[CLUE-Talk] The prism of our experience

[Jeffery Cann]

On Thursday 10 July 2003 04:13 pm, Randy Arabie wrote:
>
> By the way, what was the clear endpoint of WWII? 

 I was thinking specifically of the surrender of Japan, Germany, Italy as a 
'clear endpoint'.  Whereas in Iraq, as many (maybe more?) US solders have 
died since the war was 'officially' over.

> The Marshall Plan took years, right?  And numerous European
> nations basked under the umbrella of US security for
> decades.  We are only now, in the last decade, closing bases
> in Germany and Italy.

Good points --

I was thinking that the declaration of war lead to a clear understanding of 
why we got involved.  Although it took a long time (decades) to rebuild these 
countries, we stayed committed to it.  

With Iraq, Vietnam, etc. I'm not sure there was/is the same level of 
commitment.   Take Afghanistan -- one year after liberation, the Bush 
administration forgot to budget *any* money for rebuilding, security, etc.

So, my point is that a declaration of war lends a much more serious tone (and 
I think a commitment) to the task at hand.  I don't get the same feeling with 
Iraq (or Afghanistan).  A

Jeff

-- 
"Keep yourselves far from every form of exaggerated nationalism, racism and 
intolerance."
-- Pope John Paul II