Does McCain regret the US "waving the white flag" in Vietnam?

[K8-EEE]

Just watching the GOP debate rerun and his disdain for those wanting to "surrender" and "wave the white flag" in Iraq. And those politicians who would listen to what we, the people, want to happen!

But, isn't that how HE got to come home? After the Paris Peace Accords? Does he wish they hadn't taken place?

He's been thanked a lot for his service which he should be -- but shouldn't he also thank the people in the US who demanded we get out of Vietnam? IMO -- they don't get enough credit.

Does he think that was "surrender?"

The way I see it -- ALL the so-called "volunteer army" is being held hostage by BushCo, sending them back 3 and 4 times and even more. I think a lot of them would like the same outcome he got, in other words, admit it was a stupid idea in the first place and a no-win situation for all but a few profiteers.

[livetohike]

1. Good point. Save your post for the GE, too.

This should be on the Greatest Page, especially if McCain is their nominee.

[intheozone]

2. I think he still is fighting the VN war in his head. That's why he

really cannot accept anything other than "victory" in Iraq.

[K8-EEE]

7. Yeah this is like a "do-over" for him.....

Reminds me of the 75 year old guys doing military drills on the beaches in Miami for when they finally beat Castro! Insert cuckoo-clock sound effects!

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. Many of them do. They blame Kerry for ending a war that they are

convinced was "winnable" using conventional means, bombs, bullets & bullshit. The swift boat guys are big proponents of this.

[jimshoes]

13. His fighting days were over in Viet nam in 1967

where he became a POW. The only reason he came home in 1973 is because the war ended and the North Vietnamese let the US prisoners go home. Perhaps he feels he needs to prove something by making more wars I don't know. But he was broken in the POW camp, in body and in mind, and it's there for anyone to read about it. (wikipedia is a decent place to start) I just don't understand how someone having lived through that unpleasantness would be so gung-ho for endless war.

[TwilightGardener]

4. In our guts, we know he's nutz. He never got over 'nam, apparently.

Can't bear to see us "lose" or "surrender" or "cut and run" in Iraq, even though the war itself was founded on a mistake (or lie), same as Vietnam. I suppose he felt more casualties in Vietnam would have been worth the bragging rights of fighting until....whenever it may have ended. He's a sick pup.

[Solly Mack]

5. He thinks Vietnam could have been won

He blames "timid" political leaders. You know, the old "they wouldn't let us win" bullshit.

[K8-EEE]

8. Shit they don't even know how to define "win" at this point!

"Win" is less death and destruction than last week. Woohoo.

[Solly Mack]

12. True that! Petraeus is the same (thinks Vietnam could have been won)

just needed more time and the support of the people....and in McCains case, he thinks more bombing would have done the trick....and feels not bombing non-military targets - considered war crimes by Geneva - to be stupid



http://www.thenation.com/doc/20000103/dreyfuss

[enid602]

15. 'win'

What was a 'win' in Viet Nam? I seriously doubt the country would have turned out much differently had we pulled out in '66. Although, had we pulled out earlier, they would have recoverd economically much more quickly, and would be able to make lots of cheap products to swap for American debt. They might have been our masters instead of the Chinese.

[K8-EEE]

6. Not for nothing is Ron Paul getting the most military contributions

I wouldn't vote for him because of his extreme libertarian views and policies, however, on the war he's dead-on and the most forceful anti-war candidate in both parties.

[pretzel4gore]

9. maybe Viet Nam should say something...

geez we killed a couple million innocent Vietnamese- Vietnam might consider mccain's role dropping 1 ton bombs on defenseless villagers to be criminal, or at least unmentioned in polite company, or else the murder aspect of it evoked, bigtime...they should file a claim with World Court if the Vietnam war even mentioned (it was illegal, after all)

[Canuckistanian]

10. If were up to him, the Vietnam war would have been going until 2067

At least if you believe his latest statements on Iraq.

[K8-EEE]

11. Yes, less "people be bragging" that the US left....or whatEVER!

What infantile reasons these GOP have for these wars. I remember arguing in 2003 and this guy literally told me, "Saddam will laugh at us if we don't go in...." GREAT REASON! WHO THE FUCK CARES WHAT HE LAUGHS AT? Insane.....

[jwirr]

14. When he is talking about "we could have won" he is talking about

being able to pulverize the whole country given enough time and munitions. These gung-ho guys never remember that without a political solution possible through negotiations there is no one who wins.