Not this time: The Lesson of Vietnam

"Docky Wocky" wrote:

The real lesson of Vietnam is that our military's only reason for existence
is to wallow in the bevy of touchy-feely impediments placed there by the
Democratic party and the liberal Democratics.

The enemy must never get the idea that the United States, or it's military
apparatus means business.

It is always better to be loved than to be feared - no matter what it costs.

International bootlicking can defeat any enemy given enough time and money.

The United States military could easily have installed a tame puppet
government in Iraq and used Sadam's entire existing infrastructure to
enforce its rule. Instead, Bush bleated about WMD and introducing
democracy. The Republicans and/or the military had received your "real
lesson of Vietnam". Why did they ignore it when invading Iraq?

"Gordon Levi" wrote in message
...
"Docky Wocky" wrote:

The real lesson of Vietnam is that our military's only reason for
existence
is to wallow in the bevy of touchy-feely impediments placed there by the
Democratic party and the liberal Democratics.

The enemy must never get the idea that the United States, or it's military
apparatus means business.

It is always better to be loved than to be feared - no matter what it
costs.

International bootlicking can defeat any enemy given enough time and
money.

The United States military could easily have installed a tame puppet
government in Iraq and used Sadam's entire existing infrastructure to
enforce its rule. Instead, Bush bleated about WMD and introducing
democracy. The Republicans and/or the military had received your "real
lesson of Vietnam". Why did they ignore it when invading Iraq?

Easily? You mean keep the Sunni Army to keep the Shias in check. A very
slightly better solution than disbanding it but not much. Better by far
not to have invaded at all and to have made Saddam an ally in the fight
against Islam extremism/terrorism; a force that he was just as nervous of as
the West.

"John Rennie" wrote:


"Gordon Levi" wrote in message
.. .
"Docky Wocky" wrote:

The real lesson of Vietnam is that our military's only reason for
existence
is to wallow in the bevy of touchy-feely impediments placed there by the
Democratic party and the liberal Democratics.

The enemy must never get the idea that the United States, or it's military
apparatus means business.

It is always better to be loved than to be feared - no matter what it
costs.

International bootlicking can defeat any enemy given enough time and
money.

The United States military could easily have installed a tame puppet
government in Iraq and used Sadam's entire existing infrastructure to
enforce its rule. Instead, Bush bleated about WMD and introducing
democracy. The Republicans and/or the military had received your "real
lesson of Vietnam". Why did they ignore it when invading Iraq?

Easily? You mean keep the Sunni Army to keep the Shias in check. A very
slightly better solution than disbanding it but not much. Better by far
not to have invaded at all and to have made Saddam an ally in the fight
against Islam extremism/terrorism; a force that he was just as nervous of as
the West.
I don't disagree with you. I was responding to "Docky Wocky" who
typifies the "we could and should have won in Vietnam" brigade. They,
and the United States in general, refuse to accept that in order to
"win" they have to renounce their professed aims of freedom and
democracy for all. They can simply follow all the preceding imperial
powers, announce that their aim is to control the world and then use
their "super power" capabilities to enforce their will.

"Gordon Levi" wrote in message
...
"John Rennie" wrote:


"Gordon Levi" wrote in message
. ..
"Docky Wocky" wrote:

The real lesson of Vietnam is that our military's only reason for
existence
is to wallow in the bevy of touchy-feely impediments placed there by the
Democratic party and the liberal Democratics.

The enemy must never get the idea that the United States, or it's
military
apparatus means business.

It is always better to be loved than to be feared - no matter what it
costs.

International bootlicking can defeat any enemy given enough time and
money.

The United States military could easily have installed a tame puppet
government in Iraq and used Sadam's entire existing infrastructure to
enforce its rule. Instead, Bush bleated about WMD and introducing
democracy. The Republicans and/or the military had received your "real
lesson of Vietnam". Why did they ignore it when invading Iraq?

Easily? You mean keep the Sunni Army to keep the Shias in check. A very
slightly better solution than disbanding it but not much. Better by far
not to have invaded at all and to have made Saddam an ally in the fight
against Islam extremism/terrorism; a force that he was just as nervous of
as
the West.
I don't disagree with you. I was responding to "Docky Wocky" who
typifies the "we could and should have won in Vietnam" brigade. They,
and the United States in general, refuse to accept that in order to
"win" they have to renounce their professed aims of freedom and
democracy for all. They can simply follow all the preceding imperial
powers, announce that their aim is to control the world and then use
their "super power" capabilities to enforce their will.


Hmm...We couldn't and they can't. Their professed aims are bull**** - at
least we didn't kid ourselves. An Indian actvist whose name I forget
said "The difference between the Americans and the British is that the
Americans demanded to be loved. The British didn't; they just wanted to be
obeyed. The first demand is far more humilating than the second."