Post #11

Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it, as somebody once said. I guess it is too much to expect those who spent the Vietnam War years ducking military service to actually have paid attention to the lessons of that war. Again:

1. We intervened where out interests were NOT. We had to save the South Vietnamese from those Godless Communists. No, there was no historical connection with Vietnam, such as their help during our Revolution. No, there was no economic reason, such as our dependence on cheap Vietnam T-shirts. The reason we were in Vietnam was because of the “domino theory” – we had to fight ‘em on the streets of Saigon instead of the streets of San Diego. But did the “domino theory” work after we left? Has it ever worked? I am slack-jawed when people suggest a “domino theory” for Iraq – that is, a blooming democracy in the Middle East will inspire its neighbors to be… WHAT!?! Um, isn’t Israel a blooming democracy?

2. We intervened for dishonest reasons. Vietnam had the Gulf of Tonkin. Iraq had WMD/9-11/liberating… or whatever the excuse is this week. A lie is when ya knowingly tell something wrong or tell something ya are in a position to know is wrong. So, George W. Bush lied to us as members of his own administration tried to tell him he was wrong. Where is the “faulty intelligence?” Look in the mirror.

3. We intervened half-heartedly. Colin Powell had it right during the Gulf War – overwhelming force. I’m listening to retired General Robert Gard, Jr. on Hardball with Chris Matthews right now, and he is exactly right. I need to get that transcript.