Also on display in that country that, decades before, he had so easily avoided visiting was Bush’s astute understanding of Vietnam’s place in American history. When asked if there might be any lessons learned from Vietnam that might apply to Bush’s adventures in Iraq, he didn’t miss a beat when he said that chief amongst the lessons should be, “we’ll succeed unless we quit.” I’m not quite sure what the Vietnamese people might think of that comment but considering that fact that, since this country “quit” killing their countrymen (and women and children), Vietnam has become a united country where Bush is now seeking “favored nation” trading status, I’m pretty sure they are happy we did.
Standing in a country where some 58,000 Americans died after being placed in harm’s way over the last “big lie” (see Gulf of Tonkin); while Americans at home were being treated to a variety of reasons for our involvement there followed up by countless “revised strategies for success”, George W. Bush continues to exhibit his almost legendary ability to damn the facts and proceed down his own path. Rather than accept the real lesson of Vietnam – that interjecting military force where diplomacy is called for only leads to death and animosity and that “democracy” cannot be forced through the barrel of a gun, Bush will continue to tumble down the rabbit hole until, as in the waning months of the Vietnam adventure, Congress responds to the demands of the American people and closes the check book as its only means of oversight and control. I only hope that the “new bankers” start exercising that oversight in January.
Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue
4 comments:
I've read that LBJ, during the war in Vietnam, often expressed clear doubts about whether victory was possible and perhaps that the war was wrong in the first place. In a biography of Henry "Scoop" Jackson, it was noted that Jackson didn't think that victory in Vietnam would stop the 'dominos from falling,' and that a defeat there wouldn't ensure that they'd fall.
I don't think that George W. Bush, since 9/11, has doubted any decision he's made. That, to me, is a most frightening thing.
Will,
If Johnson ever expressed "doubts" about Vietnam it must have been in private conversations with aides or advisors. His public statements always amounted to him insisting that he wouldn't be the first American president to lose a war.
It is always interesting to note that the chief architects of the Iraq invasion were "raised at Scoop's knee." While Jackson may not have thought the war in Vietnam would stop the dominos, he was one of the most vocal hawks of his (and my) time. Having grown up in Washington during the "Scoop years" I have always believed that his constant drumbeat for "staying the course" in Vietnam led to hundreds of uneccessary deaths in that country. He was great on the environment though!
Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue
Johnson was noted on his tapes talkig about his insecurity.
I'm not excusing Jackson of LBJ, I just thought it was telling how these guys 'think' more than W does.
Will,
Point well taken although it may take years away from current events before we find that, in private, Bush may be expressing the same doubts as LBJ.
Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue
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