Bush: I Understand the Vietnam analogy.?

Question

I am a Veteran. I am in my my 50's.

If we leave Iraq...we (our children) will have to fight this war.

We are there, no matter what you think about it. We must stay.
We must...we have to honor our comittments.


To do otherwise is an injustice to those who gave all, to those who understand.

God Bless our Nation. And....those who volunteer to defend her.

Thanks for the answer CoRiver Rat. But I think we must..MUST trust our Commanders in the field.

Vamp...thanks for your service. I was on 3 Amphibs, Beirut, Grenada, Beirut.

I even got lucky enough to catch a USO Tour with Bob Hope.

Catsup...You are right. And generations long after we are gone will have to live with the decisions we make now.

Florida Gal. Yes. Thank You.

BBH...You are exactly RIGHT!!

You hit the nail right on the head.

Our children...our Grandchildren will be fighting this War...if we, yes, our generation, does not finish it now, while we ar at the Helm.

Answer 1

First, thank you for serving our country. My husband is in the Air Force and I appreciate anybody else who has served. You are so right. We can't leave Iraq unfinished like Vietnam. That would be wrong. We are in this and should stay until the finish!

Answer 2

First off, thank you for your service. I mean that sincerely.

However, I would have to disagree with you.
The Bush Administration nor anyone else has ever shown anything that might show even a spark of hope of winning this war. All their plans' justification seems to be "it's better than leaving Iraq". Our children will be fighting this war whether we withrdaw or not. But here's the way I look at it.

1) If we couldn't win in Vietnam (these ppl did value their lives), what makes us think we can win in Iraq whose people are WANTING to die fighting? There is no such thing as a low morale for these people.
2) We have superior technology, yes, but what use is it if we can't and aren't allowed to use it? If we were to use whatever method and technology we have without public criticism, then I'd say we might have a chance (I would even say a good chance), but this isn't the case.
3) Like much of the problems in Vietnam, we don't even know who are enemies are.
4) What's worse here than in Vietnam is that there's much more media coverage, where news are everywhere and spread very fast. Terrorists are free to do whatever they want, because they don't give a rats *** what other people think of them - they're only mission is to get us out of there. We, on the other hand, are under the microscope of the whole world, where the smallest mistake can lead us to court marshall our own people. How the terrorists must enjoy this and laugh at us!
5) We are scared of high levels of casualties. Terrorists don't give a hoot because they're considered martyrs. In the eyes of public criticism, terrorists will win in the long run if/when the death toll reaches a certain point - basically they can tolerate high casualties, we can't. And this is going to be a high casualty war.
6) It's not our land. It never was. People who own the land don't want us there. Even if they aren't ready now, they won't ever be because we can't win.

I knew these things would happen even before we went to war - mainly because WE'VE BEEN THRU THIS BEFORE and we're under a tougher circumstance.

I realize that leaving now will have consequences, but I just don't see how we can win this war. We attacked the country under false pretenses. We need to face the consequences for our mistake. And yes, it was a mistake, because the reason we gave to attack was wrong. Don't let our pride blind us in seeing a goal that is not reachable. Let's count our losses and bring our heroes home.
And I bet you that if we were to leave Iraq, more countries will respect us for it than laugh at us.

Answer 3

We left Viet Nam because we finally understood the corrupt SVN government would never be able to stand on its own. The North invaded, unified the country and today is a large trading partner and has if not great, at least good relations with the American people and integrates with the global economy. Two other countries also fell, Cambodia and Laos, more because of what we did during the war and the fact that the NVA used both countries as highways for fighting us than anything else. SE Asia, like the Middle east, had only recently come out of centuries of foreign control and the borders drawn there were not historical borders, but ones put in place by the European powers. Like the Middle East, tribal and ethnic differences abounded within those borders and tribal wars that long simmered below the surface burst out with ugly fury upon our departure. Our staying would have not changed things, only changed the time-frame when they would have happened.

It is time to get out of Iraq (Someplace we never should have gone into in the first place). The Arab states realize that Iraq is to strategic to let it go up and flames and some settlement will be reached, after what no doubt will be a short, but bloody civil war. Our staying is only making the civil war last longer and spreading the bloodshed out not just over a longer period of time, but also making our men and women also pay the ultimate price for Bush's Folly.

Answer 4

Being a veteran and being 50-year-old don't necessarily qualify you as "understand the analogy".

Using these as evidence only shows you don't really think but you use the seniority to bluff. Because you were not able to provide any kind of analysis or deduction.

You must be a good guy who fought for his country and who has a faith in God (not Allah). But in a discussion forum, it's still kinda weak.

Sorry.

Answer 5

Just one problem, what's there to win? What did we win at Nam. I don't criticize those who are serving over there, but bet you that they will rather be home, like Nam. Irag and associates, as well as Nam, don't give a sh------. We are fighting their war, they will get what they are after, and we will fight yet soon another war. There are thousands of problems within owns land, or nation, but won't be issues to governments as this needs do not give, provide, glory the nation nor the politics. It is , has been, and will be a matter of pride. By the way what is Bush doing about our MIA , and still POW?

Answer 6

What a load of Crap...!
By Veteran do you mean Combat Veteran?
I did two tours on the ground in Vietnam
That was crap but it wa wonderful compered to this cluster ****. Thousands of GIs killed and wounded by explosives we failed to guard. More shot every day by weapons we lost.
Pallets of American Money missing.
So far the only Mission we have Accomplished is tripling the price of a barrel of oil so a lot of fat cat Oil Company CEO can hold multi million dollar Birthday Parties.
A Pox on the leadership that has brought us this mess.

Answer 7

I'd like to see a poll of veterans of Vietnam-era age. Especially if it were broken down by those who volunteered and those drafted (with perhaps a third category for those who thought they'd be drafted so they joined).

Answer 8

I'm in my fifties too, and although I love this country, I did not support this illegal pre-emptive invasion to start with. Mr Bush ignored the wisdom of his father who refused to invade, the wise counsel of a multitude of advisors who warned of just such a quagmire, and proceeded with his ego-enrichment plan of riding into Iraq like a knight in shining armor to "rescue" those poor Iraqis from that awful dictator. We are no safer now and in fact are moreso the target than ever of terrorists who have a new vacuum to fill in Iraq, thanks to Mr. Bush. Staying there won't help. It was a fantasy to begin with; it's still a fantasy! Our children will be paying the price for this war for many years to come, even if we leave now! What limits will you set on achieving this fantasy? None? I hope you don't play the lottery; your family would suffer greatly with that kind of attitude and lack of self control. The Viet Nam war was mistake, and so is this one; both were started with grand illusions, perpetuated by propaganda from our government and the full support of the military (what's a soldier without a war?) and of course the military suppliers who are living handsomely in their huge mansions, safe from the reality our boys are facing everyday!

Answer 9

You are wrong!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1op8vwF5UA&mode=related&search=

And I am A Vietnam Veteran in my 60's!

Answer 10

If you are really who you say you are, then you would want your fellow soldiers to return home safely and be with their families...our children will always have future conflicts with or without our continued presence in Iraq...that's called life...