Lessons Not Learned

I've always been perplexed by the Democrats insistence on repeating our defeat in Vietnam. I know they hate George W. Bush and have never gotten over their defeat in 2000, maybe even their lose of Congress in 1994. However, even taking their bitterness into consideration, what kind of pathology drives you to advocate a policy of defeat when history so vividly reminds you of the consequences? Here's an example of that history from Michael Rubin at The Corner:

The Ghosts of Defeat [Michael Rubin]

Realists exist in a freeze-frame reality—blind to the long-term consequence of cold, calculating, short-term decisions. Several argue for a pull-out from Iraq. Discussions of time tables and phases are mere spin for withdrawal. It’s too easy to forget or ignore the human costs of such a decision, or the sense of betrayal which we telegraph around the world. In his history of the 1970s, my colleague David Frum relates the story of Sirik Matak, whom the US embassy in Phnom Penh offered to evacuate as the Khmer Rouge closed in on the city. Matak refused, writing this letter to the US ambassador. It should be a must read for the “abandon Iraq” crowd:

Dear Excellency and Friend,

I thank you very sincerely for your letter and for your offer to transport me towards freedom. I cannot, alas, leave in such a cowardly fashion. As for you, and in particular for your great country, I never believed for a moment that you would have this sentiment of abandoning a people which has chosen liberty. You have refused us your protection, and we can do nothing about it. You leave, and my wish is that you and your country will find happiness under this sky. But, mark it well, that if I shall die here on this spot and in my country that I love, it is no matter, because we all are born and must die. I have only committed the mistake of believing you.

The Khmer Rouge shot Matak in the stomach. He took three days to die.

History also teaches us that our abandonment of the South Vietnamese led to the death of hundreds of thousands innocent Vietnamese and Cambodians. It was also a complete and utter humiliation for our military and led ultimately to the feckless presidency of Jimmy Carter, which in turn emboldened our enemies around the world and more humiliation at the hands of the Iranians during the hostage crisis until finally Ronald Reagan (RIP) rode into office and restored a sense of pride and courage in our great nation once again.

Today's Democrats can't see beyond their hatred of George W. Bush and their thirst for power, leading them to openly root for our defeat in Iraq while leaving the fate of millions of innocents, once again, to be brutalized at the hands of a ruthless enemy. This is the face of the Democrat policy on Iraq, and I strongly suggest to anybody who believes the Republicans deserve to lose and is going to sit out this election, please think again.