This is something that I never knew.
WASHINGTON Nov. 18 (AP) — The Pentagon said Tuesday it has uncovered remains from the site in Laos where Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean's younger brother was believed to have been killed nearly 30 years ago.
The remains have not been positively identified, but they were found along with some of Charles Dean's personal items, Howard Dean said.
Charles Dean was a 24-year-old graduate of the University of North Carolina traveling the world when he and a companion, Neil Sharman of Australia, were arrested in Laos by the communist Pathet Lao.
The two were detained Sept. 4, 1974, during a trip down the Mekong River, and held in a small, remote prison camp for a few months before being killed. They apparently were suspected of being spies, although the U.S. and Australian governments said they were merely tourists and strongly protested their detention.
The Dean family has been trying to piece together the details surrounding Charles Dean's death for three decades. Dean said the discovery would be painful not only for his family, but relatives of every POW and MIA.
Even though I disagree with most, if not all of Howard Dean's politics, it just goes to show you that your political enemies are human beings too. Also, consider that all of the other Democratic presidential candidates have been exploiting their family and personal histories for gain (Kerry and his Vietnam service, Gephardt and his lesbian daughter, etc.), yet Dean never spoke a word about this until now.
Say whatever you will about how angry Dean is and how he's steering the Dems into the wilderness, but at least the man has class, something in short supply in the Democratic field. Our condolences, Mr. Dean.
Posted by Thief at November 18, 2003 03:14 PM