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September 22, 2009
Vietistan by Bruce Walker
Vietistan
By Bruce Walker
Barack Obama and the Democrats spent years defaming the national security policy of the United States during a time of war. This opposition transcends criticism of policy or attacks on President Bush. Senator Reid, while our troops were in the field, pronounced the Iraq War lost. Other Democrat senators equating the conduct of our soldiers with Nazis or with rogue forces that bombed villages. The Democratic Party feted such surreal conspiracy freaks as Michael Moore and appointed anti-American Marxists like Van Jones to important federal offices. "Bush lied, People died" bumper stickers popped up like ugly pimples on the back of countless vehicles in America. Our current Secretary of State essentially called General Petraeus a liar, without the slightest evidence.
Now, as Jeremiah Wright put it, "the chickens have come home to roost." The Democrats, indeed, those Democrats most vociferously hostile to our military forces and their commanders, now run Washington. They control not only the Executive Branch but also have comfortable, filibuster-proof majorities in both houses of Congress. President Obama and his party also have complete responsibility for what happens in our war on global terrorism.
Iraq, despite the protestations of Democrats in the years in which Bush was president, was in pretty good shape when Obama took office. The policies of President Bush, ultimately, prevailed. There are many things he might have done differently in Iraq and in other parts of the Middle East (overthrowing the terrorist sponsor, Syria, at the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom comes to mind; giving all support short of direct military intervention to the Iranian freedom movement also would have been smart.) The salient fact, though, is this: under Bush, America was never attacked by terrorists and under Bush we did end the regime of a monstrous, anti-American thug in Baghdad. We also held Afghanistan and routed al-Qaeda there. The strategic strategy of Bush was similar to the strategic strategy of Reagan in the Cold War: we win, they lose.
Large numbers of Obama supporters, however, do not think that America should win the strategic war on terrorism. They blame the CIA more than al-Qaeda for the dangers in the world today. They view anti-American tyrants in Venezuela and Iran as democratically elected leaders, rather than the American people, as the heroes on the world stage. As Jeanne Kirkpatrick, a Democrat herself, said at the 1980 Republican Convention "They always blame America first." Nothing, really, has changed. Carter, toward the end of his presidency, seems to have "discovered" that Soviet Communism was aggressive, amoral, and armed. Teddy Kennedy, so recently eulogized for having done, really, nothing, visited with the Kremlin behind the back of President Reagan to try to weaken Reagan politically. LBJ learned the hard way just how hostile to American success many of his fellow Democrats could be.
During the Vietnam War, there were several thoughtful options. Was it in our strategic interest to stop Communism in Vietnam? Maybe so and maybe not. France was a SEATO member and the former colonial ruler of Indochina. Why was it not the duty of France to keep South Vietnam free? Britain was another SEATO member, yet our ally ignored its treaty obligations and even traded with North Vietnam. There was a reasonable argument that America should have stayed away from Vietnam and preserved our military strength and national will for threats which addressed us more directly.
Barry Goldwater advocated fighting the war, but using our overwhelming superiority in the air and at sea to directly attack North Vietnam. Our Iowa class battleships could hit almost any target in North Vietnam with very accurate sixteen inch naval gun shells at no risk of American lives (and we had four such battleships.) Mining Haiphong Harbor, through which the majority of North Vietnamese supplies came, could have been done without any risk of American lives. The suppression of air defenses by naval guns could have given our air forces the ability to disrupt or destroy almost everything of military or economic value in North Vietnam.
Instead, Lyndon Johnson valued international opinion, the support of fellow Democrats, and the fear of Soviet power more than he did the lives of the hundreds of thousands of conscripted ground troops that he sent into South Vietnam to try to win a guerrilla war in difficult terrain. Even worse, he crippled the operational actions of our ground troops by requiring White House clearance for artillery strikes and placing certain sanctuaries off limits. We bled because of his craven incompetence. We lost a war which we either should not have fought or should have fought and won.
It looks like Lyndon Baines Obama is about to repeat the mistakes of his Democrat predecessor. If our goal is to win in Afghanistan, then we should win. Obama should whip Democrats into support or silence. He should reach across the aisle to Republicans. He ought to apologize, even if indirectly, for demonizing President Bush and his war on terror. Obama shows no inclination to do either of those things.
If he is going to keep American troops in Afghanistan, those brave men and women deserve a commander-in-chief who is willing himself to make sacrifices for them. He should do what the military leaders in the region feel is necessary. He should explain to the American people our mission and our goals. He should speak of Afghanistan as part of "our common and united war on global terrorism." He should publicly insist our NATO allies to keep their forces, whether military or noncombatant in Afghanistan for practical and psychological reasons.
He won't. Obama will not withdraw from Afghanistan, but he will not really try to win. Like four decades ago, Americans serving their nation will be led by a leader who will not lead. Like forty decades ago, our brave countrymen will be killed and maimed for no purpose greater than the political cynicism of a corrupt politician. Obama will have his Vietistan and those who risk their lives for us will pay the price.
Wild Thing's comment.......
The left has never seen a war that they wanted to win.
RAC said it well!
"It's always nice to know that our corrupt politicians are more than willing to hide behind the dead bodies of our military which they hate so much. War is started by politicians, waged by the military, and ultimately decided by politicians. This is so wrong!"
......Thank you RAC for sending this to me.
RAC has a website that is awesome. 336th Assault Helicopter Company
13th Combat Aviation Battalion - 1st Aviation Brigade - Soc Trang, Republic of Vietnam
Posted by Wild Thing at September 22, 2009 05:50 AM
Comments
This is what keeps me up at night and the knot in my stomach tight. I think of all the parents with kids in Afghanistan and wonder why they aren't storming the WH or the Capitol. My kids are safely here in the US but that could change any time.
The anti-war, anti-military left has so much innocent blood on their hands and looks to be going for more.
The mother in me thinks, if they can't fight to win, bring them home. (lord knows, it looks more and more like we need them here.) The supporter of the Military in me knows that coming home without Victory would be the worst thing you could do to a warrior.
But I also know this CIC does not hold the Military or this country in esteem nor will he do the best for either.
How about we bring our guys and gals home and send the CIC and Congress over there with their hands tied behind their backs??
Posted by: yankeemom at September 22, 2009 08:27 AM
Blowbama who is unfortunately the CinC has no intention of unleashing the "Dogs of War" because someone might get hurt. The same happened to us in Vietnam, our hands were tied. We have the mightiest military on earth and yet we no longer go into war with a strategy to win. Now the 1/2 breed has thrown the Czechs and Poles under the bus and signaled to Putin that he can have Europe. Barry Hussein Blowjob, get a job that you can excel at......like washing dishes @ Denny's. Or cleaning my toilets.
Posted by: cuchieddie(former Army Infantry) at September 22, 2009 10:22 AM
America is going to learn all over again that Democrats are anti American and fight wars only to bring defense dollars to their home districts. obama himself is going to make Jimmy Carter look like a centrist. This traitorous obama administration is going to severely damage America as much as they can. I foresee us tied down in Afghanistan for the next four years with nothing being accomplished.
Posted by: TomR at September 22, 2009 02:01 PM
It must be a dictator thing. Hitler, Saddam Hussein also thought they could run the war better than their military could. Obama is no different. He's so full of himself, he thinks he knows more than West Point educated career military officers. If they need more troops, send 'em!! Arrogant bastard.
Posted by: Jim at September 22, 2009 03:40 PM
Sharpen the guillotine blades mates, we're gonna be real busy. BTW, who's bringing the wicker baskets.
Posted by: cuchieddie(former Army Infantry) at September 22, 2009 05:25 PM
I say this. Before we send more troops, what are their ROE's going to be. From what that General said yesterday, the enemy has all the advantages. The troops can't return fire unless they are absolutely positive there are no civilians nearby that could be hit. (4 Marines were killed because Headquarters would not send Air support of even any Arty., and both were available) He wants them out of their Armored Vehicles and out of their Tanks, for what Fodder ? We are fighting two enemies, the Liberals Congress and the Taliban, and the Liberals have stacked the deck against our 'guys'.
If there is a nighttime ambush how can you be sure there are no civilians, you can't they are so limited in their scope. One Marine Unite has been kicked out of Afghanistan for over re-acting to an Ambush, evidently they killed too many of the enemy.
I will tell you I am really tired of this fucking around with this enemy and screwing the troops. Give them what they need and the ability to win the goddamn thing.
They have to read the enemy "their Rights' on the battlefield this is bullshit.
This asshole in the white house needs to grow a pair and fight the damn war or get the hell out. Because he's doing nothing but wasting good American Soldiers lives, for nothing.
That bastard Johnson fucked us in Vietnam and now this CS is doing the same thing to these new young troops Afghanistan.
Excuse my language but this pisses me off.
Posted by: Mark at September 22, 2009 07:37 PM
DITTO to all you all have said.
This whole thing is beyong upsetting and
has me furious.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 23, 2009 12:21 AM
