LAT, Rosa Brooks: Bush's next invasion: Vietnam?

[DeepModem Mom]

Rosa Brooks:
Bush's next invasion: Vietnam?
Following the president's logic, our best move is to repeat a huge mistake.
August 24, 2007

Re-invade Vietnam!

Oh yes. You thought the Bush administration was fresh out of ideas? You thought that with Karl Rove leaving, the administration that brought us the war in Iraq and "Mission Accomplished" had no more tricks up its sleeve? Think again.

On Wednesday, speaking before a Veterans of Foreign Wars audience, President Bush did something he had previously avoided: He compared the Iraq war with the Vietnam War, agreeing that Vietnam does hold lessons for U.S. policy in Iraq. Can't argue with that. For most Americans, the lessons of Vietnam were reasonably clear before we invaded Iraq and have been painfully reinforced by the ongoing disaster there:

Don't fight needless wars; don't go blundering around in countries where you don't know the language, history or culture; don't underestimate the power of nationalism, ethnicity and religion to bind together -- or tear apart -- people whose interests otherwise seem to diverge or converge; and, most of all, don't imagine that military force can solve fundamentally political problems.

But the president, who has his own very special set of history books, drew the public's attention to some entirely different lessons from Vietnam. To Bush, the "unmistakable legacy of Vietnam is that the price of America's withdrawal was paid by millions of innocent citizens."

Right! To Bush, the tragedy of the Vietnam War is that we didn't let it drag on for another decade or so....

***

How can we show the innocent civilians of Southeast Asia that we haven't forgotten them and simultaneously send a message of resolve to the Iraqi people? How can we show Al Qaeda once and for all that the U.S. is not to be trifled with?...

Re-invade Vietnam.

Because no matter what they say -- it's never too late to repeat the mistakes of the past.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-brooks24aug24,0,2486983.column?track=mostviewed-storylevel

[acmavm]

1. I wonder if pResident Chimpy ever realizes what an ass he makes of

himself when he starts off on his sermons-from-the-mount type idiocy? Does he ever feel like a fool?

You'd think that the repubs would sew his lips shut or something.

[JenniferJuniper]

2. The true tragedy of stupidity...

is that stupid people usually have no clue that they are stupid. And some are so stupid, they actually think they are smart. Or at least that everyone else is as stupid as they are.

I'm sure the Supreme Commander Guy and King of All Monkeys has his moments of vague insecurity. But beyond that, he really has no idea that so many of his see him as the evil, clueless fucker that he truly is.

[frogcycle]

3. A favorite saying of my Dad's

He who knows not and knows not that he knows not, is a fool ... shun him.
He who knows not and knows that he knows not, is ignorant ... teach him.
He who knows and knows not that he knows, is asleep ... wake him.
He who knows and knows that he knows, is a wise man ... follow him.

- Persian proverb


My Dad was a far wiser man than I realized. I did not know the origin until I googled it just now. Fitting.

[DeepModem Mom]

4. That proverb is a keeper -- thanks, frogcycle! nt