Spectre of Vietnam rising over Iraq

Spectre of Vietnam rising over Iraq

(EXCERPT) , By Rupert Cornwell

Washington - On a clear November afternoon in Washington DC, the usual
trickle of tourists walks slowly past the Vietnam war memorial. Some
take photos. Others do a stone rubbing of the name of a lost loved
one, carved in the black granite.

Katrina Arnwine, 35, has travelled from the West Coast to visit
Washington and scans a stone panel for a name. "He's the son of a
friend of mine. He was just 19 when he was killed, back in 1970."

And as the slow drip of deaths continues in Iraq, she wonders whether
a similar tragedy may be starting to unfold.

"The war was supposed have been won. But our troops are still in Iraq
and they're still dying. Every day you hear of more of them, more now
since the so-called end of active engagements than during the war.
Many of them are so young, and they've no idea why. Most Americans
still believe that the conflict was worthwhile, that the world is a
better place without Saddam Hussein, however dubious the rationale
that he was a threat to their country.

As Condoleezza Rice, United States President George Bush's national
security adviser, said ahead of Bush's visit to London this week:
"This is a regime in which we have already found mass graves... the
world is far better off and freedom has been advanced...

"So when people are protesting in the streets, I hope they'll remember
that finally Iraqis... may have a chance to have the same...

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The American War Library
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