Comments on: Things We Read Today: Another Summer Repeat Edition http://www.wholesomereading.com/2010/05/22/things-we-read-today-another-summer-repeat-edition/ Musings on culture and politics by baseball writer Steven Goldman Sat, 19 May 2012 11:33:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Daniel http://www.wholesomereading.com/2010/05/22/things-we-read-today-another-summer-repeat-edition/#comment-16318 Daniel Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:01:24 +0000 http://www.wholesomereading.com/?p=883#comment-16318 <strong>Hi...</strong> http://www.webcamgirls4.com/... Hi…

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]]> By: David in Cal http://www.wholesomereading.com/2010/05/22/things-we-read-today-another-summer-repeat-edition/#comment-2568 David in Cal Sun, 23 May 2010 18:18:47 +0000 http://www.wholesomereading.com/?p=883#comment-2568 Yes, Vietnam was a f*ckup, but it's not so clear what lessons should be learned. Steven thinks Afghanistan is a good parallel, and I agree. We're unlikely to ever get a decisive victory there, and it's no great loss if we don't. Afghanistan has little or no geopolitical importance. OTOH Iraq has major geopolitical importance, due to its oil wealth and its location. Dems from Obama on down were 100% wrong when they described Afghanistan as the war we needed to win and Iraq the war we should pull out off. Fortunately, President Obama is is providing responsible leadership in Iraq, despite Candidate Obama's irresponsible talk. I am concerned that focusing on the failure in Vietnam may suggest to some the lesson that the US should almost never take military action. IMHO that's the wrong lesson. I think George Bush's worst policy failure will turn out to be Iran -- that is, his failure to prevent them from becoming nuclear power. Obama will share that failure. Once Iran becomes a nuclear power, a number of other countries will do so. The world has managed to avoid the use of nuclear weapons for 65 years, but as nukes proliferate, our luck is likely to run out. As the saying goes, one nuclear bomb can ruin your whole day. Yes, Vietnam was a f*ckup, but it’s not so clear what lessons should be learned. Steven thinks Afghanistan is a good parallel, and I agree. We’re unlikely to ever get a decisive victory there, and it’s no great loss if we don’t. Afghanistan has little or no geopolitical importance.

OTOH Iraq has major geopolitical importance, due to its oil wealth and its location. Dems from Obama on down were 100% wrong when they described Afghanistan as the war we needed to win and Iraq the war we should pull out off. Fortunately, President Obama is is providing responsible leadership in Iraq, despite Candidate Obama’s irresponsible talk.

I am concerned that focusing on the failure in Vietnam may suggest to some the lesson that the US should almost never take military action. IMHO that’s the wrong lesson. I think George Bush’s worst policy failure will turn out to be Iran — that is, his failure to prevent them from becoming nuclear power. Obama will share that failure. Once Iran becomes a nuclear power, a number of other countries will do so. The world has managed to avoid the use of nuclear weapons for 65 years, but as nukes proliferate, our luck is likely to run out. As the saying goes, one nuclear bomb can ruin your whole day.

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