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October 22, 2006

The Inevitable "Cut & Run" Call by the President

A
ccording to an article in Sunday's NYTimes, "[t]he Bush administration is drafting a timetable for the Iraqi government to address sectarian divisions and assume a larger role in securing the country, senior American officials said."

This announcement would appear to be the precursor to an administration plan for a phased withdrawal of American troops. The posited rationale I expect: so the Iraqi troops can take over security of their own country and show the world they are indeed a functioning democracy.

I think we are finally seeing the Vietnamization of Iraq.

Was there any other way this could have gone? Was there any other way Vietnam could have gone?

Would Iraq have gone any differently if Roosevelt, Churchill, and Eisenhower were all in charge -- holding the decision to attack as a given.

Anyway, the difference between Vietnam and Iraq -- in rolling out this policy now -- seems to be the lack of more frank communication between the president and the American people. I was pretty young during the Vietnam war, so I don't know one way or the other. But that's the impression of a kid formed from CBS News's vivid, brilliantly colored footage of soldiers jumping out choppers into the war's tall grass, the sound of their blades whirring in the background, with the voice of Dan Rather reporting from Saigon.

And the next big event for the U.S. after the draw-down on the Vietnam war began in earnest was, well, Watergate.

Posted by shertaugh at October 22, 2006 6:43 AM

Comments

Yes, and I've always said Cheney and Rummy were the only two Nixonites devious enough to get away last time. Oh wait, there's Kissinger, too.

And all will remain unprosecuted again for leaving another misery-ridden mess behind.

Posted by: Kevin Hayden at October 22, 2006 7:31 AM