In my opinion, the weakness and corruption of the South Vietnamese government was always more myth than fact, highlighted and exaggerated to advance the cause of American defeat. Following American withdrawal, the South Vietnamese government fought a North Vietnamese invasion to a standstill, before running out of ammunition because the U.S. Congress had passed laws specifically forbidding continued support to the South (in violation of explicit treaty obligations), while the North continued to benefit from Russian and Chinese support.
You can see some of the same mechanism operating today. The surge strategy was pronounced a failure before it had a chance to begin … and then, when it proved successful despite dire predictions and attempts at legislative sabotage, the defeat-mongers instantly shifted the focus to the ‘failures’ of the Iraqi government. (“How can they not be successful and stable after being given four full years to achieve that state? We managed it in only eleven years!”)
The strategies ultimately matter less than what the strategies are intended to achieve. Bush’s strategies, whatever their failings, have always been aimed at victory, because it was good for America. Democratic Party strategy, for the last several years, has increasingly been directed toward defeat in Iraq, because it would be good (they think) for the Democratic Party.
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Date: 2007-09-15 11:41 pm (UTC)You can see some of the same mechanism operating today. The surge strategy was pronounced a failure before it had a chance to begin … and then, when it proved successful despite dire predictions and attempts at legislative sabotage, the defeat-mongers instantly shifted the focus to the ‘failures’ of the Iraqi government. (“How can they not be successful and stable after being given four full years to achieve that state? We managed it in only eleven years!”)
The strategies ultimately matter less than what the strategies are intended to achieve. Bush’s strategies, whatever their failings, have always been aimed at victory, because it was good for America. Democratic Party strategy, for the last several years, has increasingly been directed toward defeat in Iraq, because it would be good (they think) for the Democratic Party.