I am 57 - I distinctly remember that it was the Democrats dragging us into Vietnam and the Republicans fighting to get us out. Nixon signed the orders to withdraw and brought the troops home. Now, the Republicans act like to do the same in Iraq would be tantamount to treason - So is it me or what?
2007-03-30 02:33:41 · 8 answers · asked by kbama 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
Traditional Republicans were always isolationist. Wendell Wilkie, their candidate against FDR in 1940, was strongly against getting involved in WWII even.
This changed with the advent of the Neocons, particularly exemplified by Reagan meddling and getting us entangled in the internal wars in El Salvador, Nicaragua, etc. and selling weapons to Iran to pay for it, the idea being that we could spread democracy by military force.
Reagan claimed that he was combating the spread oif communism, Bush now claims he is combating the spread of terrorism, but the evidence says otherwise. Everyone knows that Iraq's borders are incredibly porous and insurgents in Iraq could head for the U.S any time they want. We only have our border "security" such as it is, to protect us.
2007-03-30 03:01:21 · answer #1 · answered by celticexpress 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, on one level you're right. But, although the Democrats were in power when we got into Vietnam, that was a bipartisan mistake. And by the time of the 1972 election, only the right-wing of the GOP stilll supported the Vietnam War. The period was a time of major shifts in the agendas and political platforms of the two parties. Which favored what depends on where they were in this process of changing agendas at a particular time--and wich group within each party you're looking at.
2007-03-30 02:43:38 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you will remember even better, the Congress had gotten their fingers in the pie and had brought the military down to a stalemate. One day we bombed, the next week we didn't. they tried to control the war from Capitol Hill, just like they are trying to do now.
In Nam, we had hit a snag and there was no chance of victory. When we left and Saigon fell, thousands of people were slaughtered, interned into camps, or just simple didn't exist anymore. A good Friend of mine, Dr Vinh, endured 8 years of re-education camp, lost half his family, and almost died, before he was able to leave the country.
Cambodia, 300,000 plus murdered by Pol Pot. So leaving is not always the best idea, but sometimes, we have to suck it up and go.
I think our best option right now, is to hell with rules of engagement ( I can hear the liberals moaning on that one), get in there, kick butt, kill terrorists, and leave. Give Iraq the understanding that if we HAVE to come back because they couldn't make it work, we will bring 3 million degrees of heat and they provide the sand. They will become a glass parking lot.
Iraq is no where near what we had in Nam. It is still winnable, if Congress will stop playing around, and give Bush the word, " get in there and do the job or we will!!!"
2007-03-30 02:43:09 · answer #3 · answered by bigmikejones 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It may be a little of both - but no insult meant!
I do remember that it was Nixon who lied to the American people because while making it appear that he was trying to get us out of Vietnam he was sending our troops into Cambodia at the same time when he said he wasn't!
Why on earth would you ever believe a Republican?
At 57 you should certainly know better than this!
2007-03-30 02:45:54 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
If you've confused Iraq with Vietnam, I'm betting the problem isn't selective memory
2007-03-30 02:37:44 · answer #5 · answered by wizjp 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well I think it is kind of silly to compare Radical Islamic Terrorists with the Nationalist of Viet Nam...when we left Viet Nam, they got what they wanted, their own country...so the threat from them was only to other Vietnamese, but if we pull out of Iraq, the terrorists will only have part of what they want...they will still want to destroy us because we are Infidels and to put Islamic rule throughout the world and that would show them that we are weak and are unwilling to accept the few casualties that we have had, and that they are willing for everyone of them to die for a victory...this is not a war to stop "The Domino Theory", but to combat a group of people who want to erase us from the earth...
2007-03-30 02:57:49 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Different war, entirely different outcome to the middle east and our country if we did as Democrats want and cut and run.
2007-03-30 02:54:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
it's you
2007-03-30 03:19:42 · answer #8 · answered by bushfan88 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋