Nixon/Cambodia Bush/Iran

[McCamy Taylor]

http://vietnam.vassar.edu/doc15.html

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/01/20070110-7.html

In response to unpopular wars in far off countries which the United States was/is not winning both Richard Nixon and George W. Bush chose to use the blame____strategy to explain their failure and to plead for more time and more U.S. lives. Nixon blamed Cambodia. Bush blames Iran.

NixonTo protect our men who are in Vietnam and to guarantee the continued success of our withdrawal and Vietnamization programs, I have concluded that the time has come for action.

BushIran is providing material support for attacks on American troops. We will disrupt the attacks on our forces.

NixonOur purpose is not to occupy the areas. Once enemy forces are driven out of these sanctuaries and once their military supplies are destroyed, we will withdraw....

BushWe will disrupt the attacks on our forces. We'll interrupt the flow of support from Iran and Syria. And we will seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq.

NixonIf, when the chips are down, the world's most powerful nation, the United States of America, acts like a pitiful, helpless giant, the forces of totalitarianism and anarchy will threaten free nations and free institutions throughout the world.

BushThe consequences of failure are clear: Radical Islamic extremists would grow in strength and gain new recruits. They would be in a better position to topple moderate governments, create chaos in the region, and use oil revenues to fund their ambitions.

NixonWe will not be humiliated. We will not be defeated.

BushWe can, and we will, prevail.

[ellisonz]

1. There's one big difference we're overlooking.

Cambodia was a very weak state, Iran is not.

[McCamy Taylor]

2. That's because there is another big difference. Dumbya is a moron,

Nixon wasnt. No way Tricky Dick would have used Blame Cambodia if Cambodia was the size and power of Iran. He chose a rinky-dink little country he knew the U.S. could easily overwhelm.

The point I am making is that the Bush administration is copying the Nixon administration. Either Cheney is copying VietNam but not really understanding what he is doing or Kissinger is giving them advice with a hidden agenda (destabilize Shia Iran for the Saudis.) The parallels are so obvious that I can not see any sane person buying W.'s argument, so maybe it comes from Cheney. On the other hand, Kissinger might think we are all fools and that we will believe anything.

[ellisonz]

3. But both are evil.

Evil is both stupid and smart. Please see Will Pitt's comment's in GD.

:shrug: