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Published On: Apr 09, 2004 09:13 AM
Total entries in this category:
Published On: Apr 09, 2004 09:13 AM
Iraq/Vietnam - GWB/LBJ
Exhibit designed by the docent
Shark
President George W. Bush -- who missed out on the Vietnam war because he was
busy protecting the borders of Texas and Alabama (?) from Communist
invasions, wouldn't know it from direct experience -- but his war in Iraq is
starting to have a few similarities to the war in Vietnam.
Here are just a few:
The escalation of the Vietnam military presence was based on an erroneous
event, the Gulf of Tonkin incident.
The war in Iraq was based on an erroneous goal, the destruction of weapons
of mass destruction that turned out to be non-existent.
The Tet Offensive was a series of battles in the South Vietnam. It was a
major offensive by the North Vietnamese Army, Viet Cong, and civilian
guerilla fighters. It involved military action in almost every major city in
southern Vietnam and attacks on the US firebase at Khe Sanh. The NVA
suffered a heavy military defeat but scored a priceless propaganda victory.
The current "insurgency" in Iraq is a major offensive occurring in almost
every major city in Iraq, and is being perpetrated by a guerilla army in
civilian guises. Whereas the U.S. will probably attain a 'military victory'
over this current uprising, we stand to suffer a "priceless propaganda"
loss.
In Vietnam, there was a gulf between the US public and the US government
over support for the war and its progress. There were also tensions between
the US military and their Vietnamese allies.
In Iraq, there is a gulf between the US public and the US government over
support for the war and its progress. There are also tensions between the US
military and their alleged Iraqi allies, the Shiites and the Interim
Governing Council.
The strategy of the Viet Cong was effective because US leaders were at best
misleading, and at worst, lying outright to the American public about what
was going on in Vietnam, why we were there in the first place, and what the
costs and exit strategy would eventually be.
The strategy of the Iraqi insurgents is effective because US leaders were at
best misleading, and at worst, lying outright to the American public about
what is going on in Iraq, why we are there in the first place, and what the
costs and exit strategy will eventually be.
Media coverage of the Tet Offensive shocked the American public and its
politicians. The US military reaction surprised the North Vietnamese
leadership. The heavy US shelling of Ben Tre produced the famous quote, "it
became necessary to destroy the town in order to save it."
Media coverage of the Iraqi offensive is shocking the American public and
its politicians. The US military reaction will probably surprise even the
rebellious Shiite and Sunni leadership. We'll probably have to instigate the
old approach of "It became necessary to destroy the town in order to save
it."
Iraq is not Vietnam, but the perception alone could turn into a nightmare
for Bush and his Neo-Con cronies.
58,000 Americans died in Vietnam. So far 620 Americans have died in Iraq.
Terry Anderson, an expert on the Vietnam War, a veteran of the war, and
currently a historian at Texas A&M University:
"I completely agree this is Bush's Vietnam. Just like Lyndon Johnson, Bush
has totally misjudged the culture in which they are fighting. Just like LBJ,
we are trying to bring democracy to people who are not particularly
interested in U.S.-style democracy -- and just like LBJ, we are rotating out
battle-hardened people with new troops. And just like LBJ, Bush is not
telling Americans they are going to be there for years."
Anderson adds that a big difference between Iraq and Vietnam is that public
support for the war in Iraq has ebbed much more quickly. The American
electorate began turning against the Vietnam war after two years of
fighting, but with opposition escalating quickly after the 1968 Tet
Offensive.
"You had massive rallies against this war even before Bush went in,"
Anderson says, "because the Vietnam experience jump-started opposition to
this war."
Polls released this week show support for Bush's handling of the situation
in Iraq hovering between 40 and 45 per cent, with many questioning the June
30 target for hand over of political power to Iraqis.
"You're starting to hear that 'Q' word: quagmire," pollster John Zogby said
yesterday. ("Quagmire" has become synonymous with Vietnam, and "LBJ" might
quickly become shorthand for "GWB.") "The public seems confused," Zogby
said. "How do we get out? Do we send more troops? How do we cut casualties?
It's all becoming a big problem for Bush."
Republican Senator John McCain (4/08/04): "We have to tell the American
people that we are in this for the long haul. We cannot say, as we did in
Vietnam, that the light is at the end of the tunnel"
The Bush administration continues to insist that the war in Iraq is a vital
part of the fight against international terrorism, others are suggesting the
opposite:
Hans Blix (04/07/04): "It's clearly the negative aspects that dominate. Bush
declared war as a part of the U.S. war on terror, but instead of limiting
the effects of terror, the war has laid the foundation for even more
terror."
QUAGMIRE.
President George W. Bush -- who missed out on the Vietnam war because he was
busy protecting the borders of Texas and Alabama (?) from Communist
invasions, wouldn't know it from direct experience -- but his war in Iraq is
starting to have a few similarities to the war in Vietnam.
Here are just a few:
The escalation of the Vietnam military presence was based on an erroneous
event, the Gulf of Tonkin incident.
The war in Iraq was based on an erroneous goal, the destruction of weapons
of mass destruction that turned out to be non-existent.
The Tet Offensive was a series of battles in the South Vietnam. It was a
major offensive by the North Vietnamese Army, Viet Cong, and civilian
guerilla fighters. It involved military action in almost every major city in
southern Vietnam and attacks on the US firebase at Khe Sanh. The NVA
suffered a heavy military defeat but scored a priceless propaganda victory.
The current "insurgency" in Iraq is a major offensive occurring in almost
every major city in Iraq, and is being perpetrated by a guerilla army in
civilian guises. Whereas the U.S. will probably attain a 'military victory'
over this current uprising, we stand to suffer a "priceless propaganda"
loss.
In Vietnam, there was a gulf between the US public and the US government
over support for the war and its progress. There were also tensions between
the US military and their Vietnamese allies.
In Iraq, there is a gulf between the US public and the US government over
support for the war and its progress. There are also tensions between the US
military and their alleged Iraqi allies, the Shiites and the Interim
Governing Council.
The strategy of the Viet Cong was effective because US leaders were at best
misleading, and at worst, lying outright to the American public about what
was going on in Vietnam, why we were there in the first place, and what the
costs and exit strategy would eventually be.
The strategy of the Iraqi insurgents is effective because US leaders were at
best misleading, and at worst, lying outright to the American public about
what is going on in Iraq, why we are there in the first place, and what the
costs and exit strategy will eventually be.
Media coverage of the Tet Offensive shocked the American public and its
politicians. The US military reaction surprised the North Vietnamese
leadership. The heavy US shelling of Ben Tre produced the famous quote, "it
became necessary to destroy the town in order to save it."
Media coverage of the Iraqi offensive is shocking the American public and
its politicians. The US military reaction will probably surprise even the
rebellious Shiite and Sunni leadership. We'll probably have to instigate the
old approach of "It became necessary to destroy the town in order to save
it."
Iraq is not Vietnam, but the perception alone could turn into a nightmare
for Bush and his Neo-Con cronies.
58,000 Americans died in Vietnam. So far 620 Americans have died in Iraq.
Terry Anderson, an expert on the Vietnam War, a veteran of the war, and
currently a historian at Texas A&M University:
"I completely agree this is Bush's Vietnam. Just like Lyndon Johnson, Bush
has totally misjudged the culture in which they are fighting. Just like LBJ,
we are trying to bring democracy to people who are not particularly
interested in U.S.-style democracy -- and just like LBJ, we are rotating out
battle-hardened people with new troops. And just like LBJ, Bush is not
telling Americans they are going to be there for years."
Anderson adds that a big difference between Iraq and Vietnam is that public
support for the war in Iraq has ebbed much more quickly. The American
electorate began turning against the Vietnam war after two years of
fighting, but with opposition escalating quickly after the 1968 Tet
Offensive.
"You had massive rallies against this war even before Bush went in,"
Anderson says, "because the Vietnam experience jump-started opposition to
this war."
Polls released this week show support for Bush's handling of the situation
in Iraq hovering between 40 and 45 per cent, with many questioning the June
30 target for hand over of political power to Iraqis.
"You're starting to hear that 'Q' word: quagmire," pollster John Zogby said
yesterday. ("Quagmire" has become synonymous with Vietnam, and "LBJ" might
quickly become shorthand for "GWB.") "The public seems confused," Zogby
said. "How do we get out? Do we send more troops? How do we cut casualties?
It's all becoming a big problem for Bush."
Republican Senator John McCain (4/08/04): "We have to tell the American
people that we are in this for the long haul. We cannot say, as we did in
Vietnam, that the light is at the end of the tunnel"
The Bush administration continues to insist that the war in Iraq is a vital
part of the fight against international terrorism, others are suggesting the
opposite:
Hans Blix (04/07/04): "It's clearly the negative aspects that dominate. Bush
declared war as a part of the U.S. war on terror, but instead of limiting
the effects of terror, the war has laid the foundation for even more
terror."
QUAGMIRE.
Posted: Fri - April 9, 2004 at 08:59 AM