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This is so not going to end good

Observations from the Edge
Robert T. Nanninga
Coast News
August 24, 2007

 

In popular culture the term "Jumping the Shark" is a metaphor generally used to denote the beginning of the end, and in particular when it becomes impossible for an audience to maintain suspension of disbelief.

After the taking of the 2000 election, 9-11, non-existent weapons of mass destruction, the invasion of Iraq, Operation Mission accomplished, the occupation of Iraq, the 2004 election irregularities, the Katrina debacle of 2005, and the suicidal surge strategy of 2007, nothing seemed too convoluted, too absurd, too contemptible for the Bush Administration.

From the onslaught of Operation of Iraqi freedom Team Bush has rejected all comparisons to the US government's last disastrous attempt at nation building, the partition of Vietnam. But having exhausted all other scare tactics, George has conveniently contradicted himself in order to stay on message and justify sacrificing more US troops and money in the name of corporate oil interests.

Well ladies and gentleman, at the bloody dead end of a failed presidency, George W. Bush has finally had his shark jumping moment. When his handlers decided the world needed another dose of revisionist thinking, Bush Jr. stepped into a quagmire of unflattering comparison.

At a Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Kansas City, Missouri, the draft-dodging President spoke of his visions of an American victory in Iraq while purposefully warning that a hasty withdrawal by the United States Military would unleash a wave of revenge killings reminiscent of the bloodbath following US withdrawal from Vietnam after the fall of Saigon.

Since George opened the Pandora's Box of historical comparisons, it's only polite we too should seek, lessons from that. Should the world prepare for another 14 years of US occupation and manipulation of Iraq? Should US citizens be required to pay the price, in blood and money, to keep Team Bush rolling in petrol dollars?

The Vietnam War lasted more than twenty years, beginning in 1955 with the US State Departments selection of Ngo Dinh Diem as President of the newly formed South Vietnam. Escalation was made possible with the US endorsed assassination of Diem on November 2, 1963, and the death of anti-war advocate President John F. Kennedy 20 days later.

A surge of US Troops beginning in 1964, occurred at a time when the government of South Vietnam 3 years of complete chaos. The next puppet chosen to replace Diem, President Nguyen Van Thieu served from 1967 until the end of the war.

It has been estimated more than 6.5 million people died during the Vietnam conflict second Indochina war ended with helicopters pulling people from the roof of the American Embassy, April 30, 1975. History shows that The United States began it's withdrawal from Vietnam in 1968. According to the National Archives 37,794 Americans died between 1968 and 1975 as a result of the Vietnam conflict.

Does George really want to go there?

As draft dodger George W. Bush has no room to speak on the lessons to be learned of a war he purposefully avoided. By doing so, George once again showed ignorant contempt for the men and women who served and died, in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia.

Now if only the shark would jump George W. Bush.

 
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