A Good LTTE: The Lesson of These Wars Is

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Aggression Equals Disaster

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04108/302143.stm

Saturday, April 17, 2004

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


The lesson of these wars is aggression equals disaster
Many people have compared the war in Iraq to Vietnam. There are also interesting lessons to be learned from the Korean War.

In June 1950 North Korea invaded the south. The resulting war had two parts. In the first part, which lasted three months, the North Koreans were pushed back to the 38th parallel; it was a brilliant victory. The second part started with the decision of President Truman, prodded by Gen. Douglas MacArthur, to cross into North Korea, so that the United States was now the invader. The second Korean War lasted 2 1/2 years with enormous casualties and the defeat of the United States, thrown back to the 38th parallel.

In August 1990 Iraq invaded Kuwait. In the first Gulf war, which lasted less than two months, the United States was victorious, retaking Kuwait. The possibility of then invading Iraq, following the precedent of Korea, was rejected by the first President Bush on the grounds that trying to take over a foreign country could lead to an endless morass.

The second Gulf war started with the decision of President George W. Bush, prodded by Vice President Dick Cheney, to invade Iraq, a clear act of aggression. The second Gulf war is now well into its second year with increasing casualties and no end in sight.

The conclusion is that aggression is not only indefensible morally, it also leads to disaster.


LINCOLN WOLFENSTEIN
Squirrel Hill

Editor's note: The writer is University Professor of Physics at Carnegie Mellon University.

[bemildred]

1. Correct.

"Splendid little wars" just aren't.