Still fighting the last war
I just found this interesting when coupled with US/Iran on again/off again talks about Iraq and the recent shift in US tactical strategy. There's no evidence that this sort of conversation has taken place regarding Iraq, but this just offers an awareness that such things do happen.
Again, I'm not trying to allege a parallel, it's just interesting.
Henry A. Kissinger quietly acknowledged to China in 1972 that Washington could accept a communist takeover of South Vietnam if that evolved after a withdrawal of U.S. troops -- even as the war to drive back the communists dragged on with mounting deaths....
Kissinger's comments appear to lend credence to the "decent interval" theory posed by some historians who say the United States was prepared to see communists take over Saigon as long as, to save face, that happened long enough after a U.S. troop departure.
Again, I'm not trying to allege a parallel, it's just interesting.
posted by mikevotes at
7:00 AM
3 Comments:
Years before the end of the Vietnam war, it was clear that we were fighting for nothing but appearances. That's what Nixon's so-called "peace with honor" mantra was about. So this info about Kissinger is no surprise.
I think the situation with Iraq is different. The admin does have a goal. They're just not being honest about what it is.
By
Anonymous, at 10:08 AM
I'd like to see the communists take over in Iraq too. They could use that oil money to rebuild what was destroyed by the Americans...oh, wait, we're not fighting the commies, not fighting the terrorists, so what you're saying is you don't see a problem with the Iraqis taking over after the Americans leave? Why are we fighting there again? Oh yeah, the WMD.
By
Lew Scannon, at 12:47 PM
Sorry, Lew, I wasn't clear. I was saying that we may be negotiating control with the Iranians at this point. They are the one country that could have a serious impact on security in large portions of Iraq. I don't think we are, but that was the parallel I was afetr.
And, abi, my question in this is/was,do they still have goal, or have they largely abandoned it?
Stripping away the rhetoric and looking at the actions, completely stopping rebuilding and pulling US troops back into "suprebases" doesn't sound like a shift in strategy to meet goals.
I really don't think we're negotiating a handover to Iran at this point, but the administration is shifting plans that don't seem to point towards the previous goal.
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 1:22 PM
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