidence in achieving positive outcomes through a collaborative effort, and said this afternoon, “The Council is confident that by working closely together, positive results will be obtained.”

While the search for a permanent city manager is ongoing, an announcement is expected in the coming months.

On behalf of the City Council, Mayor McConnell extended gratitude to the staff, citizen groups, and recruitment firm.

“The Council wishes to thank the staff, the citizens’ group, and the recruitment firm for their diligent work and careful consideration for the selection of what is possibly the most important decision a Council can make on behalf of the betterment of our City,” McConnell said.

The Vallejo Sun contributed to this report.