Reply #43: I heard or read, yesterday or today, a frightening parallel to Vietnam [View All]

[Stinky The Clown]

There were reports of Americans engaging unformed opposition in the North, near the Syrian border. The report went further, saying our troops were ordered back "to spare us undue casualties".

I wish I knew where I got this report ... it could well have been right here on DU in the LBN forum.

In any case, if this is true (and I see no reason to think it isn't), this goes right to one of our biggest errors in Vietnam. The disempowerment of the military to do what needs doing militarily for the sake of political expediency at home (don't want the home folks to see increased casualties among our guys).

And if true, the military leadership should be as pissed as they've ever been. The civilian leadership in this country right now could not give two shit less care to the military. They're just cannon fodder. They're not 'heroes' ... they're cannon fodder and expendable capital and ... 'just the hired help'.

And then there's the whole notion of a "uniformed opposition." Who's uniform? Syria?

Very worrisome, indeed. And without a shred of hope about it. Only the specter of more war, doom, and gloom.

We are well and mightily fucked.