If Afghanistan is like Vietnam, that could be good

OP-ED: Afghanistan could turn into Vietnam. Let's hope so., By Joshua Kurlantzick, Washington Post, October 25, 2009

Wonderful piece by Kurlantzick, he of China's Charm Offensive fame.

The larger point: Vietnam became normal by connecting to the global economy.

(Thanks: Ross Stewart)

Comments

[stuart abrams]

We could have achieved this result decades earlier, and saved thousands of lives (including some friends) if we had followed our national DNA in 1945 and supported the anti-colonial Vietnamese freedom fighters instead of trying to reinstate the pro-fascist French colonialists. The lesson of Vietnam: promoting globalization is not the same thing as trying to preserve colonialism. In fact, they are the opposite.

[Louis Heberlein]

Agree with Stuart. The 51st Fighter Wing supported China and IndoChina fighters against Japan troops in WW II. Some of those Americans were asked if we could keep the French from returning. We did not try.

During Ike presidency he sent American trainers to strengthen South Vietnamese after French lost the North to rebellion. He was trying to help French save face, and enable them to concentrate on North African colonial rebels. In return the French tolerated letting West Germany move toward NATO involvement.

Ike stayed low key in Vietnam expecting the North and South to eventually merge peacefully. JFK decided to make South Vietnam a demo for his idea of Special Forces methods of modifying Cold War.

Then LBJ decided he had to start a huge conventional force war to show loyalty to JFK, and maybe to get elected on his own. Soon the big war blasting and civilian casualties turned many South Vietnamese against US and made the VC heroes to the people.