American Legion pledges
war support at isle meeting

The convention warns opposition
can embolden the enemy

During his 26-month service in Vietnam, James Vialard said the toughest times came when actress Jane Fonda spoke her mind, or when anti-war protesters took to the streets, making the front pages or the evening news.

"How would you like to be 10,000 miles away from home knowing that people in your country are against you?" said Vialard, a former Army sergeant who blamed protesters for strengthening Vietnamese resistance at the time. "It gave them power over us."

Vialard's concern was echoed yesterday by the more than 13,000 members of the American Legion who officially kicked off their 87th annual, three-day national conference at the Hawaii Convention Center.

About 4,000 legion delegates unanimously passed a resolution pledging to unite in support of the war on terrorism and against anti-war activists, fearing that protests could motivate insurgents in their battle against U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Let's not repeat the mistakes of the past," said Thomas P. Cadmus, the legion's national commander. "I urge all Americans to rally around our armed forces and remember our fellow Americans who were viciously murdered on Sept. 11, 2001."

The 2.7 million-member American Legion is the nation's largest veteran organization.

Their message arrives amid a renewed discontent about the Iraq war among the thousands of Americans who have sympathized with Cindy Sheehan, the California woman whose public grief over her soldier son's death has drawn nation attention.

Vialard, the state commander for the legion's New Jersey department, said he understands why many Americans are upset with the war, but warned that their demonstrations weaken overworked troops who are thirsty for support.

"I'm appalled that a few people can cause so much discomfort," said Vialard. "The people we are dealing with see that as a sign of weakness ... and they kill just for the sake of killing."

The delegates were praised by Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as Gov. Linda Lingle, U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, U.S. Rep. Ed Case and Mayor Mufi Hannemann.