America left Vietnam despite credible new strategy

"Certain parallels between Iraq and Vietnam are uncanny. A new general, David Petraeus, is taking over in Iraq with a credible new strategy, counterinsurgency. Four decades ago, General Creighton Abrams became the American commander in Vietnam, also with a new strategy. It called for taking and holding the villages and hamlets of South Vietnam. In a word, it was counterinsurgency, and it worked. Now in Iraq, Petraeus has as good a chance of success, starting with the pacification of Baghdad, as Abrams had. And the painful lesson of Vietnam applies in Iraq: Don't give up when victory is at hand." [1]

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Funny title: All We Are Saying . . . Is Give Petraeus a Chance. [2]

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(Gen. Petraeus is the Baby Einstein of military strategy.)

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sources
[1] Barnes, Fred. (The Weekly Standard). February 5, 2007. Not This Time.
[2] Kagan, Frederick W. & Kristol, William. (The Weekly Standard). January 29, 2007. All We Are Saying . . . Is Give Petraeus a Chance.

posted: sunday, january 28, 2007, 8:53 PM ET
update: monday, january 29, 2007, 10:02 AM ET

tags: iraq vietnam petraeus baby einstein