Iraqis Defy Attackers in Historic Election

[KSig RC]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
Well, make it at least two nits.

Among the things I've worried about during this entire epsode is that we may not have learned much from our unfortunate experiences in Vietnam.

Among them that training local forces to take over from us didn't work. Those forces folded as we pulled out.

Also, that local elections would give legitimacy and strength to the government. It may have in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City), but not the the majority of the country.

Finally, that the war would become a contest of attrition. Guerilla warfare is not our strongest suit.

This may or may not be true, but the comparison with Vietnam, while convenient, isn't strong from an objective standpoint. There are too many mitigating factors - also, one trial isn't enough to dictate success or failure, especially in disparate cultures and regions. Bottom line? Time will tell how similar or different the situations are, but simply saying "guerilla warfare" and "nation-building" is not enough to link the two.

[DeltAlum]

I offered this as something I'm worried about -- and have been since the beginning of this conflict.

I haven't said it will happen, but rather that it sounds a lot like the rhetoric did back then. Enough to be worrisome.

Remember that my concerns are grounded in experience -- having been through something like this first hand once before.