Sen. chuck Hagel says Iraq is becoming another Vietnam: NO!

vietcong
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.

Chuck Hagel, Republican Senator from Nebraska and Presidential candidate for 2008, says we need an exit strategy now from Iraq or else it will be another vietnam. No way! First, no cold war. Vietnam was a hot war during the cold war, a civil war became involved with the USSR and USA because of the cold war alliances. sEcond, no vietcong. The Vietcong were a political and military arm of the North Vietnamese Communist Party and north Vietnam Army. They not only infiltrated the south, but were supported by many in the South (remember Door Gunner from Full Metal Jacket: if they run they are VC, if they stand still they are well disciplined VC). They were one party, at one with the North. In Iraq there are ex Bathist party members, islamic militia fighters, outside terrorists (from our ally Saudi Arabia) and other armed men who dont like American "occupation" (I prefer the term liberation). There is no one, organized resistance. Third, all those who fight against Iraqi security forces and US (and allied) troops have no political agenda: they have no government they support. They want the American occupation to end: they have no agenda after that. Fourth, if we withdraw, it is not like the North Vietnamese will walk in the impose their dictatorship: there is no government to replace the current Iraq government. Fifth, If we leave, Iraq will experience civil war. God only knows what will emerge. An independent Kurdistan? Nope: Turkey wouldn't stand for that: Turkey would invade northern Iraq. A sunni Islam government, with the old Bathist party in power? Nope, the Shia would oppose that, along with Iran (the biggest military power in middle east after the USA). It would be Afghanistan all over again, with islam facists running the provinces. And do you really think our volunteer army would put up with a cut and run policy? These aren't draftees: They are army guys and women who volunteered, who put their keisters on the line in Iraq, who had buddies killed - and for what? We admit we shouldnt have invaded, leave Iraq to an even worse fate than Saddam? How screwed up is that? Finally, what I believed back in 2002 when my friends at the political science conference in DC were leaving to demonstrate against the upcoming invasion (how middle class - leave your $165 a night room at a luxury DC hotel, with your PhD under your arm, take an air conditioned cab to demonstrate, then have an expensive meal that night with your pseudo intellectual friends): the invasion is set, has been set, cannot be stopped: the issue is how we as a nation meet our obligation to the people of Iraq after we invade. We can't cut and run: we owe it to the people of Iraq to rebuild the country, install a stable government that repects individual rights, especially the rights of women. Is this something to die for? You have to answer that I guess. If I were twenty something, would I volunteer? Hard question. The more I read about the situation, the more I would say yes, I'd volunteer. This election will be a real trip: Republicans trying to distance themselves from Bush, while a few months ago they were biblically washing his feet! Ah, politicians! Thank god I am a self righteous political scientist and not a politician! Ha!