Cal Whines

Cal Thomas rants on about the recent anti-war protests in Washington:

The ideologically decrepit anti-war crowd returned to Washington last weekend for a reunion. The older among them abandoned hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of Vietnamese to imprisonment, torture, death and re-education camps. Their demonstrations were encouraging to the communist Vietnamese, sending the message that America lacked the will to win. These aging hippies and their progeny now want to do the same to millions of Iraqis, who have democratically elected their leaders.

What is it with the pro-war right wingers like Cal Thomas, David Horowitz, Rush Limbaugh (ad nauseum) that they just can't help but blame the "hippies," "feminazi's," etc. for the loss of the war in Vietnam? Do these revisionist rightists ever critique Truman's decision to support the return of Vietnam to the French after WWII--even after Ho Chi Minh asked the U.S. for help in creating democracy. If the "hippies" helped lose the war, then the establishment helped start, sustain, and escalate the war.

Thomas laments the "possibly" millions of Vietnamese who were abandoned to tragedy. Rightly so. But does Thomas say anything about the estimated 4 to 5 million Vietnamese killed during the war? And, why doesn't Thomas point out that winning the war most likely could only be accomplished by invading the North--an action not taken given LBJ's right reasonable fear that China would have intervened on N. Vietnam's behalf? (And, don't forget, the memo to LBJ from the military did mention that such an action--reminiscent of the Korean War--might have necessitated the use of nuclear weapons).

The US military-industrial complex spent more than 20 years trapped in the "domino" paradigm and in the process supported French Imperialism and propagated a war that killed millions. But, oh yes, blame the peace-nicks for the failure.

Thomas continues:

Why do these people always oppose America's efforts to defend itself and others? Why did they not protest in Washington, or in Baghdad, when Saddam Hussein was practicing genocide and his sons were raping and torturing their fellow Iraqis? Will we ever see an anti-Taliban protest? How about a demonstration against suicide bombers, or even those who produce and detonate roadside bombs in Iraq? Why do these people think only their country is evil?

"These people." Now, that is elitist snobbery! And, what is it that "these people" are doing? Oh, yes--opposing America's efforts to defend itself and others. Well, yes, American troops certainly are trying to defend themselves and others. Can't argue about that. But, does Cal mention just how the troops found themselves in this mess? Nope. Does Cal note the misleading, cherry-picking, fear-mongering Republican rhetoric that put the troops in harms way when Iraq and Saddam posed no imminent threat (and very likely little threat in the future). No, Cal seems to equate the misplaced troops with the totality of America--a form of magical thinking reminiscent of Freud's primary narcissism.

And the really, really worn out indignity: "Why do these people think only their country is evil?" The clueless conservatives never get it...the hippies don't think their county is evil. Rather, it is the leadership that is duplicitous and downright incompetent that leads to a disgust with the leadership--not the country. PLEASE, Cal...stop the magical thinking. George W. Bush is not America. GWB does not equal USA.

Man. Where is the critical thinking, Cal?

And "Why did they not protest in Washington, or in Baghdad, when Saddam Hussein was practicing genocide and his sons were raping and torturing their fellow Iraqis?" Well, first, maybe you should ask Donald Rumsfeld this question. He was in Baghdad when all these atrocities were happening. And what was he doing besides ignoring these atrocities?

The U.S. restored formal relations with Iraq in November 1984, but the U.S. had begun, several years earlier, to provide it with intelligence and military support (in secret and contrary to this country's official neutrality) in accordance with policy directives from President Ronald Reagan. These were prepared pursuant to his March 1982 National Security Study Memorandum (NSSM 4-82) asking for a review of U.S. policy toward the Middle East.

Yes: good ol' conservative Republican real politik: let 'em kill each other. We'll be there to help (harummmp) rebuild, rearm, and restore the flow of oil.

And, BTW Cal, I don't remember even a dribble of your tribe doing any marching. Where were they?

Come on Cal, let's win this war. Raise taxes, institute the draft, make a long-term commitment to the region.

Stop whining.