Reply #17: The Fall Out Here... [View All]

[KharmaTrain]

When I saw those helicopters lifting off the American embassy, I felt a combination of anger and relief. Relief that the war was over...anger on how many lives had been wasted and the damage it had done to this country. In the wake of Vietnam we ended up with a country racked in inflation caused by the debts the war incurred and rising oil prices based on Kissinger's wheeling and dealing with Saudis, Saddam Hussein, The Shah of Iran and other assorted sheiks that made billions and fueled and funded the "Islamofacists" of today.

Those who fought the war were forgotten and/or ignored. Everyone pointed fingers as to "who lost Vietnam". Things like PTSD were ignored...and many who fought the war there, faced a war at home with alcoholism, homelessness and depression. Our national "pyche" was strained...how could we have lost the war? We had all that firepower...yet, how could we lose? Instead of learning lessons...some decided the only way to right the wrongs was to fight more wars...many who are controlling the levers of power today.

Lastly, there was Watergate...the fall-out had diminished the power of the Executive and Ford looked inept in handling this, the fall of Cambodia and then the Mayaguez capture. One will hope that in the wake of the Iraq fiasco and the corruption of the past 6 years, a similar revision of politicians and policy will be in order.

Cheers...