VIETNAM 2 PREFLIGHT CHECK --> VIETNAM 2 YOU ARE CLEARED TO TAXI

[bobbieinok]

http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/2003/2003-March/006777.html

Vietnam checklist


VIETNAM 2 PREFLIGHT CHECK

1. Cabal of oldsters who won't listen to outside advice? Check.
2. No understanding of ethnicities of the many locals? Check.
3. Imposing country boundaries drawn in Europe, not by the locals? Check.
4. Unshakeable faith in our superior technology? Check.
5. France secretly hoping we fall on our asses? Check.
6. Russia secretly hoping we fall on our asses? Check.
7. China secretly hoping we fall on our asses? Check.
8. SecDef pushing a conflict the JCS never wanted? Check.
9. Fear we'll look bad if we back down now? Check.
10. Corrupt Texan in the WH? Check.
11. Land war in Asia? Check.
12. Right unhappy with outcome of previous war? Check.
13. Enemy easily moves in/out of neighboring countries? Check.
14. Soldiers about to be dosed with *our own* chemicals? Check.
15. Friendly fire problem ignored instead of solved? Check.
16. Anti-Americanism up sharply in Europe? Check.
17. B-52 bombers? Check.
18. Helicopters that clog up on the local dust? Check.
19. In-fighting among the branches of the military? Check.
20. Locals that cheer us by day, hate us by night? Check.
21. Local experts ignored? Check.
22. Local politicians ignored? Check.
23. Locals used to conflicts lasting longer than the USA has been a country? Check.
24. Against advice, Prez won't raise taxes to pay for war? Check.
25. Blue water navy ships operating in brown water? Check.
26. Use of nukes hinted at if things don't go our way? Check.
27. Unpopular war? Check.

VIETNAM 2 YOU ARE CLEARED TO TAXI

[MadMaddie]

1. That about sums it up....check

[TomInTib]

2. k&r from someone who was there.

Time and place.

[hvn_nbr_2]

3. 28-32. Check.

28. Only "cut 'n' run" cowards don't want to "stay the course." Check.
29. Only justification is a bunch of lies. Check.
30. Fight them over there or we'll have to fight them here. Check.
31. Kids of the rich and powerful stay home. Check.
32. Eternal lamentations that the press doesn't report the good news. Check.

[Withywindle]

6. 33-37

33. Dissidents at home called 'traitors' and 'appeasers' and accused of 'giving aid and comfort to the enemy' --check.
34. Veterans returning home desperately maimed in body and mind being rendered invisible and denied their due, needing help and not getting it. -- check.
35. War crimes and atrocities covered up and minimized - check.
36. Bald-faced lies about US casualty counts and foreign civilian losses - check.
37. Government feeling itself entitled to spy on dissidents, up to and including wiretaps, garbage rummaging, medical and library records seizing, and illegal detentions -- check.

[LunaSea]

4. K&R

Check.
(salute)

[ribrepin]

5. You are cleared to taxi

It's a great honor to be the 5th recommendation.

[pa28]

7. Rumsfeld is Sec. of Defense as the war effort falls into chaos.

Check.