President Clinton reportedly plans to visit China and Vietnam before the end
of his term, and according to high-ranking Navy officers, the commander in
chief will alter long-standing naval regulations to allow the American flag
to fly below that of Vietnam when he sails into the communist nation's
territorial waters on a U.S. Navy ship. (A US Navy Ship is sovereign U.S.
territory and the American flag is never subordinate) Highly placed Navy
sources who spoke on condition of anonymity believe this action on the
president's part would further devastate already tenuous Navy morale.

As part of his swan song, Clinton reportedly intends to visit two ports
aboard naval vessels. Trip one takes him to the People's Republic of China,
which has a regulation that no war ship of any country may enter its
territorial waters flying a flag higher than that of the People's Republic
of China. According to one Navy source, China and the U.S. have effected a
compromise whereby both flags-the U.S. and the PRC-will be flown from U.S.
naval vessels at the same height. But visceral outrage is resulting from a
proposed change to Navy regulations that would result in the American flag
being displayed subordinate to the flag of Vietnam. Navy regulations and
tradition prescribe that no country's flag will be displayed in a superior
position to the U.S.flag. However, Vietnam's rules reportedly demand that
the Vietnamese flag shall always fly in a superior position to any other
country's flag. High-ranking naval officers, speaking on the condition that
their names not be published, say the reason for all the alarm, anger and
career-threatening rhetoric is that Clinton allegedly has either ordered, or
is about to order, the secretary of the Navy to amend regulations to permit
the Vietnamese flag to be displayed over the U.S. flag. "I'd like to blow
the f... thing up!" said one frustrated officer.

The United States Navy Regulations began with the enactment by the
Continental Congress of the "Rules for the Regulation of the Navy of the
United Colonies" on November 28, 1775. So a long and proud history bolsters
the long-held Navy tradition that no country's flag will fly higher than
that of the United States. Commenting on the report, Col. David Hackworth,
America's most decorated living war veteran, said, "What's new? Clinton has
done everything else to dishonor the flag, why not make it number two?" He
added, "Congress ought to pull this traitor's travel plug ... now."

Calls to the Navy Staff Operations and Special Events office were referred
to the Public Affairs Office, which then referred WND to the news desk. When
WND outlined the scenario, the spokesman-whose first comment was, "Wow" -
later called back to say, "We haven't been able to find anything on it yet,
but we're trying to run the story to ground."

Admiral Thomas B. Fargo, Commander in Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet,
reportedly has visited the People's Republic of China recently also,
although the reason for the trip is not known.

NOTE: Some of you may wonder what the fuss is about, but please remember
that the Navy prides itself on honor and tradition. The Naval Officers are
not being "childish and petty" when they speak out against this. Morale is
at an all-time low, and military commands do not need to once again be
berated for their job. How does this "slap in the face" decision fall under
the power(s) of the Commander in Chief? It reminds me of when Hillary
ordered that uniforms not be worn by the White House in-house Marines. This
order still stands, if you visit the White House today, 8 years later. What
used to be a sought-after, privileged job, is now seen as a tour of
punishment by these young Marines who stand around in civilian clothes. They
not only lost their uniform but their self-esteem to be seen in the uniform
that they are asked to defend. How much more can the people that are
asked to defend our freedom take? The crews on the Navy ships leave their
families and loved ones behind more than 6 months at a time. Everything
possible should be done to praise and encourage them for their dedication!
Clinton will enjoy his boat ride for a few hours and never look back to see
the eyes of the men and women who serve our country. Just as the Clinton
administration will never look back at the damage that has been done to our
Military and to this Nation. Please forward this information to your E-Mail
list. It is being blocked by all major news media.

(Would this surprise anyone?) Ron Brassard, Air Force Program Manager