Why is 'stay the course' considered a good strategy?

Question

Nixon used 'stay the course' in Vietnam. We all know how that turned out. Why would that strategy work in Iraq?

Bush himself calls it a 'stay the course strategy', not a 'stay the course policy'. Also, the question is 'why would it work in Iraq when it didn't work in Vietnam'?

Answer 1

It will not work and I think the vast majority of people know that and I am sure Vietnam soldiers and their families the most. I saw many families lose their sons and husbands in Vietnam. I saw the withdrawal. I just wonder, wonder why we do not seem to look at history and not repeat mistakes. I can't understand why a great country like ours built with the hands of people who all came from foreign countries can't learn about and appreciate and learn from and appreciate other cultures. How could it be that powerful lawmakers and government officials would not study these things. Why do they never doubt themselves? Why don't they speak with others and get opinions from a broad scope of people? They just must not have read many books for sure. Try "Team of Rivals." We are destroying ourselves from within. Also, any man or woman who serves would be honored for their commitment and sacrifice. They are not lessened by the blunders of others.

Answer 2

First of all, Nixon didn't use "stay the course". Nixon got the troops out. It was Johnson who escalated the war.

Second, "stay the course" is NOT a strategy. It's a sound bite to say that we need to maintain pressure on the enemy to defeat him. It means don't pull out until the mission is complete and there is security and stability in the region.

We are about to adjust the strategy on the ground, here. It is a good idea because we need to change things up a bit and use the lessons we have learned so far.

Answer 3

Whether or not you agree with the decision to go into Iraq, the decision to leave could be catastrophic. If the US leaves Iraq now, in such an unstable state, the terrorists will quickly take over the country...and they will claim it as their own. And even if you don't have any compassion for the people of Iraq...you need to look at the implications of the terrorists having their own country for the rest of the world. As much as I hate the war, why we got into it and how it has been 'managed' - I realize that pulling out at this particular time would be a far worse threat to the US and the rest of the world. Please note, this is not support for Bush or his decision to 'Stay the Course'...it is just common sense. Sadly.

Answer 4

It's a Texas thing dating back to the Alamo.

Things like circling the wagons and letting the Indians slowly kill everyone is part of the root of this.(no offense intended paulisfree)

You might recall Khe Sanh in Vietnam, where Texas president Johnson ordered the troops to circle and and not withdraw from the un-defendable location. Stuck in a valley surrounded by artillery located on the mountain tops thousands died following orders.

This Texas strategy has now been renamed Stay the Course.

Today in Baghdad the Armed Forces are using the Texas tactic of driving around in circles getting shot at.

Go big Red Go

Answer 5

No, check your history. Nixon never said stay the course in VietNam. He was looking for a way out not a way to continue.

To answer your question:
Staying the course in Iraq means killing radical Muslims in Iraq. It's done by our military who are very well qualified to help IslamoTerrorist to the next world. It also means not killing the same terrorist here in America.

That's a good thing!

Answer 6

Simple History....but to answer you correctly, it is a policy not a strategy.

We left Iraq too early in 1991 and many Iraqis felt we abandoned them. After WWII, we stayed in Germany and Japan for 10 years, here in Iraq we need to remain otherwise the people who have been newly freed will be come oppressed by neighboring groups and/or countries who want control of Iraq's Oil. While we are not nation building, we are too dependent on oil to just let things run their course without our help.

And before anyone cries out about our dependence on oil could be cut with alternative fuels, remember that all the products that are petroleum based (Plastics) would have to be developed from new materials since the petroleum byproducts would not exist anymore without the refining of oil into gasoline...just think of how that will effect health care alone...all the plastics that are used in the health care systems (syringes, bags, tubes.....)

We need that area to be stable....thus we need to remain...

Answer 7

I don't understand what Vietnam and the fight against Communism has to do with fighting the war in Iraq other than they both involved guns.

Bush has tried and failed to send the messsge that we do not intend to back down from terrorists, intend to stay united at home, and intend stick by our friends in Iraq. Had that message gotten across, our soldiers would be home by now.

We can blame ourselves for not seeing the damage being done by infighting and politics in the US.

Answer 8

it incredibly is how I see life. Attitudes are what make the adaptation as I stumble upon diverse human beings and that they bump me back yet some do it correct, some purely yell in my ear, like the canines in spite of the incontrovertible fact that it is people who understand 'talons curved to pierce barely sufficient' and it incredibly is sufficient and that they damn nicely are conscious of it. ok, you have a reliable life yet you notice that around you some have not got it reliable and the sentiments come by using on your deceptively 'ordinary' artwork which you're so dismissive of. Dylan Thomas grew to become into the comparable, sitting in his community pub and watching others combat their very own particular way by using life, which he grew to become into poetry of the optimal order. thank you for that, Randy, it grew to become into particular for me.

Answer 9

125,000,000 prison built in Cuba .
75,000,000 on schools in Iraq made out of a slab of concrete a metal and wood frame and covered in canvas .
15 or so underground bunkers built at a cost of 14 billion dollars for what future plans I have no clue .


Profit is the reason .If I had a printing press all my friends would have a pile of cash handed to them before I would declare war and kill so many people .
I would love to become president and just say look I am a crock and I am going to give my friends 100,000,000 dollars each .That at least would be honest .
If I had the opportunity I would kick you know who's what everyday for a year and still never tire of it for what he has done .

Answer 10

Answer: Stay the course won't work in Iraq.

Comment: "Stay the Course" like everything else Republicans say is a cheerleading slogan with no substance.