(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
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Simply stated, in a very naive way, the Vietnamese are not Iraqis.
In Iraq, it is all about sects or tribes. The Shiites and the Sunnis are killing each other and both are killing our soldiers.
As Gen. John Abizaid, the top U.S. commander in the Middle East, told the Senate Armed Services Committee Thursday,"I believe that the sectarian violence is probably as bad as I have seen it, in Baghdad, in particular, and that if not stopped it is possible that Iraq could move toward civil war."
In addition, many Iraqis hate America . Among the reasons include because we support Israel, our lifestyle, and justifiably, probably because we grossly mismanaged the war so badly that there is still no security in the country, reconstruction is behind, and jobs are lacking.
Friday, Al Sadr 's Shitte followers were marching on Baghdad in support of Hezbollah(the terrorist group in Lebanon at war with Israel) waving yellow Hezbollah flags and burning United States and Israeli flags. The waving of Hezbollah flags sends a message that the Shiites are ready to die for Hezbollah and to fight Americans which spells major trouble for American troops being sent to Baghdad to try and quell increasing violence.
The Vietnam war was different from Iraq. As mentioned in the article, Revisionist History: Vietnam, South Vietnam was a separate country. Although, the effort failed and America made many mistakes, America and the Vietnamese were fighting for South Vietnam's independence. America also trying to prevent Communism from spreading and genocide in Southeast Asia. Vietnam was all about nationalism. The Vietnamese, unlike Iraqis, were not fighting each other.
Here's a little interesting example of the difference between the two wars that speaks volumes in a small and simplistic way:
One day, I'm out running literally on the streets of San Francisco. Great town to run as my motto always is: I've never seen a hill I didn't love.
Anyway, I run to get a haircut, but there were too many waiting; so, I ran up to Geary about ten blocks away where I see a sign that says haircuts for 12 dollars. I go in and this Vietnamese woman cuts my hair. We start talking. She tells me about her family, her life, etc., and how she was 8 years old in Saigon when I was serving there.
I philosophize a little about Vietnam being a sorry war. She listens. We chat some more. She finishes cutting my hair. I start to leave and she follows me out. She says something like, "I want to thank you for what you did for my country." "You're welcome," thinking to myself, I don't have a clue what she means.
I start to leave again and she says, "I don't think you understand. If we had never had the war, I would never have been able to come to America with my family. I've been back to visit Vietnam several times; but, the last time I was there, I told my husband that Vietnam is no longer our home. We are now Americans. I love America and praise Buddha every day for my good fortune."
No, the Vietnamese are not Iraqis. God bless America.
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