The ghosts of Vietnam
Thursday, 23. August 2007, 02:56:28
I have just returned from Vietnam. Hooray! And coincidentally, George W Bush has chosen today to have a little chat with America regarding Vietnam, via a speech to thousands of war veterans. So I'll just do some armchair criticism if I may...
After years of denials of the similarities between the Vietnam and current Iraq wars, the Bush administration have realised they've more to gain than lose by making the comparison themselves. Because you see, they’ve actually found a way to spin this!
People feel emotional about the Vietnam War. It mixes in the American psyche with things like Muhammad Ali, and the 70s, and Forrest Gump. (It also occurred at a time when the American population was not being terrorised by their government.) At this point, I think Americans would rather be in Vietnam than Iraq.
So suddenly, yes, American people, it has now been decided this is kind of like Vietnam. So, you know how much we all love our ‘Nam vets? Lets try and channel some of that love over this way now, over to this whole Iraq thing.
I liked this part best:
"Now I know some people doubt the universal appeal of liberty…(but) the lesson from Asia's development is that the heart's desire for liberty will not be denied. Once people even get a small taste of liberty, they're not going to rest until they're free."
The Iraqi people surely deserve better than this load. Who cares about liberty when there’s terrorists in your streets killing you every single day? Americans sure didn’t care. "Whatever it takes to keep the country safe" is the universal reply of Americans on whether they think the government infringing on their liberties. They just wanted security. Iraqis are’t going to get it though. That’s because for the Bush Administration, rhetoric about bringing the middle east “liberty” and “freedom” is more important than anything else.
Will this parade of farces never end.
(The Age coverage of this issue can be found here.)
p.s. my holidays were fun!
After years of denials of the similarities between the Vietnam and current Iraq wars, the Bush administration have realised they've more to gain than lose by making the comparison themselves. Because you see, they’ve actually found a way to spin this!
People feel emotional about the Vietnam War. It mixes in the American psyche with things like Muhammad Ali, and the 70s, and Forrest Gump. (It also occurred at a time when the American population was not being terrorised by their government.) At this point, I think Americans would rather be in Vietnam than Iraq.
So suddenly, yes, American people, it has now been decided this is kind of like Vietnam. So, you know how much we all love our ‘Nam vets? Lets try and channel some of that love over this way now, over to this whole Iraq thing.
I liked this part best:
"Now I know some people doubt the universal appeal of liberty…(but) the lesson from Asia's development is that the heart's desire for liberty will not be denied. Once people even get a small taste of liberty, they're not going to rest until they're free."
The Iraqi people surely deserve better than this load. Who cares about liberty when there’s terrorists in your streets killing you every single day? Americans sure didn’t care. "Whatever it takes to keep the country safe" is the universal reply of Americans on whether they think the government infringing on their liberties. They just wanted security. Iraqis are’t going to get it though. That’s because for the Bush Administration, rhetoric about bringing the middle east “liberty” and “freedom” is more important than anything else.
Will this parade of farces never end.
(The Age coverage of this issue can be found here.)
p.s. my holidays were fun!
WIDGETIZE
Leonore # 24. August 2007, 03:01
Wow, vacation in Vietnam! How nice.