Why the lessons of Vietnam do matter

[QuietStorm]

HANOI - Just as it took a few years for the Americans to lose the hearts and minds of the South Vietnamese, it took them only a few weeks to lose the hearts and minds of the majority of Iraqis - which ultimately means losing the war, whatever the strategic final result. Topographic denials - this is the Mesopotamian desert, not the Indochinese jungle - don't work, nor do denials saying that the Iraqis are not as politicized as the Vietnamese were by communism. These totally miss the point: as happened in Vietnam, what is happening now in Iraq has everything to do with patriotism and nationalism.

Former Iraqi vice premier Tariq Aziz used to say, before the US invasion, "Let our cities be our swamps and our buildings our jungles." Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf, aka "Comical Ali", the unforgettable former minister of information, used to say Iraq would be "another Indochina". The guerrilla war strategy against what was considered an inevitable US invasion has been perfected in Iraq for years. And the master strategist was neither an Assyrian nor a Mesopotamian general, but the legendary Vo Nguyen Giap, the Vietnamese general who coordinated the victories against French colonialism and US meddling.

Iraqi strategists - from army officials to Ba'ath Party officials - have always been thorough students of the Vietnam War, or American War, as it is referred to in Vietnam. In addition, the Iraqi urban population is very well educated and analyzes events with a deep historical sense - as well as the Vietnamese. Iraqis are not gullible to the point of believing the occupying power's boast of "nation building"- as they have not seen any tangible results since the "fall" of Baghdad on April 9. Since the beginning - the first huge popular demonstration departing from Abu Hanifa mosque in Baghdad on April 18 - the "liberation" of the Iraqi people by America has been viewed inside many sections of Iraq as a national liberation war, a "popular war" in the Giap sense against an imperialist aggressor.

more...
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/EH20Ak04.html

NOTE TO MODS: is this under the wire it is 15 hrs old but it is timely though. If not please move it where you think it would be most appropriate. Probably Editorials it is Pepe Escobar.

[QuietStorm]

1. The Baghdad deal

perhaps it is only me but this is definitely worth the read

The Baghdad deal
By Pepe Escobar

BAGHDAD - Much of the world was surprised. After the spirited resistance in the south of Iraq, how could Baghdad possibly have fallen in only two days?

An Asia Times Online investigation in Baghdad, Tikrit and Najaf has yielded a clear certainty among Iraqis, both Sunni and Shi'ite, as to the answer: The Pentagon and the Ba'ath Party leadership made a safqua ("secret deal" in Arabic) for the (almost) bloodless fall of Baghdad. Crucially, this safqua may have included a package of American green cards for top Republican and Special Republican Guard commanders and their families.

"Shaku maku"? ("What's new"?). "Makushi"? (No news). In the answer to this popular exchange in Baghdad slang, makushi has been replaced by safqua.

Mohammed al-Douri, the Iraqi ambassador to the United Nations, was the one who pronounced the famous last words "the game is over" - referring to the end of Saddam Hussein's regime. And a game it might well have been. (Al-Douri, according to al-Jazeera television, has enjoyed safe passage to Syria, and might even end up the UN ambassador of the new Iraqi government).

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/ED25Ak04.html

[TacticalPeek]

2. THAT game is over...long live the game. n/t

[kainah]

3. It seemed clear to me at the time

that some sort of decision had been reached by the Iraqi military/leadership/militants/whatever to fade back into the woodwork and cede Baghdad. But it never occurred to me that we might be acquiescing/facilitating it. If this is true, they've again stunned me with their level of cynicism.

[VolcanoJen]

4. Not LBN.. moving

After careful consideration of the linked-to article, this post would be better suited for the Editorials and Other Articles Forum, and is being moved there from the Latest Breaking News Forum.

Thanks!
VolcanoJen
DU Moderator

[caledesi]

5. : how many body bags does it take for the US public to demand a withdrawal

How many Mr. Bush? How many?

There is going to be a major attack w/ many US troops killed...maybe then...maybe then

[skip fox]

6. I know you've seen this, QuietStorm, but I felt it's impt.

Peter Bergen on CNN this morning was AGAIN stating that Iraq has become a magnet for Jihadists throughout
the region, that al-Quaeda and other radical Islamic groups are pouring into Iraq as a "target rich"
environment. (Bergen, who is one of the mose credible sources on these issue has been saying this for
WEEKS and WEEKS! Only now, since the bombims of the Jordanian embassy and the UN, are American
officials noting the possiblity of the resistent consisting or more then disgruntled "Saddam loyalists.")

Bergen contention this a.m. was that the UN bombing's purpose is to dissuade other Western governments to
aid US and Britian in policing and reconstructing Iraq. The interviewer did not ask him, but he was clearly
implying that the United States is view by the opposition as caught in a trap and al-Quaeda is trying to isolate
us in the country so they can kill Americans.

Thus . . . the quagmire is shortly upon us.

Meanwhile we're still arguing about who is doing this, applauding ourselves on our resolve, and even claiming
that the terror groups coming into Iraq is a "good thing" cause now we can take our War on Terror right to
them on their own front.

It sounds as though we're not only acting like the pig getting ready for its slaughter, but polishing the apple
they will stick inour mouth.

[DemoTex]

7. "We have met the enemy and he is us" Pogo (Walt Kelly)