The ‘V’ word is being used more often these days

These days, almost any conversation about the war in Iraq evokes the ‘V’ word, that word being Vietnam.       

Some significant revelations over the past 10 days have given more weight to comparisons and criticisms.

n   The number of Americans killed in Iraq has surpassed the number of people killed on 9/11, and with little to show for significant progress in Iraq.

n     The recent National Intelligence Estimate paints a grim picture of Iraq in 2007,  predicting insurgent violence will intensify. And yet, President Bush said the opposite will be the case.

n       The only connection between Iraq and the War on Terror is that Iraq has become, as a result of an ill‑conceived and poorly managed American occupation, both a magnet and a breeding ground for terrorists.

n       American troop strength is spread dangerously thin worldwide, due to the requirements of sustaining our military presence in Iraq.

It’s time to face up to the reality of the situation:

1) The Iraq war is rapidly looking like a 21st century Vietnam, costing us blood and resources,

2) President Bush is governing like LBJ–another bullheaded, tough‑talking, big‑spending Texan who only listens to what he wants to hear, and 3) As with Vietnam, the justifications for invading Iraq have fallen flat and are now suspect in the minds of most Americans. Is it our responsibility to police the world and instill our ideals in a culture few Americans understand?

We should redirect our efforts to hunting Osama bin Laden, thwarting terrorist attacks on the United States, and preventing rogue nations such as Iran and North Korea from developing weapons of mass destruction– even if doing so means taking military action.

If we fail to do so, then the Americans who have lost their lives in this supposed War on Terror will have died in vain and we will not be any safer.