Hopefully we’ll have more sense than to get involved in the next one (yeah, right.......).
The nastiest argument I ever got into with my dad was not about Vietnam, but about WW1. Vietnam, in the context of the cold war made more sense than our involvement in WW1. At least the Asians know when they are beat and adapt (steal) from the victors- witness Japan schooling itself in British and American naval technology or China harnessing the ‘free market’ the way one would nuclear power: subject to careful control. We will always be flummoxed by the Chinese until we learn it doesn’t matter squat to them if Communism triumphs over Capitalism, or vice versa, as long as China triumphs over the barbarians (everyone else).
I think a comparison between 0bama and Wilson is interesting- academics who think/thought themselves worthy of playing God for the good of the little people, probably in their heart of hearts think they are doing the right thing (although considering that profiting handsomely is only receiving their just due) and creating the sorts of chaos it usually took Peter Sellers in a movie to achieve. The only, meager consolation is knowing all the snide europeans who loved to demean President Bush realize that they are about as hosed as if you got into a car with a friend and you realize he’s drunk and homicidal as you speed off ...