Catherine:

I think Viet nam just reafirms that streak of isolationism that has always been a part of the American psyche. After all our ancestors came here to get awy from the world, not save it or defend it or solve its problems. Our hsitory is about the NEW World, and escape.

But the world could not be avoided forever. If one reads the history of the 20th century it is worth noting that Woodrow Wilson faced great opposition to sending men to Europe. And when 20 eyars later the European continent found itself embroiled in yet another war Americans were even more convinced that we should avoid conflict. But the truth is we were more a part of the world than it was popular at the time to admit to and when WW2 was over I think the US realized that as one of the few nations left with an intact infrastructure we had an obligation to rebuild Europe and Japan. I think that was when the word “obligation” first really became a part of our national vocabulary.

I know men who faught in Korea. We lost half our standing army there. I had a client who was one of the frozen chosen. I knew an old farmer who walked with a Godawful limp because they dropped him on a mountain when he was a young paratrooper. The extreme cold saved his life because it kept him freezing to death. I know another man, a Marine that was one of only three surviors in his division. Think of that.

They fought to stop communism and free a people.

But even then there were people looking at maps of far away places and saying “What are we doing way over there?” And yet 50 years later we are still there and thanks to us there is a South Korea.

I think Viet Nam taught us we were mortal.

The girl that cuts your hair might have said the same thing about Iwo Jima or Korea or even Berlin.

But they could not watch Korea on the evening news. Today if it can not be resolved in an election cycle then it is deemed hopeless. In truth I think it will take years to succeed in Iraq.