I know, I know, this topic is not exactly an original thought. However, I believe it deserves further consideration. Plus, with the recent Bush announcement of an exit strategy, the parallels are becomming more and more apparent as this thing drags on and on and on. Here's why I think there is a parallel:
Viet Nam War - justified by the Gulf of Tonkin "incident." However, many people believe that "incident" was a fabrication. Dark stormy night, no visual sighting of enemy vessels. No damage to US vessels or personnel.
Iraq War - justified by claims of Sadam's participation or collaboration in terror attacks and posession if WMD's. Turns out, no evidence of either. Just wishful thinking on the part of the Bush administration.
Viet Nam War - very unpopular war at home as evidenced by demonstrations by civillians as well as former military personnel.
Iraq War - very unpopular at home as evidenced by a
Washington Post Poll Further, if the media had as much access in Iraq as they had in Viet Nam, and more of the truth, and I don't mean Bush's version of the truth, was made public, we'd have the same kind of demonstrations now as in 1970.
Viet Nam War - Fought as a war of attrition. No geographical goals, just search and destroy missions. It was a guerrilla conflict.
Iraq War - No real geographical goals, just search & destroy. Again, a guerrilla conflict.
Viet Nam War - We ended the war through "Vietnamization" of that conflict where we basically bailed out on South Viet Nam and our allies (Hmong, etc.).
Iraq War - Bush is in the process of developing an "Exit Strategy" where the Iraqis take over. What's next in Bagdad, pictures of helicopters leaving with people dangling from the landing skids? No, probably not (no media coverage, remember?), more likely major civil unrest. I believe it ends in a mess for Iraq and we go home. Again, bailing out.
The difference, as I see it, between when we leave Iraq and when we left Viet Nam is Iraq has natural resources we want (need) and Viet Nam didn't. However, the parallel is becoming more clear. The end game has yet to play out, so we'll see what happens.
Finally, one last thought. As peace between Israel and Palestine draws ever closer, it looks like America will be left holding the bag in the Middle East. What could have been a real easing of tensions if Bush had not lied and Israel and Palestine finally come up with a peaceful solution to their conflict, ends with us mired down in Iraq and taking all the heat for the Muslim resentment toward the West. What a shame.
Edit for spelling