Our Dear Leader.

[snowflame]

A dispatch from Bush's visit to Vietnam.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/17/world/asia/18prexycnd.html

In his first day in the capital of a country that was America's wartime enemy during his youth, President Bush said today that the American experience in

Comments

[snowflame]

Oh, I agree about the slight on Vietnam angle. That's what's so aggravating. I mean, the big conservative article of faith that it was the anti-war protesters who lost us the war is one thing when you're, say, a Representative chatting on Fox News or something. It's not something I'd say if I was the _President_, and had to work with both sides and be a "uniter not a divider" and all that. But it's not so insanely horrible.

It's the fact that he's saying this while he's in freakin' VIETNAM. When you're in Vietnam, if anything, you should be slightly apologetic. That wouldn't play well at home if the voters hear about it, though, so you act like you never heard of the War and never ever bring it up. Why is he bringing it up and impugning their current government... when he's there to make nice? This isn't a "we threaten you" macho standoff over missiles! Argh!

Also, I think I've chatted with you on this before, but your thoughts pretty much confirm what I've heard elsewhere, from other students of the war. The military could, at best, tread water and give the government time to earn the loyalty of the people. The RVN never did that. The political war was the real war, and we lost it; the military could only delay the inevitable.