Posted on 08/17/2007 9:43:43 AM PDT by hardback
Giuliani believes that the [international] system is not functional and should be repaired: "A primary goal for our diplomacy - whether directed toward great powers, developing states or international institutions - must be to strengthen the international system, which most of the world has a direct interest in seeing function well. After all, the system helps keep the peace and provide prosperity".
The UN isn't the only establishment Giuliani doesn't trust: "Another step in rebuilding a strong diplomacy will be to make changes in the State Department and the Foreign Service. The time has come to refine the diplomats' mission down to their core purpose: presenting U.S. policy to the rest of the world," he writes.
And what about promoting democracy?
"Most of the problems in the world today arise from places where the state system is broken or has never functioned," writes Giuliani, "but democracy cannot be achieved rapidly or sustained unless it is built on sound legal, institutional, and cultural foundations
And the most controversial sentence in Giuliani's article: "America must remember one of the lessons of the Vietnam War. Then, as now, we fought a war with the wrong strategy for several years. And then, as now, we corrected course and began to show real progress.
Many historians today believe that by about 1972 we and our South Vietnamese partners had succeeded in defeating the Vietcong insurgency and in setting South Vietnam on a path to political self-sufficiency. But America then withdrew its support, allowing the communist North to conquer the South. The consequences were dire.
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...
Disagree. We never should have gotten involved in that conflict. Once it became clear in 1956 that the result of a nationwide election would be an Ho Chi Minh victory that should have been the handwriting on the wall.
As for draining the Soviets of funds, I am not sure of your source of info on that but the war certainly sucked quite a bit of cash for our treasury. The late 70’s inflation was a consequence of this.
Agree. Only here in Freeperville would people bash Rudy for saying what they wish most Republicans would say.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
No, simply pointing out that many who served in uniform in Vietnam were in no more personal danger than those serving stateside. Being in uniform gives one priceless insight into how the military actually functions, and Guilani is worse off not having served. But he seems to be thinking the right thoughts. He stood behind his cops and he probably would stand behind the military. He is not my first choice or even my second , but we could do worse.
The politicians lost Vietnam by waging a half-assed "police action" under McNamara, Bundy, and LBJ, and then cutting funding for our South Vietnamese allies in the early 70s, just when things were turning around.
Started thinking about this, and realized that some of those who served there and "never heard a shot fired in anger" were KIA there. Probably has happened a few times in Iraq too. Fate.
Quarter master troops who sit behind computers are essential to the war effort, but not many get purple hearts.
I’m not that forgiving about a guy who wants to serve as Commander In Chief over the U.S. Armed Forces who avoided the service himself. I lost many friends in Vietnam, and I don’t want to hear Rudy Giuliani’s opinion on that war. I don’t trust him to lead America. Period. Go ahead and defend him if you want.
And the rest we say, is history...
Uh the elections not being held is the point. Ike knew that Ho would sweep to victory over the “Emperor” as things stood in 56. Hence he and the South Vietnamese simply refused to have the elections held. Again, that should have been a loud and clear warning.
Uh the elections not being held is the point. Ike knew that Ho would sweep to victory over the “Emperor” as things stood in 56. Hence he and the South Vietnamese simply refused to have the elections held. Again, that should have been a loud and clear warning.
North Vietnam achieved its principal strategic objective in that it took over the South. The U.S. achieved its principal strategic objective in delaying and minimizing communist revolution in Southeast Asia. Ultimately I think that Vietnam will be both united and free. Only then will the war really be over. IMHO.
Sorry to belabor the obvious but we lost and no amount of historical revisionism is going to change that.
So fearful was the N. over loss of so many people to the S. (10 to 1 ratio) that they actually stationed troops at key intersections to head off this flight.
The ICC (India, Poland, and Canada) agreed with the perception that free elections were impossible. And in 1959 the N. proceeded to proceed...with war.
My problem with Rudy is not so much VN, but rather his virulent anti-RKBA positions over the years.
If Rudy is serious about becoming the Republican nominee then he needs to have a come-to-Jesus meeting with the NRA/GOA/SAF and other pro-RKBA orgs. And soon Rudy...very soon.
Here’s one guy who knows for sure how we won in Vietnam.
Lucky for him, we were hanging on Walter Cronkite’s every last lying word.
http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Camp/7624/Generals/giap.htm
The same charge has been laid against Cheney. Given that virtually all the children the national elites avoided service during that war—a relative handful of Ivy league graduates were commisioned, compared with the thousands during WWII—I can’t single out Guilani for special blame. But, of course, sentiment sentiment, unique to all of us and in this matter none is more correct than another.
Cheney hasn’t actively campaigned for the job of President, but at least he did serve as a congressman, a Defense Secretary, and Vice President, which certainly gives him more qualifications than a freaking mayor to comment on Vietnam.
;-)
I guess that while he was dodging the draft he was also studying up on Westmoreland's tactics (besides boinking his cousin at lunch time). Remember when one of his people explained that's WHY he dodged the draft - ole Rudy didn't like the tactics being used (I thought that was pretty funny -- and really STOO-PID™)
Now who would have guessed it, Rudy is the 2nd coming of Sun Tzu. Heck he'll prolly be publishing his version of The Art of War any day now.
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