Posted on 01/16/2005 2:20:28 PM PST by Tarpaulin
WASHINGTON (AFP) - America's ongoing military entanglement in Iraq (news - web sites) has become President George Bush (news - web sites)'s Vietnam, US Senator Edward Kennedy, a leading member of the opposition Democratic party, said.
The harsh words refer to the US role and ultimate defeat in the 1964-1975 Vietnam war.
Iraq is "clearly is George Bush's Vietnam," said Kennedy, speaking on CBS's "Face The Nation" program.
Kennedy then blasted Bush's claim in an interview in Sunday's Washington Post that his Iraq policy was endorsed by the US public because of his November 2004 re-election victory.
"I think that's ridiculous," said Kennedy. He quickly referred to the 1964 elections, when Democrat Lyndon Johnson, who had increased US military involvement in Vietnam, defeated Republican Barry Goldwater by an overwhelming majority.
Johnson then had to "basically abdicate the presidency" when he announced in March 1968 that he would not seek re-election, largely due to the drain on time, resources and his popularity resulting from failures in Vietnam.
According to Kennedy, Iraq "is a disaster because it's the a result of blunder after blunder after blunder. And it is George Bush's Vietnam," he insisted.
It has "absolutely been a mistake that we went into Iraq, instead of following (September 11 mastermind) Osama bin Laden (news - web sites)," said Kennedy.
Further mistakes included not having enough troops for post-war operations, disbanding the Iraqi army, having single source contracts to groups like the politically connected Halliburton, the prisoner abuse scandals at Abu Ghraib, and the US refusal to accept offers by other countries such as Egypt to assist in training Iraqi forces, said Kennedy .
"Finally they have been unable to make up a plan -- they're making it up day by day. Until Iraqis are going to fight for their own country we are going to have a very, very dangerous situation," said Kennedy.
As for the upcoming elections in Iraq, "We have to let the Iraqis make the judgment and the decision about the elections. The United States has been manipulating and making all the calls in terms of Iraq. The Iraqis have to make the judgments," he said.
Kennedy also believes neighboring countries should be enlisted to encourage Sunni Iraqis to participate in the electoral process.
"Ultimately, we have to ask ourselves this very basic question. And that is, is the face of the United States part of the liberation and security and the stability in that country, or are we a force that is perceived to be expanding the kind of uncertainty and savagery and revolution that's taking place there?" he asked.
I can't even spell "SAY"
You said it all, c8r....
Wait a minute.
Now, I remember when the US first went into Afghanistan. Even before the first troops landed, the MSM were screaming 'quagmire.'
So, which is it? Is Iraq the Vietnam or is Afghanistan?
===
lol
The MSM and Libs need to make something, anything, an issue. Afghanistan was a quamire. Then Iraq was. Now, Iraq is Bush's Vietnam. They never stop. As soon as they are proved wrong in one thing, they raise another.
It reminds me of a bunch of little ankle-biter-yap-dogs.
A shameful Senator spewing crap on a shameful network.
Hey Teddy, at least it isn't his "Chappaquidick".
Hey, that's Belisaurius's tagline
Gag, gag, gag. Ok, none of us are in the shape we were when we were younger but Pleeaaase, put a shirt on, better yet, an entire set of clothes!!! Should comment on the actual political nature of this post, too grossed out to speak. Aren't there decency laws out there? Ewwww, ewww, ewww. Please keep that man under wraps.
"Vietnam" is in, "Quagmire" out.
Is that right? It's hard to keep up with the fast pace in political stylish emotional buzzwords the left likes to throw around.
It would show real talent if they could use both words in one sentence together. How about just a chain of emotional buzzwords strung together? It don't need to make sense!
Vietnam Bush quagmire war Iraq wrong WMD unilateral power to the people. VOTE FOR ME!
Red6
and as
Chappaquiddick is Ted Kennedy's Viet Nam
Good point.
There was a 50% fatality rate among those involved in the happenings at Chappaquiddick .
That's a higher fatality rate than the rates in either Vietnam or Iraq.
Not news. He's been saying this for over a year now, with little or no effect on anyone. If anything, this will benefit us long-term.
It was an Oldsmobile, and it seems Teddy has succeeded in singlehandedly killing the brand name too. Bye Bye Oldsmobile.
Well, we might not be in the same shape we used to be, but this pig is in the public EYE and he STILL looks like that!
GAG!
Senator Kennedy is a disgrace to his family, his state, and to America. He is a drunken piece of left wing murdering trash who should have been imprisoned for the murder of his mistriss all those years ago. Massachussetts must be majority idiot to keep electing this buffoon year after year.
Vietnam was John Kennedy's Vietnam.
hehe!
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