http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A12061-2004Mar21?language=printerIraq vs. Vietnam: The Scorecard
By Richard Leiby
The Washington Post
Sunday, March 21, 2004; Page D03
A year ago, while hundreds of eager reporters embedded with U.S. troops pushing into Iraq, some wag circulated the "Vietnam II Preflight Check," a list of questions comparing the just-launched war with that previous long and nasty one. How prescient was it? Here's the list, for which no author has ever taken credit or blame:
1. Cabal of oldsters who won’t listen to outside advice? Check.
2. No understanding of ethnicities of the many locals? Check.
3. National boundaries drawn in Europe, not by the locals? Check.
4. Unshakable faith in our superior technology? Check.
5. France secretly hoping we fall on our
? Check.
6. Russia secretly hoping we fall on our ? Check.
7. China secretly hoping we fall on our ? Check.
8. Secretary of Defense pushing a conflict the Joint Chiefs never wanted? Check.
9. Fear we’ll look bad if we back down now? Check.
10. Corrupt Texan in the White House? Check.
11. Land war in Asia? Check.
12. Right-wing unhappy with outcome of previous war? Check.
13. Enemy easily moves in/out of neighboring countries? Check.
14. Soldiers about to be exposed to our own chemicals? Check.
15. Friendly fire problem ignored instead of solved? Check.
16. Anti-Americanism up sharply in Europe? Check.
17. B-52 bombers? Check.
18. Helicopters that clog up on the local dust? Check.
19. Infighting among the branches of the military? Check.
20. Locals that cheer us by day, hate us by night? Check.
21. Local experts ignored? Check.
22. Local politicians ignored? Check.
23. Locals accustomed to conflicts lasting since before the USA has been a country? Check.
24. Against advice, Prez won’t raise taxes to pay for war? Check.
25. Blue water navy ships operating in brown water? Check.
26. Use of nukes hinted at if things don’t go our way? Check.
27. Unpopular war? Check.
28. It’s the media’s fault? Check.
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