Iraq and Vietnam
Though George W. Bush’s own GOP party is turning against him because of the illegal war in Iraq, he today is still touting his resolve to “stay the course”, and confident that the surge of thousands of new soldiers will ultimately lead to success. (I do find this video amusing, however, and typical Bush.)
Iraq obviously never posed a threat. Had nothing to do with 9/11. And by the way, don’t forget, because of the lies that were told to validate invading Iraq, more of our own soldiers have already been killed than were killed in the attacks on 9/11. Not to mention the 650,000+ innocent Iraqis who have been killed by our invasion of the country. But lest I begin ranting excessively, here are some interesting facts comparing the Iraq invasion with Vietnam.
Both wars were illegal acts of pre-emptive aggression unsanctioned by international law or world opinion, and not declared by Congress. (Constitution, anyone?)
Both wars were based on lies and deception. In Iraq it was weapons of mass destruction. Yeah, that worked out well. In Vietnam, it was the fabricated Gulf of Tonkin incident and the elections mandated by the Geneva agreement that were canceled by Washington.
In both wars, prisoners on both sides were abused. In South Vietnam, thousands of captives were tortured in what were called tiger cages. Vietnamese POWs were often killed; in North Vietnam, some US POWs were abused after bombing civilians. In Iraq, POWs on both sides were also mistreated. It was US soldiers that first leaked major war crimes and abuses. In Vietnam, Ron Ridenour disclosed the My Lai Massacre. In Iraq, it was a soldier who first told investigators about the torture in Abu Ghraib prison.
The US dropped napalm, cluster bombs against civilians and sprayed toxic agent orange in Vietnam. Cluster bombs and napalm-like firebombs were dropped in Iraq.
Both wars claimed to be about promoting democracy. Vietnam staged elections and saw a succession of governments controlled by the US. In the first Iraqi election most said they were casting ballots primarily to get the US to leave.
Vietnam was sold as a war against Communism. Iraq was sold as a part of the global war on terrorism. Neither proved true.
In both wars innocent civilians died in droves.
In both wars the US promised to help rebuild the damages caused by US bombing. In Vietnam, a $2 billion+ presidential reconstruction pledge was not honored. In Iraq, the electricity and other services are still out in many areas. In both wars US companies and suppliers have profited quite handsomely.
iraq war, vietnam war, war profiteering
July 10th, 2007 at 10:14 pm
Can you explain to me what an illegal war is? Why do we need the world to tell us what we are doing is right? Many people supported the German’s, are you telling me they were right? And just in case you forget the congress did vote on the war against terror. I do not agree with the war but I have first hand knowledge of what is happening over there. It is funny that you say some were “abused” in North Vietnam. Abused does not begin to describe what it was. And when will people get it that war is not pretty and civilian casulties are a part of war. Name me one war in the history of the World where a civilian was not killed. You can not. Vietnam was not a war against communism? Explain why we were finding russian made weapons, and chineese troops! And as far as the rebuilding of Iraq goes, we have made many advances and areas we have not are prodomenatly because of terrorist activity. The civilians that are dying in Iraq are not being targeted by Americans but by terrorist. Many of the civilian deaths are because the different ethnics can not get along ex. Arabs and Kurds. Political correctness should be taken out of war and people need to support their troops.
July 10th, 2007 at 11:17 pm
Congress has not formally declared a war since WW II, despite the fact that the Constitution clearly says that the Congress has the exclusive power to declare war. So it’s not just this administration, I know. Although the president is personally convinced that war against a certain nation is right, he is nevertheless prohibited by law from going to war unless he first has a declaration of war from Congress. Wilson and Roosevelt, who both believed that US intervention in WW I and II was right, had to wait for a congressional declaration of war. And the fact that later presidents have violated the requirement does not make it right for other presidents to do the same.
Yes, Congress authorized GWB “to to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons . . . .”
It was not a declaration of war, however. And Iraq had nothing to do with September 11th, so constitutional violations aside, even the Congressional authorization doesn’t in any way justify the war in Iraq.
My opinion, but I appreciate your comment and opinion even if I disagree.
July 11th, 2007 at 1:08 am
Oh I disagree with the war but I waited until I had experienced it before making my opinion. We have to face the reality that we are in a war wether right or wrong. Then we have to realize that leaving the Iraqi people to fend for themselves is the wrong thing to do. There would be much bloodsheed on a level of genecide.
And I respect your opinion as well.
July 11th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Good piece, Doug.
In war an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
There is no way our folly of the invasion and destabilization of Iraq can have a good end now.
May we learn from our mistakes and not repeat them in the future.
July 11th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
Amen, DB!
July 14th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
Iraq was unstable before we ever went in there to begin with. Has been for a long time now. And here is you problem culture. That country is like dropping the Black Panthers and the KKK in the same room. And the war in Iraq could and would have a good ending if we didn’t try to play political correctness. Why should we play by the rules when maybe a handful of other countries do?
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