We are far enough away from Viet Nam that a great many historical examinations have been written and discussed and analyzed. Unfortunately, however, the President does not seem to have reviewed any of that scholarly investigation before making his VFW speech yesterday.
What he has created in his own mind is a conflict which ended too early and which seemed to have inspired Viet Namese communists to follow us home after we pulled out.
He then compared Iraq to the Korean conflict, saying that we created an “Asian Tiger” by staying and holding against the North. Again, the historical comparisons are outrageous.
He somehow misses the point that we are in the middle of a religious civil war in Iraq. In making it equivalent to the Cold War battle against Communism he has elevated the Al Qaida terrorists from criminals to a government entity.
So what do historians think of Bush… and what will future historians think of his activities?
I’d like to see their comments. Any out there?