Letter: Vietnam’s lessons unheeded in Iraq

Friday, Oct. 1, 2004 | 9 a.m.

It seems we did not learn the lessons of Vietnam, mainly: Don't enter a war without the solid support of the American people and the backing of allies around the world; don't enter a war we can't win; have an exit strategy; make sure that there is an imminent threat and that there is a vital U.S. interest at stake; don't enter a war without assessing the cost; be open and honest with the American people about the reason for going to war; and go to war only as a last resort.

The Bush war in Iraq didn't meet any of these criteria. The American people were almost evenly split about the decision of war, at least until we were bombarded with deceptive information from the Bush administration, such as: Iraq was involved in the 9/11 attack; the Bush war on Iraq would be a "cake walk"; we would be welcomed as liberators; the Iraqi oil reserves would more than pay the cost of the war; and that Iraq had WMD.

It's true politicians in both parties believed Iraq had WMD. The Bush administration took it one step further, however, by saying: We know they have WMD and we know where they are.

This coming election is crucial for all of us, but especially for the young people who may be called to make the ultimate sacrifice. That's why we need a new president we can trust to tell the truth, who will seek the help of allies and who will go to war only as a last resort.

BILL JACOBS