Oklahoma’s Vietnam veterans were honored for their service Saturday at Reaves Park.
The Vietnam War is typically remembered as a U.S. defeat and an example of how not to wage war. Government officials tried covering up the whole story, and it wasn’t until the Pentagon Papers were leaked that Americans truly began to realize the horror of the failing war.
It sounds eerily similar to the current wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and state secrets being exposed by Wikileaks.
One would think after each botched war, U.S. officials wouldn’t be so quick to put our soldiers in harm’s way unless totally necessary. But it appears we’re on the verge of walking into another war that could cripple our nation.
The newly elected Republican leaders support “bold” action against Iran, “not to just neutralize their nuclear program, but to sink their navy, destroy their air force and deliver a decisive blow to the Revolutionary Guard; in other words neuter that regime,” Sen. Lindsey Graham said Saturday at an International Security forum in Canada.
As shocking as Graham’s hawkish comments may seem, none of it should come as a surprise. Many Republicans, and probably some Democrats, have supported the idea of striking Iran for months, if not years. In July, nearly one-third of House Republicans introduced a resolution supporting Israel’s right to use “all means necessary to confront and eliminate nuclear threats posed by Iran,” including military force.
Destroying Iran’s military would give the people of Iran a chance to take back their government, said Graham, R-S.C.
OU students heard similar rhetoric Thursday when Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., spoke about national security issues, including Iran.
“There is an inextricable link between America’s defenses and the defense of Americas values,” Lieberman said. “Between the spread of its values abroad and its freedom here at home.”
The idea that the U.S. can spread democracy to oppressed peoples is the deceitful rhetoric leaders like Lieberman and Graham use to garner public support for war.
If the U.S. were truly intent on “spreading its values,” why haven’t our leaders sent troops into Myanmar or the Democratic Republic of Congo, where systematic genocide has been occurring for years? The answer is because democratic reform isn’t the No.1 goal.
Nation building hasn’t worked for the U.S. in Iraq. The U.S. was fed ideas that Iraq would embrace American values with open arms once Saddam was taken out, but that didn’t happen. Sectarian violence broke out, because many groups have opposing ideas of how their government should work. The result is an increasingly violent, bloody, unpopular and expensive war .
The U.S. is doomed to the same fate if it chooses to invade Iran. Juan Cole, Middle East historian and commenter, notes oil prices would skyrocket if the U.S. engaged in any kind of war with Iran in his Nov. 1 post on his blog, “Informed Comment.” Additionally, using the cost of the Iraq war as an estimate, the U.S. would be put at $14 trillion in debt, according to Cole’s July 24 post.
This is important to realize in light of comments made by Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., on Fox News Sunday, in which he indicated Republicans would not end the Bush tax cuts. For the party that wants so badly to reduce the deficit, they would have no plan to pay for another major war.
Cole notes that Iran is three times the size of Iraq, and despite its pro-democracy elements, 90 percent of the population adheres to the Shiite branch of Islam, the official religion of Iran, and would push back fiercely against a U.S. invasion, resulting in incredible loss of life and even the destruction of Iran’s pro-democracy elements.
If Iran develops a nuclear weapon, what then? North Korea developed nuclear weapons, and the U.S. didn’t strike or invade then.
And even though Iran hasn’t fully complied with the International Atomic Energy Agency’s standards, the agency admits there is no evidence that Iran is seeking to build nuclear weapons.
Iran has aimed only at developing nuclear latency, meaning it would have the ability to develop nuclear weapons. Iran is doing this to serve as a deterrent against powers it sees as threatening.
With many Republicans, and likely a few Democrats, supporting the idea of military strikes and invasion of Iran, the new Republican gains in the House will likely push us closer to the possibility of war. If we want to prevent this, it will be up to citizens to let their representatives know where they stand on this issue.
Americans voted Republicans into power because they wanted more jobs and economic security, not more, expensive war.
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mustafa 1 year, 6 months ago
Right, spreading democracy is a waste of time. We should restore Palavi to the Peacock Throne. Having "our puppet" in charge so offended liberal sensibilities that they forced the Shah out, ushering in this age of radical Islamic terror states. "Nation building " has since been the only alternative they would permit and now that's out. We need to install a Shah-like ally in Iran,Iraq. Syria, Lebanon et al.
"North Korea developed nuclear weapons, and the U.S. didn’t strike or invade then."
We learned in the Korean War that the North is China's baby. Our response to North Korea is to give nuclear weapons to Japan.
"If the U.S. were truly intent on “spreading its values,” why haven’t our leaders sent troops into Myanmar or the Democratic Republic of Congo,..."
That would be OK with you? You wouldn't oppose that? Aren't those place jungle quagmires like Vietnam?
Prometheus 1 year, 6 months ago
i think what Sen. Lindsey wanted to say was
“not to just neutralize their nuclear program, but to sink their navy, destroy their air force and deliver a decisive blow to the Revolutionary Guard; in other words neuter that regime, AND PLUNDER THEIR GIANT OIL AND GAS FIELDS”
SgtB 1 year, 6 months ago
On Iran, We are currently in the longest most protracted war of our nation's history and fighting on two fronts. One to the east of Iran's border (Afghanistan) and the other on the to the west (Iraq). That being said, I expect military posturing from the country that seems to be surrounded by American forces. Further, we have absolutely no right to tell another country what weapons it can develop or how many. That goes against the laws of nature and the right to self defense.
With that said, it is obvious from historical evidence and current events that wars like the one we are fighting now, fought in Vietnam, and the overall war on terror waste more of our time and wealth than a war that relies on the time tested strategy of "total war." We should not interfere in another countries day to day business, but if a time should come where Iran or any other country tries to attack either ourselves or an ally we should lay waste to their military, manufacturing, and financial centers. While it would be nice to go house to house and judge who is good and who is bad it is not feasible. Unfortunately there is no humane way to do war, and a war worth fighting is a war worth winning absolutely. There can be no truce or forfeit. If we go that way we will have another Korea, with split families and militant border skirmishes. That is not how we should live, in fear of our brothers.
@Prometheus, That is the type of thinking that drives this country into unnecessary wars. If you were or are the one who has to go fight it then good for ya. But, if you are one on the sidelines, please stop coaching from the stands. It is slightly annoying. Once again, Iran is an independent nation, and although I do not agree with them in nearly every way, they have the right as a nation to develop the means to protect themselves. Just like we do. In no way am I advocating the way they treat their citizens, or their system of law and government.
Ron Paul for President, 2012
Achilles 1 year, 6 months ago
I will support a war with Iran as long as conservative warmongers agree to levy a special war tax to fund it and reinstitute military draft to fight it. But, I doubt it...
SgtB 1 year, 6 months ago
@ Achilles, Why draft with willing volunteers? That just leads to bad morale and dissent between drafted non-rates and voluntary non-commissioned officers, staff non-commissioned officers, and commissioned officers. Let our generals handle it for now.
Also, not all conservatives are warmongerers. The warmongerers are actually neoconservatives, otherwise known as the left leaning conservatives who think we have a right to intrude into other countries affairs. True conservatives and libertarians are in short supply, that much is true, but don't bash all conservatives. Just be specific, and from now on blame the correct group, the neocons.
Ron Paul for President, 2012