Kerry Compares Situation in Afghanistan to Vietnam

[ProSense]

Run time: 10:13 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lWcQH_VYYs   Posted on YouTube: January 14, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: January 15, 2009 By DU Member: ProSense Views on DU: 762

 

[Bobbieo]

1. I don't remember a Taliban type group in VietNam!!! Was there one?

[TayTay]

2. No there wasn't

Was that mentioned in the video?

[globalvillage]

3. I don't think that's the comparison at all.

I think he's relating two conflicts where we engage without knowing, or even trying to understand the culture, the people, the history, etc.
Isn't that what he said in the clip?

[karynnj]

4. There was the Viet Cong in Vietnam

In Cambodia there was the Khmer Rouge that might be even more similar in that it was also against the educated, more westernized people. They were certainly an insurgent group and when they won and took over the country they killed a huge number of people and instituted a very draconian government. (Recently the Pol Pot era leaders are finally being tried in a tribunal for genocide and other crimes against humanity.)

Although it is not a contest, they were worse than the Taliban.

That was not the point that Senator Kerry was making. Did you listen to the video or just respond to the title?

[Bobbieo]

5. No, I did not listen to the video - It would have taken me 30 minutes of starts and stops

to finish the tape. Must be my computer - too slow or something. I responded to the title with a query not a response to start a debate.

Anyway, found out what I wanted to know!!! DU has all the answers!!!
Except no one knew the answer to my start and stop videos when I asked several weeks ago. They are a turn off to video watching.

[TayTay]

8. That happens to me too

But not consistently. I wish I knew how to help on that. Sometimes, I use the pause button, give the video a couple of minutes and then it runs without interruption for me. Your mileage may vary though :)

To the point, there is a New York Times website that has a http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/13/us/politics/13text-clinton.html?pagewanted=all">transcript of yesterday's hearing. Using keyword search on terms like "Afghanistan" or "Forever War" you can come to the passage that was in this video.

[ro1942]

6. Kerry made sense

Imperialism, he stopped short of saying it, but it sounded what he meant.

[karynnj]

7. I think it was imperialism or even the less wrong

concept that every country would be happiest with a form of government just like ours.

The amazing thing is that this basic idea is what he spoke of as a Yale student, again in 1971, and of course as a Senator. I hope that Obama really does agree on foreign policy with Kerry as much as it seemed during the election. It is interesting that Kerry has called for a change in our foreign policy at least since 1966!

[proud progressive]

9. how refreshing IT IS to hear intelligent people discusing fucking REALITY!

get our goddamn troops home NOW!!!!!