Give ‘Em Hell, Mac!
One of the many negative consequences of America’s defeat in The Vietnam War has been the uncontrolled proliferation of Vietnams since then.
Nicaragua threatened to become another Vietnam. Lebanon nearly became another Vietnam. Had Grenada been only slightly larger than a manhole cover and lasted one more hour, it would have become a Caribbean-Style Vietnam. The invasion of Panama was rapidly degenerating into a Narco-Vietnam, right up until we won. Likewise, the First Gulf War was certainly developing into another Vietnam, but then sadly, it ended quickly and with few casualties.
For people of a certain age or political stripe, Vietnam is like Elvis: it’s everywhere. For example, during a long wait at a Chinese Buffet in Georgetown in 1987, Ted Kennedy was reported to have exclaimed “QUAGMIRE!” and attempted to surrender to a Spanish-speaking busboy.
And that was probably the smart thing to do, because the lesson of Vietnam is: it is best to lose quickly, so as to avoid a quagmire.
And he does. Pay attention ~ there’ll be a quiz afterward.
World Stuff | Mr. Bingley | 
October 6, 2005 9:09 am
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Oh man, the point he makes about Somalia at the end is so poignant and so completely sums up the entire article. It’s great.
Solmalia deeply disturbs me to this day. It was the first time in my life that I ever felt that the U.S. no longer has the stamina to fight a war the way it is needed.
“For people of a certain age or political stripe, Vietnam is like Elvis: it’s everywhere.”
Does this mean Vietnam is working at a convenience store in Dayton?
Actually, Ken, the Vietnamese OWN all those stores, and good for them (and us).
I liked this graf: Saddam Hussein has been recruiting allies for us for the last twenty years, with his mass graves, prisons and rape rooms. All you ever hear from the MSM is that we’re creating new terrorists, but you never hear this. Thanks Mac.