Vietnam myths haunt Afghanistan: On Veterans Day, hard experience deserves a hearing

The Washington Times ^ | November 11, 2009 | Editorial

[Abakumov]

Adm. Jeremiah A. Denton Jr. is a true American hero. The former senator, retired admiral and naval aviator spent almost eight years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam, half of that time in solitary confinement. When forced by his captors to do a television interview in 1966, he blinked the word "torture" in Morse code. He's the kind of man Washington leaders might want to listen to more carefully than the average purveyor of foreign-policy wisdom.

[celmak]

ping

[jazusamo]

The war was lost not on the ground, but in D.C. backrooms. The North Vietnamese signed a peace agreement they had no intention of honoring, and when they renewed the war with the South, the liberal Democratic Congress deserted America's allies in Saigon. The end followed swiftly. "It was one of the gravest sacrileges committed in American international affairs," Adm. Denton said.

Amen, he said it well. That's what our 'cut and run' politicians will never admit.

[Calvinist_Dark_Lord]

"Unfortunately, the president and Congress don't know much about war," he said. The president should "realize his shortcomings and listen to the experts."

An important part of leadership is to know what one DOES NOT do well. Even President Clinton realised his shortcomings in respect to the military.

That's why Clinton picked good Joint Chiefs (with the exception of Admiral Boorda, who still had an excellent record on paper).

You may recall that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs at the beginning of 9/11, General Henry "Hugh" Shelton, was a Clinton appointee, as was his successor, Air Force General Richard Myers.

[frog in a pot]

Thanks for this link. Amazon has the hardcover for less than $20.

“The war was lost not on the ground, but in D.C. backrooms.”

When the U.S. left, the Viet Cong and the NV were incapable of carrying on the war. What the public is fed are photos of the Embassy rooftop evacuation 2 years later as proof America lost the war.

“The North Vietnamese signed a peace agreement they had no intention of honoring...”

Indeed, they immediately began placing a good portion of their armed forces in a holding position as civilians in SV.

“...and when they renewed the war with the South, the liberal Democratic Congress deserted America's allies in Saigon.”

Should read, “the Socialist Democratic Congress supported by the American press”

"The end followed swiftly. 'It was one of the gravest sacrileges committed in American international affairs' Adm. Denton said."

Perhaps an understatement.

[Conservative Vermont Vet]

"The war was lost not on the ground, but in D.C. backrooms. The North Vietnamese signed a peace agreement they had no intention of honoring, and when they renewed the war with the South, the liberal Democratic Congress deserted America's allies in Saigon. The end followed swiftly. "It was one of the gravest sacrileges committed in American international affairs," Adm. Denton said."

Amen, he said it well. That's what our 'cut and run' politicians will never admit.

Yeah and I know that while we are not supposed to speak ill of the deceased that was when I (as a Nam Vet) due the cowardly action of that Wuss Jerry Ford in refusing to uphold his sworn duty as President, quit being a Republican have been a Conservative Independent since.

As far as any similarity between Nam and Afghanistan, there are some:

Ridiculous Rules of Engagement, probably worse than what we experienced

Trying to run the war from the White House much as clueless, idiot LBJ (and asshat McNamara) did and O'Dumbo is trying to do

And worst of all the complete lack of any intent (OR WILL) to "win."

Not very good for the troops with that sort of approach and sooner or later they begin questioning what they are doing there and thereafter, may end up with the same attitude we developed: "Was it worth the extreme cost in treasure and lives?"

[jazusamo]

I agree entirely.

Ford was a weak president. I still remember him begging the liberal Dem Congress to not cut off funds to S Vietnam and to no avail.

We had the war won but for the politicians. Was it worth it? Tough question, but for nearly 2 million SE Asians that died because of the RATS cutting off funds I’d bet they’d have said yes, had they survived.

[VietVet]

I agree with the Admiral. What else can I say?

VietVet