Was the Powell Doctrine a lesson learned from Vietnam? Is it "unlearned"?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powell_Doctrine

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/lessonplans/iraq/powelldoctrine_short.html

The questions posed by the Powell Doctrine:

* Is a vital national security interest threatened?
* Do we have a clear attainable objective?
* Have the risks and costs been fully and frankly analyzed?
* Have all other non-violent policy means been fully exhausted?
* Is there a plausible exit strategy to avoid endless entanglement?
* Have the consequences of our action been fully considered?
* Is the action supported by the American people?
* Do we have genuine broad international support?

The current debacle in Iraq seems to have violated every single aspect of the Powell doctrine.

Has America "unlearned" a previously learned lesson? Or was it never learned in the first place?

Has the Powell doctrine simply not been applied by mistake in this case, or has it been entirely rejected by Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, Cheney and Bush for this and any future war that they might supervise?

[newscott]

1. The only lessons the Neo-Con/Nixon cabal have learned is

don't get caught next time.

Reagan almost did.

Bush 41 almost did.

Now they've got it perfect and Bush 43 will skate like Jesus on the Dead Sea.

[BuyingThyme]

2. The only Powell doctrines ever to be implemented

were the ones by which millions of innocent people were slaughtered in Vietnam and Iraq.

Colin Powell is a life-long, blood-thirsty mass murderer. He never was, or ever will be, anything else.

[dusmcj]

3. Wastemoreland seems to be running counterinsurgency policy

lessee,

firebases

strategic hamlets

reconnaissance in force

hearts and minds

body counts (yes)

wow, that seems fucking familiar.

we're in a country 5000 miles from home, many of the natives hate us, we're defending imperial interests and propping up (well, creating actually) the local government, the neighboring countries are using our presence as an excuse for a little jingoistic adventurism (Iran) or are at the least weak and unreliable vassals (Pakistan). Hmmm.

Let's all praise our leaders.