Afghanistan is not Vietnam ... yet...But Obama's '60s flashback could be a real downer

The Washington Times ^ | September 17, 2009 | Editorial

[Abakumov]

Congressional Democrats may yet find a way to abandon the Karzai government to an ignominious fate while minimizing the damage to Mr. Obama's presidency, but the message to the world would be the same as it was in 1975: The United States cannot be trusted, and Washington is willing to abandon vulnerable allies because of short-sighted domestic political score-settling. The shame of Vietnam is still with us, and we may yet see Americans being helicoptered from Kabul rooftops ahead of advancing Taliban forces. There are some things you can step in twice.

[HiTech RedNeck]

The United States cannot be trusted

When a Rat is president, the foreign policy is (with apologies to Mr. Manson) simply helter skelter.

[FlyVet]

Unfortunately, the most important strategic factor is the same: a liberal Congress working to undermine the U.S. war effort. The U.S. military had won the Vietnam conflict by 1970, but when Democrats in Congress cut aid to South Vietnam in 1974, our trusting allies in Saigon were left helpless before the communist onslaught.

And Congress and the MSM are chomping at the bit for another Vitnyam, as JFK might have said.

They've waited for 40 years. They thought Iraq would be it; it didn't work out.

But now is their chance. And by gosh, if they have to manufacture a Vitnyam, they will.

[Rembrandt]

My prediction is that come April of 2010, this Congress will vote to cut off funding for military hardware and ammo to friendly forces in Afghanistan. In a reprise of Vietnam millions of innocents will be slaughtered for aiding the U.S. For what it’s worth, one of the leaders of that defunding just succumbed to the justice which awaited him!

VN Vet 68-70

[Lancey Howard]

Bummer.

[ElectronVolt]

I remember when the left wanted Bush to fail in Iraq because it would humiliate him. I do not want Obama to fail in Afghanistan. I want him to succeed because I want the world to be safer. Unfortunately wishes mean next to nothing. Obama and the Dems have to make up their “minds” to at least succeed at SOMETHING. They’ve had quite the losing streak, and I don’t want Afghanistan to be yet another.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Forget Afghanistan is Obama's Viet Nam.. that's right. But..

Obama is U.S. forces' LBJ

Won't risk losing support for domestic agenda by helping military.

That measured response thing again? Oval Office interfering with day-to-day combat missions, too?

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Forget Afghanistan is Obama's Viet Nam.. that's right. But..

Obama is U.S. forces' LBJ

Won't risk losing support for domestic agenda by helping military. (cont'd)

NY Times: "Mr. Obama seems acutely aware that he is confronting two clocks on the American engagement in Afghanistan that are ticking at different speeds: a political clock here at home, and a combat clock in the region. The White House is concerned about dividing Democrats on an increase in forces in Afghanistan at a time when the president is trying to hold the party together on his health care overhaul."