As published in today’s Reliable Source column in the Washington Post, here’s the “Vietnam II Preflight Check,” questions that compare Vietnam and Iraq. The list has no attribution, so here it is in it’s entirety:
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 [rear ends]? Check.
6. Russia secretly hoping we fall on our [rear ends]? Check.
7. China secretly hoping we fall on our [rear ends]? 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. [Editor’s note: Absolutely no proof of this.]
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.
Ah Gene, you beat me to posting this!
deja vu?