[lbo-talk] re Eyewitness in Tikrit

[Dennis Perrin]

> --here's a shocker for DP, from an unrepentant "real rad cred." wallowing
in
> 'negativity', I've been to Vietnam and not been to a country that is more
> wild about Americans, China included and that's pretty hard to beat.  But
if
> I left it at that, I'd be providing a pretty superficial picture.  My
> impressions from Vietnam were at best impressions from Vietnamese who
spoke
> English, French or Chinese.  In China, on the other hand, in depth
> conversations with Chinese in Chinese can turn up a whole assortment of
> opinions about the US, even from the most arently "pro-american". i think
> it's fair to say my impressions about China and the extent of its
> pro-americanism is a lot deeper than what I could derive from my Vietnam
> visit.


> steve

Actually, I was referring to those Vietnamese who approved of the American
assault and assisted in it -- though I too have met Vietnamese (here, not
there) who hated what we did, lost family members, and yet maintained a
forgiving heart. Their deep humanitarianism has stuck with me, but again, it
wasn't them I was referring to, but those Vietnamese who, I'm sure to this
day, supported the war.

My point is that you'll always find locals who'll support an invasion of
their country, especially if, in their view, the invasion displaces a worse
system. It doesn't surprise me that many Iraqis favor Bush's invasion, which
many doubtless do, despite the Official Take on matters. But it seems that
this cannot be accepted at its face -- that deep down they must -- must! --
hate Bush as much as we do. That just has to be the case, damn it!

Glad to hear you'd tone it down on behalf of that soldier. How about trying
some of that here?

DP