President Bush to Our Veterans: Iraq is Like Vietnam
Today, President Bush addressed the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention in Kansas City. Instead of taking the opportunity to discuss the urgent issues that are facing veterans today, the president offered a history lesson -- and actually compared Iraq to Vietnam. But the last thing these veterans needed was a lecture from such a poor student of history. They remember America's wars -- because, unlike President Bush, they actually fought in them.
President Bush telling veterans about war is like an atheist preaching to the choir. No surprise that he got his facts wrong. But plenty of others are making great arguments about the historical accuracy of Bush's remarks and their relevance to today's conflicts. I am more frustrated by what Bush did not say.
I have often admonished the president for not addressing veterans' issues. This speech today represents a new low. After taking credit for increasing the veterans' budget, even after years of underfunding the VA, the president was strangely silent on the real issues facing new veterans, including naming a replacement for Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson who steps down in October, and implementing recommendations of the Dole-Shalala Commission to fix the nation's military and veterans' hospitals. What happened to all the outrage and promises after Walter Reed? The words "Dole-Shalala" were not even mentioned. The Dole-Shalala Commission's Report set out six clear recommendations to be implemented (most by the president), and now they are gathering dust on a shelf somewhere while the president and Congress are on vacation for the summer.
So if we're going to talk about the legacy of Vietnam, we need to remember what happens when a nation fails to take care of its veterans. We cannot abandon another generation of combat vets to untreated mental health problems, substance abuse, unemployment, homelessness, and suicide. As President Bush said today, "History does remind us that there are lessons applicable to our time. And we can learn something from history." Let us learn that the men and women who have fought in Iraq, Afghanistan, (and all wars) deserve to be provided for. Not just used as a backdrop for another presidential photo op.
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Paul,
One of the articles you cite had the best quote:
"...the disaster is the consequence of going in, not getting out.”
Frankly, I don't see him getting much traction with this appalling spin.
He has lost so much credibility that if it gets much of a mention at all in the MSM, they'll be able to debunk it in a heartbeat.
Thanks for all you do sir.
Since Bush announced the outline of this speech yesterday I really expected to see an analysis of Vietnam, both going in and coming out. Throw in Cambodia and Laos for good measure. No such luck. CNN spent all day repeating 'facts' which 5 minutes on Wikipedia dispelled.
It seems to me Vietnam only straightened out after we left. The Vietnamese Army stopped the genocide in Cambodia. Also, the Vietnam War killed more people than the Cambodian genocide.
Better change the dictionary to put Bush's picture under 'chutzpah'.
Just last week the trolls were here extolling the economic success of Vietnam and Cambodia, and saying that the havoc we have wrought in Iraq could have the same good financial outcome for Iraqis (in 30 years?...t
These fools(Bush and his lot)don't care about the Iraqis, they care about Oil and their prestige. Personally I believe that all of this has been orchestrated from beginning to end. Allowing the Iraqis to riot after the actual war ended was done for our benefit here at home so as to prove to us how important it was for us to "save" the Iraqis. Letting the weapons and ammo dumps go unguarded was purposely done to enable the future insurgents the means to fight us (giving us the excuse to stay). Disbanding their army, no accident, allowed us more delaying action needed to train a new one. A poorly trained one I might add. Poor training and no unit cohesion adds up to more time delay. How providential. And now we can't leave conveniently because if we do it will all go to hell and be for nothing. Untrue. If we left now , Bush and Cheney would have to explain why we have these huge secret bases in Iraq, that they expended so much money on. I sense prison in their futures. Of course that would only come true if the Democrats ever grew some testicles enough to make it happen.
Remember, Viet Nam is a nation of 70,000,000. The war lasted a long time. Cambodia is much much smaller. And Pol Pot killed 1 out of 4 of his own people....
Amen.
Though, I'm not sure why anyone is surprised. Our president has neglected the needs of our soldiers as he has neglected the needs of anyone unfortunate enough to not possess great wealth both domestic and abroad.
Our president is a user; he does not serve us, we serve him. He is using the VFW, as shamefully as politicians before him, to bolster waning support.
I just can't believe our vets buy his crap. Seems to me they'd be the MOST likely to give our president the cold shoulder for the precise reasons mentioned in the previous blog.
We deserve better. All of us.
"..just can't believe our vets buy his crap."
It would seem not, but that is what the military instills in the troops, unquestioning obedience. If you don't obey you go to Leavenworth. Some who disobeyed the first Bush are still lanquishing there. How are we different from the Nazis if our troops must obey unquestioningly. We told Nazi soldiers they had no excuses for what they did even though they too lived under those same rules. If any of our troops try to tell the civil media anything they are immediately isolated and punished. Those who fight for freedom and liberty are denied theirs..
It appears that the Republican Party bribes the VFW and the American Legion provides a platform for Bush/Cheney's absurd lies. I got kicked out of the Legion some 30+ years ago for not supporting the Vietnam war, along with some other vets who were Vietnam vets, which I wasn't but of the same age group.
Amen Paul!
After being butchered at the Tucson VAMC, I did everything possible to persuade them to correct their mistake. All to no avail. Their response was to abandon me, then ignore me, and finally ridicule me. My family and I are in extreme financial distress as we have had to spend an entire years income to partially recover from the VA malpractice. Our only income is disability compensation.
Information protected under HIPAA was disclosed without authorization to the staff at a local motel.
The same VAMC has refused repeatedly to provide me with edication for my service connected disability. Instead they prefer to continue providing the second level treatment for the condition which costs approximately $150.00 daily and has a very serious downside.
I called the VA Inspector General. Silence. I called the Office of Medical Inspector. Silence. I called the VA General Counsel. Silence. I called Sen. McCain's Tucson office. I filed a formal claim. Six months of silence.
Finally I called the office of Rep. Grijalva. Thankfully, sn aide agreed to look into the situation.
The point that I am trying to make is that this administation and its Congressional enablers have destroyed the VA system by starving it financially. Having been totally disabled by my service to the nation, the VA system was my life blood but has now abandoned me.
It has taken 34 years, but I have finally been ground down to the point that I honestly regret having ever put on a Marine uniform. Before this last betrayal, the high point in my life was when I had lieutenants bars pinned to my shoulders.
Moreover, I am enraged at what I see happening to the younger veterans. It's deja vu all over again so to speak.
You keep up doing what your doing. I am very proud of you and somewhat ashamed that I didn't do it all those years ago.
Hang in there.
This is a very timely blog. I just wrote all three of my *representatives* this week asking them what was been done, if anything, about the large bonuses VA employees got last year even though they are years behind on claims.
Like usual we hear about things like this-promises are made-things are talked about- and then BOOM it disappears into the ozone layer not to be heard of again until the next year when the same employees are in the news and they have gotten a 25% increase in their bonuses for not doing their jobs.
I, too, just wrote my 'representatives' in Congress
Senator John Cornyn
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
Rep. John Culbertson
-- all three have their heads so far up Bush's a** that it looks like he has a double barrel a**hole!
Whenever I get a response from these three maggots, it's a form letter restating their complete devotion to George W. Bush.
If these three had lived at the time of Thomas Jefferson, they would have been Royalists praising how great George III was!
Get any reasonable response from Congress!?! Are you sh*tting me!
Perhaps it's time for a "Bonus Army" style march on Washington by the veterans of this nation. What could the shrubbies possibly say, what could (DUMB)F*X possibly say when the troops themselves, in person, are *demanding* what is owed to them, demanding what any decent people know is right, demanding to truly receive the support (rather than the lip service) of the nation that put them in harm's way? Are they going to label thousands of veterans as "traitors" or "pinheads" or "wimps?!!" Part of me would love to see them try. That could be the end for F*X "news." And imagine what a sight it would be. I expect that such an event would stir the "sleeping giant" of the American people to light a fire under the behinds of the people who supposedly represent them so that the troops are truly supported.
I agree that a march organized by the veterans would go a long way to waking up the American public.
Since, our troops and veterans are being used as "cover" they need to speak out in every way possible.
It is the responsibility of all of us to help the veterans "rise up" against being used by the politicians. WE ALL NEED TO MARCH !!!!!!
A good idea, but bear in mind what happened to the last "bonus army": the US Army torched their encampment and killed a several of them and their children. The Bonus Army did eventually manage to get some benefits but only after the GOP president was replaced by a Democrat (then even then it took a while).
I thought about a march on Washington too, but not by a Bonus Army. What we ought to do is something similar to what happened in the movie Vendetta. We have millions of Americans march on Washington wearing masks that look like early American Heros such as Nathan Hale, Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson,or Abraham Lincoln. Then we all stand in front of the White House and yell out "Shame" or "Liars and thieves of Freedom". But it must be a large turnout or it will mean nothing. They can't very well face those who helped shape this nation and still threaten what it stood for. Our founding fathers would be sickened by what these criminals in Washington are doing now.
FYI, McCain has a 20% voting record supporting the VA. Good luck you'll need it and a miracle.
Finally, Bush has changed. He used to say Iraq was no Vietnam, but now he sees it's time for the old canard that the faint of heart press and American liberals lost that splendid little war and are trying to continue what ann Coulter would call treason. To mix metaphors with those used in the Vietnam era, Bush is now seeing some kind of headlights at the end of the tunnel he stands in with that priceless doe-eyed blank expression. He'd prefer we were in the middle of the tunnel, the Iraqi tunnel to no where that is about as stable as Murray's mine in Utah.
This bold, Rovian move to embrace defeat as victory for appeasement is so grotesque we all need to admire its sublime, arrant lunacy and work to expose this yet another big lie to the real light at the end of the tunnel--removal from office of our sad little leaders.
Hey, Let's cut the Chimp-in-Chief some slack. . . After all, he is an expert on Viet Nam, having fought those commie bastards and got some trigger time in the 60's & 70's. . . in Texas and Alabama. . . while partying with the "Champagne Unit" in the Air National Guard. . . .
Paul Rieckhoff -- Great post.
I agree. Rieckhoff was wonderful last night on Hardball when he took on Ari Fleischer and the fact that Fleischer didn't even know the name of the young soldier that Fleischer's gang's commercials was exploiting. Again, I ask: WHO is bankrolling Fleischer's group. I smell neocons.
They do smell.
What does the pretender know about Viet Nam.? Only what Rove and Cheney told him and that was all heresay.
What do Rove and Cheney know about Vietnam?
NADA.
Now he's reminding everyone of Vietnam! Preach it George! That how he sold Social security privatizat
Bush is exactly right. Iraq is just like Vietnam. In Vietnam we too fought for Oil(Although few knew that). In Vietnam our Allies also fought without enthusiasm and often turned on us in the dead of night. In Vietnam we also had a corrupt puppet government which we propped up. In Iraq just as was done in Vietnam untold fortunes of American wealth were wasted and stolen. Just as thousands of American youths lives were spent wastefully so too are they being thrown away in Iraq. And just as in Vietnam, in Iraq we are told to be patient so that our Stupid, incompetent leaders can continue to hide their lies and folly. Oh and yes the Vietnamese did follow us home, in droves because we needed to assuage our guilt at having destroyed their country. So, yes the Iraqis may also follow us home as well for the same reasons. Yes Iraq is just like Vietnam.
Very true..Peop
No, there were swamps in Viet Nam. And jungle. So there. Just kidding
Strong rumors nothing. I was in Danang in 70-71 and saw the huge oil storage tanks with labels on them denoting oil companies like Shell and Esso. Our military wasn't in charge of them. Normally military oil fuel dumps would have been camoflaged at least. These weren't. I have spoken to other vets. Some with the Navy who recalled seeing oil drilling rigs off Vietnams coast. It was about oil and maybe other resources as well. Our leadership is not now or ever has been entirely truthful with the public. I'm sure what I've said can be proven out with a little research. I would even go so far as to just say ask the Vietnamese, they would know.
Artos, The corrupt puppet government is right here at home.
George Bush is the neo-cons’ dream come true. They found someone they could easily manipulate and who is sufficiently narcissistic to believe anything they tell him, as long as it’s consistent with his vainglorious opinion of himself. This delusional buffoon believes God talks to him, and through him. He can barely pronounce the words in the pre-packaged nonsense he regurgitates for the neo-cons puppet masters, let alone understand the actual issues.
Will somebody do some fact checking on this Bozo president, please! Mainstream Media, how the hell can you forget that for YEARS Cheney and Bush and Rumsfeld dismissed all comparisons between Iraq and Vietnam in order to not let the American people realize both conflicts were, and are, miserable failures!
Fact checking is mute. The man will say anything. And no matter how inaccurate it is, the spinf*cks at FOX will make it truth. To any teacher or school administrator out there listening, change your history curriculum to include an extensive lesson of the Vietnam war. Pay particular attention to the points the president is loosely eluding to.
Bush is a flip-flopper!
Wasn't there a peace with honor negotiated by one Hank Kissinger that made for the honorable exit from Vietnam?
Is Condoleezza working on some peace with honor with the "enemy" in this case?
Is little Geo pissing on Henry Kissingr here?
Henry,
Henry Kissinger is a war mongering, Greed Obsessed Pig like the rest of the GOP chickenhawk bastards.
“Military men are just dumb stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy.” - Henry Kissinger
From the book, “Kiss the Boys Goodbye: How the United States Betrayed Its Own POW’s in Vietnam”
Not quite the same... chickenhawk Dubya and all his chickenhawk neo-con friends had personal exit plans for Vietnam.
LOL! THAT chickenhawk biz is getting a lot of play in the media. Finally!
The thing that especially bothers me about the latest PR binge to sell this war is that people like the nefarious Ari Fleischer (who is bankrolling his group's commercials anyhow and why isn't MSNBC or anybody else telling us who it is?) is that now they are saying that "2002 is SO OLD" and that we are in "a NEW situation" now. What they don't say is that the new situation remains the one that was provoked by Bush and his incompetent war-mongering crew.
Even if it REALLY IS a new situation (Do they mean much worse than when we invaded? No kidding), why would we trust the same gang of incompetents who lied us into the mess, to be the ones to pretend to try to straighten it out?
Event he most gullible of the Republikkers must have some point at which they see the light. Or do they?
They will not see the light, ever. That requires change. Change requires thought. Thought comes from processing information. Information is irrelevant to rank and file fundamentalists. Fundamentalists are told what to think, in as few words as possible, please.
If they do see the light, it will shake their foundation. Since that will cause them to re-think their premise, it will be unacceptable (see above) because everything was so simply clear prior. Therefore, the new data must either be rejected or spun to fit into the black and white world in which they live.
I being a Viet Nam vet, I have to agree with you 100%......
I am a Vietnam veteran too. Welcome home, brother.
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