Kissinger: Americans Feeling Like Iraq Is Vietnam

NewsMax ^ | 8/15/05

[areafiftyone]

Henry Kissinger said he has "a very uneasy feeling” that some of the same factors that damaged support for the Vietnam War are re-emerging in the war in Iraq.

"For me, the tragedy of Vietnam was the divisions that occurred in the United States that made it, in the end, impossible to achieve an outcome that was compatible with the sacrifices that had been made,” the former Secretary of State, an architect of the U.S. war in Southeast Asia, told CNN’s "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer.”

Support for the war in Iraq has dropped in recent polls. The latest CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll found that 54 percent of those surveyed believed the invasion of Iraq was a mistake.

Kissinger said the U.S. faces a fight to prevent the spread of radical Islam in Iraq, and it would be "a catastrophe for the whole world” if it fails.

"If a radical government emerges in Baghdad, or if any part of Iraq becomes what Afghanistan used to be, a training ground for terrorists, then this will be a catastrophe for the Islamic world and for Europe … and eventually for us,” he said.

Kissinger called on the U.S. to remove any troops that are not necessary for the American goal of stabilizing Iraq.

But President Bush squelched talk of troop withdrawals last week, saying a premature withdrawal would send "a terrible signal to the enemy.”

[RightWhale]

Henry! We know that already. Save the exalted rhetoric.

[mlc9852]

Do people still listen to Kissinger? How old is he now anyway?

[Frank_Discussion]

Hey Henry! Kissenger my a$$! The MSM is trying to TELL us that Iraq SHOULD be disaster, just like coverage of Vietnam. The old goof is halfway there, then makes a left turn...

[DTogo]

Yes, the most glaring similarity to Vietnam is the U.S. Military once again being told to "win" with one hand tied behind it's back.

Not how we won WWI or WWII.

[Just mythoughts]

Old Kissie was part of the problem of Vietnam. Elected liberals and their media hounds, then and now are leading this charge to reenact Vietnam.

[Bluegrass Conservative]

The man has one of the most brilliant minds to ever be involved in the American government. I will always at least listen to his views, even if I don't agree with them.

[EagleUSA]

"Kissinger said the U.S. faces a fight to prevent the spread of radical Islam in Iraq, and it would be "a catastrophe for the whole world” if it fails."
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Kissinger is RIGHT. It will be a disaster if it fails.

[deadeyedawg]

EXACTLY. He's a full of s**t as a XMAS goose.

[stylin19a]

"For me, the tragedy of Vietnam was the divisions that occurred in the United States that made it, in the end, impossible to achieve an outcome that was compatible with the sacrifices that had been made," the former Secretary of State, an architect of the U.S. war in Southeast Asia, told CNN;s "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer.

I'm thinking once the draft went to a lottery, then abolished, the "anti-war" protests seem to wane. So, I'm thinking it wasn't so much the war, but the opposition to the draft that was the main division.

[LIConFem]

Hi Henry. You still kickin'?? Glad to hear it...

I'm an American, and I see NO parallel between Iraq/WOT and Viet Nam.

[roses of sharon]

So way is he cavorting with the enemy trying to damage US public opinion? Damage our soldiers reputations?

WHY is he on CNN, speaking with a liberal operative who seeks to defeat the US in Iraq?

Wake up you old man, and wake up your fellow elitists in the conservative press, wake up our congress and senators, and SEE who you are enabling.

[areafiftyone]

Kissinger is RIGHT. It will be a disaster if it fails.

That I agree with. Although this is NO WAY like Vietnam!

[Stellar Dendrite]

"Yes, the most glaring similarity to Vietnam is the U.S. Military once again being told to "win" with one hand tied behind it's back."

Is it true that the soldiers cant shoot unless shot at?

[Rutles4Ever]

The only people being enabled by all of this are sitting in Tehran.

Hindsight's 20/20, but can anyone deny that Iran is a MUCH bigger problem to deal with now versus Iraq under Saddam in 2003?

[HHFi]

If he means that a bunch of cowardly anti-American protesters and leftist media figures are trying dilligently to undermine the US war effort by pumping people's heads full of the hysterical idea that "Iraq is Vietnam" (the same thing, incidentally, they've said about every military action of the past 40 years), then yeah, he's right.

[colorado tanker]

Kissisnger is right. Many people are looking at this as a second Vietnam - - because that is exactly the way the MSM are portraying it.

He's also right that failing in Iraq would be a disaster.

Frankly, I'd like the President to speak more to this issue, rally the country, than talking about Social Security.

[longtermmemmory]

welcome to the party Henry. We knew the same left wing loonies were trying to make this a new viet name the day it was first announced, heck even afganistan.

Kissinger is just late to the party.

Next week, the UN is corrupt.

[roses of sharon]

Axis of evil.

[Americanexpat]

2Old Kissy was part of the problem of Vietnam. Elected liberals and their media hounds, are leading the charge to reenact Vietnam.

You got that right.

We have helped the Iraqis form a government and they are working on a constitution. If we accomplish that and get rid of foreign terrorists then we have done all we can do. If at a later date they decide to go radical on us it will not be our fault. But it will be an Iraqi decision.