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Vietnam's lessons forgotten in Iraq (Quagmire Alert)
Boston Globe ^
| 4-4-03
| H.D.S. Greenway
Posted on 04/04/2003 5:07:23 AM PST by Lance Romance
Edited on 04/13/2004 2:09:26 AM PDT by Jim Robinson.
[history]
HEN THE NORTH Vietnamese first encountered American firepower in the valley of Ia Drang nearly four decades ago, they developed a new tactic called ''grab them by the belt.'' What they meant was: Get close enough to the Americans so that some of their firepower will be neutralized in such close proximity. The Iraqis learned that lesson in 1991 when they put all their chips on defeating the Americans in the open desert. This time they mean to grab us by the belt by fighting in the cities.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: iraqifreedom; mediahysteria; quagmire; vietnam
But I confess I never worried about the competence of Rumsfeld and Co. to run a war. I do now. Amazing they can still write this crap as we are entering Bagdhad two weeks from the beginning of the war. Let say I worry about Mr. Greenways competence as a writer and a thinker.
To: Lance Romance
The real problem in Vietnam was not the US military. Rather the problems and most of the deaths can be traced directly to the democrat leadership and their contemptible posturing!
2
posted on
04/04/2003 5:11:04 AM PST
by
NoClones
To: Lance Romance
Get close enough to the Americans so that some of their firepower will be neutralized in such close proximity. And if this author knew anything about the battle of the Ia Drang, he would know that one of the things that saved the Americans was the brilliant execution of artillery support that took out enemy even when they were virtually on top of the friendlies.
Why is it naysayers like this are always so quick to credit the ingenuity of our foes, but are blind to the ingenuity of our own forces?
3
posted on
04/04/2003 5:11:42 AM PST
by
IronJack
To: Lance Romance
This time they mean to grab us by the belt by fighting in the cities.
Well, duh. This is why we've been blasting right past the cities, containing as opposed to storming them, e.g. Bosra. We may even do the same with Baghdad according to some reports. We're not taking the bait, Lance.
4
posted on
04/04/2003 5:14:05 AM PST
by
Asclepius
(to the barricades)
To: Lance Romance
Don't waste your time worrying about the non-existant.
5
posted on
04/04/2003 5:14:43 AM PST
by
per loin
To: Lance Romance; general_re; BlueLancer; Poohbah; JohnHuang2
"There's always someone who doesn't get the word."
6
posted on
04/04/2003 5:15:41 AM PST
by
dighton
(Amen-Corner Hatchet Team, Nasty Little Clique, Vulgar Horde)
To: Lance Romance
He will still be advancing the "Viet Nam quagmire" after the war is over, a new government is in place and we have left Iraq. The anti-America media cite Viet Nam because we won all the other wars. And, if Johnson were not in charge and if Crockite (old "little illness" to those who understand bastardized Yiddish) did not misreport on Tet Offensive, we could have prevailed there too.
7
posted on
04/04/2003 5:15:44 AM PST
by
Pharlap
To: Lance Romance
Wow. All I can ask is, "Is this guy watching the same war I am?"
To: Lance Romance
What I find interesting is how this exactly formulated line of attack was simultaneously put out by the Iraq outlets, the Russian outlets, and the left in this country. Also how it is still somewhat pushed after events have proven it totally wrong.
9
posted on
04/04/2003 5:18:44 AM PST
by
sd-joe
To: Lance Romance
Greenway writes this junk every couple days in the GLobe. It's the Boston Globe, for goodness sakes.
Interesting that Greenway compares Revolutionary War fighters to fedayeen. I hadn't realized that Ethan Allen and pals herded women and children before them as they fired and advanced on British positions.
Yeah, and the Vietnam comparisons are getting more and more flimsy and stale. I think it has to do more with Greenway's memories of halcyon youth and less to do with anyhting remotely military.
Enemy formations "grab the belt" of US units at their peril.
To: Lance Romance
(Quagmire Alert) I like that. Quagmire Alert bump!
To: Lance Romance
Let's compare pigs to crows. Pigs and crows are animals. Neither sings very well. Both are born and at some point die. Therefore they are the same. I can't believe my parents paid for me to get a degree in jernullism.
12
posted on
04/04/2003 5:33:01 AM PST
by
Conspiracy Guy
(Caring Rational Alert Professional)
To: Lance Romance
News is nothing if not topical.
He must have written this article a few days ahead of time so he could get an early jump on the weekend.
13
posted on
04/04/2003 5:36:10 AM PST
by
dead
To: dighton
"I am sure the Redcoats retreating from Lexington and Concord had similar things to say about the Yankee farmers who harassed them from behind trees and walls."What is going on here with all of the opinions of equivalency between the Iraqi paramilitaries and Revolutionary War Americans? That must be the new talking point for the Anti-American Left pundits, politicians, and protestors.
14
posted on
04/04/2003 5:37:21 AM PST
by
BlueLancer
(Der Elite Møøsenspåånkængruppen ØberKømmååndø (EMØØK))
To: Lance Romance
Forget getting useful info from the Boston Globe. It's dead, Jim
15
posted on
04/04/2003 5:41:23 AM PST
by
Diogenesis
(If you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us.)
To: Lance Romance
H.S Greenway's "analysis" looks dated in the light of recent events. What a difference 16 days makes. That's the trouble when pundits rush to make hasty predictions rather than waiting to see how the big picture looks. Iraq hasn't turned out to be another Vietnam. "Quagmire" my clymer.
To: Lance Romance
17
posted on
04/04/2003 5:44:44 AM PST
by
sweetliberty
("Better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to open your your mouth and remove all doubt.")
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