The Old & New Vietnam
How right — in so many ways he hadn't contemplated — the current commander-in-chief is to compare his pretty little war in Iraq with the tragic war in Vietnam.
"For twenty years, first the French and then the United States, have been predicting victory in Vietnam. In 1961 and 1962, as well as 1966 and 1967, we have been told that 'the tide is turning'; there is 'light at the end of the tunnel'; 'we can soon bring home the troops — victory is near — the enemy is tiring.' Once, in 1962, I participated in such predictions myself. But for twenty years we have been wrong. The history of conflict among nations does not record another such lengthy and consistent chronicle of error. It is time to discard so proven a fallacy and face the reality that a military victory is not in sight, and that it probably will never come.
"The best way to save our most precious stake in Vietnam — the lives of our soldiers — is to stop the enlargement of the war, and the best way to end casualties is to end the war."
–Senator Robert F. Kennedy in 1968 [quoted in Joseph A. Palermo, "History Through a Bush", Huffington Post, 26 August 2007.]
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on Friday, 31 August 2007 at 01.39
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Bush explained his thinking last November. I'm surprised so few seem to have acknowledged what he said and its implications. In his simple statement, he spelled out what for him (The Decider) victory actually means, and it is chillingly, and cynically, self-serving.
Bush said the only way to lose in Iraq is to quit. He made it clear there would be no quitting as long as he is president.
Bush is a primitive thinker. For him, it's really that simple. In some corner of his mind, he surely regrets so many of our troops are being maimed and killed. But after all, they're volunteers and going in harm's way to do battle is their job.
So, whatever it takes, he'll keep his quagmire going until the last hour of the last day of his presidency. Circumstances in his party and the limitations of military manpower available will make some troop reductions necessary. But those adjustments can be made while still keeping enough force in country to forestall the inevitable until his presidency is over.
Bush can then head on down the road with the satisfaction of knowing there was no official pullout and collapse as long as he was president. That, for him, will be victory enough. Let whoever follows him in the White House preside over the pullout and ensuing bloodbath, if that's their choice. And, as he sees it, let his successor wear the albatross of retreat and defeat from there on out.