I’ve said it before, but there is a definite Nixonian vibe to the current Administration. One can only hope that another Watergate is pending….although I’m not holding my breath.
From the “where have I heard that before” department, folks have started commenting about the similarities between yesterdays “Major Speech on Iraq” (where Bush unveiled the radical new strategy of “Stay the course.”), and Nixon’s famous “Vietnamization of the War” speech from November 1969:
Nixon in 1969: “The precipitate withdrawal of American forces from Vietnam would be a disaster not only for South Vietnam but for the United States and for the cause of peace.”
Bush yesterday: “Setting an artificial deadline to withdraw would vindicate the terrorists’ tactics of beheadings and suicide bombings and mass murder — and invite new attacks on America.”
Nixon: “An announcement of a fixed timetable for our withdrawal would completely remove any incentive for the enemy to negotiate an agreement. They would simply wait until our forces had withdrawn and then move in.”
Bush: “Setting an artificial deadline to withdraw would send a signal to our enemies — that if they wait long enough, America will cut and run and abandon its friends.”
Nixon: “If necessary … we will withdraw all our forces from Vietnam on a schedule in accordance with our program, as the South Vietnamese become strong enough to defend their own freedom.”
Bush: “And as the Iraqi security forces stand up, coalition forces can stand down — and when our mission of defeating the terrorists in Iraq is complete, our troops will return home to a proud nation.”
Hmmm.
Nixon delivered that speech in 1969…but the troops didn’t finally leave until 1973….8,000 casualties later.
What is it that they say about people who don’t learn from history?