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Post Info TOPIC: An End to the Controversy Perhaps?


Air Vice Marshall

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An End to the Controversy Perhaps?
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The head of the Canadain War Museum suddenly resigned last week, his replacement has vowed to work with vets to resolve the controversy....

http://www.thestar.com/News/article/229825

War museum chair aims to resolve feud over air raids

Newly appointed Fredrik Eaton seeks talks with WWII vets over exhibit on bombing Germany

Jun 27, 2007 04:30 AM

OTTAWA BUREAU
OTTAWAA modern-day battle fought over an air war more than 60 years ago may soon come to an end.Fredrik Eaton, the new chair of the board that oversees the Canadian War Museum, says he wants to "break the log-jam" that has pitted angry veterans against museum curators over the controversial wording of an exhibit about Allied bombing raids in World War II. "Our mission is to solve the problem," Eaton said in an interview yesterday.His comments mark the best hope yet for veterans that their complaints about the exhibit will finally be resolved. The museum's new commitment to tackle the issue comes in the wake of a Senate report this month, which urged the museum to "take the lead" in finding a resolution, as well as the sudden departure of the museum's director, Joe Geurts. Earlier this month, Eaton was named chair of the Canadian Museum of Civilization's board of trustees, which also oversees the war museum in Ottawa. Trustees have given "clear instructions" to talk to the veterans, he said."They said, `We've got to talk to these people. This can't go on forever. Do it. Talk to them,'" Eaton said. "That is what we intend to do."Veterans were optimistic Eaton will help end the impasse, which has dragged on since the museum's opening in 2005."He's got a lot of clout ... He's not a military man but he's certainly has the standing in Canada that people will listen to him. I think that this will be the way to solve it," said Cliff Chadderton, chief executive officer of The War Amps and chairman of the National Council of Veteran Associations.Chadderton said the sudden departure last week of the museum's director and chief executive, will also open the door to a resolution. The museum corporation won't comment on why Geurts left.But Chadderton said there was "no doubt" his departure was tied to the controversy, calling him a roadblock to resolving their complaints. Geurts could not be reached for comment.Many veterans, especially those who fought in the air campaign, were upset by an exhibit titled "Enduring Controversy" they say questions the morality of Allied bomber crews who attacked German cities.The display, accompanied by pictures, including one of dead German civilians in a city street, even raises questions about the effectiveness of the mass raids waged by Bomber Command."The value and morality of the strategic bomber offensive against Germany remains bitterly contested," the panel reads.It also says that the raids "resulted in only small reductions in German war production until late in the war," a claim that has left many veterans fuming and demanding changes."The controversy was all on their part," Chadderton said of the museum staff. "There wasn't any controversy from the people who flew the bombers . . . They're the ones who are taking this insult to their graves and that hurts," he said.He denied charges that the veterans' groups were trying to clean up history."There's always room for both sides but this is a one-sided panel ... we were pressuring them to make sure it was accurate," he said.

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Group Captain

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It's about time somebody up there got their head out of the sand. The Vets deserve better. 

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Bill Heron

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