Indeed. Humphrey proved to be the pro-war candidate and he lost. The GOP is misreading the events of 1968.
The dark side of this is that while Vietnam was needless and tragic, pulling out of Vietnam did not cost the national a great deal, except for its ego. The Middle East, on the other hand, is far worse. The fact that so much petroleum flows from the Middle East changes this equation drastically.
The end-game in Vietnam was pretty clear. The North would take over the South once the United States pulled out. The outcome of an American pullout from Iraq is less clear. A unification on Iraq is by no means a done deal if the Americans pull out. The continued future of Iraq is in question. The result of a pullout might be similar to what we saw in the Balkans at the end of the last century. Without a strong man (Tito or Saddam) the relatively artificial creation (Iraq) simply disappears ... or rather, its pieces are up for grabs.
The GOP claims the Democrats and others are offering a policy of cut-and-run, but the GOP has forgotten the story of the "Tar Baby" from Brer Rabbit. The GOP tries to say it is noble and brave and strong and right, when in actually it's stuck to the Tar Baby and does not know how to let go -- the more it fights, the more entangle it becomes.
One of the best things that might have happened to John Kerry was to NOT win the 2004 election. But it should be cold comfort to us all, for this misadventure into the Middle East has consequences that are beyond our seeing, even if we stay ... and that's the most frightening part of all.
Indeed. Humphrey proved to be the pro-war candidate and he lost. The GOP is misreading the events of 1968.
The dark side of this is that while Vietnam was needless and tragic, pulling out of Vietnam did not cost the national a great deal, except for its ego. The Middle East, on the other hand, is far worse. The fact that so much petroleum flows from the Middle East changes this equation drastically.
The end-game in Vietnam was pretty clear. The North would take over the South once the United States pulled out. The outcome of an American pullout from Iraq is less clear. A unification on Iraq is by no means a done deal if the Americans pull out. The continued future of Iraq is in question. The result of a pullout might be similar to what we saw in the Balkans at the end of the last century. Without a strong man (Tito or Saddam) the relatively artificial creation (Iraq) simply disappears ... or rather, its pieces are up for grabs.
The GOP claims the Democrats and others are offering a policy of cut-and-run, but the GOP has forgotten the story of the "Tar Baby" from Brer Rabbit. The GOP tries to say it is noble and brave and strong and right, when in actually it's stuck to the Tar Baby and does not know how to let go -- the more it fights, the more entangle it becomes.
One of the best things that might have happened to John Kerry was to NOT win the 2004 election. But it should be cold comfort to us all, for this misadventure into the Middle East has consequences that are beyond our seeing, even if we stay ... and that's the most frightening part of all.