Comparisons to Vietnam still sound weak to me, in spite of near-constantbuttressing by stories on Reuters. The real analogy is Lebanon. "Vietnam" may work as fuzzy Western rhetoric about quagmires and hopeless causes, but I think for Arabs the parallel between Iraq and Lebanon are clear. Israel occupied Lebanon to control PLO terrorists operating across its border, thinking Lebanese Shi'ites would welcome liberation. They were wrong. Israel pulled out 18 years later. (Vietnam lasted 13.)
OH YEAH: I haven't mentioned Bush's speech on Tuesday because there isn't much to comment on. His opening pep talk was ringing but obvious; the news conference was bumbling. Of course our troops have to stick around as long as it takes to stabilize Iraq. But Bush is in charge; he should have something visionary to say.
posted by Michael Scott Moore |
11:22 PM
