The Untold History of the United States (№ 456598)

In November 1969, freelance journalist Seymour Hersh reported how, a year and a half earlier, US troops had killed about five hundred civilians in the village of My Lai. They were suspected of sympathizing with the Viet Cong. Before the execution, many residents were tortured and women were gang-raped. The soldiers spared neither children nor the elderly. During all this time, not a single bullet was fired in their direction. This monstrous cruelty of American soldiers was reminiscent of their attitude towards the Japanese during World War II. 65% of Americans said they were not concerned about the My Lai massacre. The only officer found guilty was pardoned by Nixon three years later. Public opinion was on his side.