[kenavi]

The Russian Bear was menacing; and we were paying less than $8.00/bbl. for Middle Eastern Oil. (I was filling up for $.16/ gal.)

What could we have done differently that would have made a difference?

[Migraine]

What could we have done differently that would have made a difference?

I think we could've played "hands-off" in 1967 and 1973 and allowed Israel to have finished-off some arab armies. We were worried what the Russkies might have done, I know. But I don't think they would've. The implication of your question is sound: no matter what we did or did not do, we'd probably be approximately where we are. We are too civilized; we pull punches. No one should have to go to war pulling punches. It's like a bad dream. Our opponents NEVER pull punches. Never. This asymmetrical warfare is tiresome.

[dk/coro]

Not a thing, of course. First things first.

I certainly did not mean to imply that our strategic priorities should have been directed in any direction other than what the Cold War dictated.

As an aside, were one to examine our South East Asian (spell: Viet Nam) experience during the period from an historical perspective, it could be persuasively argued that, with the 1954 catastrophic defeat of the French in SEA, our role in the region had to play out precisely as it did -- even with all the tactical constraints in place -- to keep the conflict manageable -- in realpolitik terms.

So much for my blather. Have a great weekend. /dkp