[net.politics] The Other Vietnam

jmg@houxk.UUCP (12/07/83)

	I've seen a number of times on this net that when some people wish
to make excuses for this or that government's atrocities they always come
back with "What about Vietnam?" and that makes everything ok. Any other
government can do whatever it pleases as long as they can say the words
"What about Vietnam?".
	Let's hold that thought for a minute. Let's see, the U.S. was in
Vietnam from August, 1964 to April, 1973 - lets say 10 years - at the request
of the government of South Vietnam. I seem to remember back when the U.S. was
up to its armpits in Vietnam and trying to avoid bombing all those British
ships anchored in Haiphong harbor, that British government officials were being
asked some very embarassing questions about their involvement in Northern
Ireland.
	One of the most embarassing was "Why doesn't England get out of
Northern Ireland?". And the oft-repeated response at that time when the
government official had his back to the wall and no apparent means of escape
from the questions was to say "Well, Britain can't withdraw from Northern
Ireland for the same reasons the U.S. can't withdraw from Vietnam. Ireland is
England's Vietnam!" and the reporters questions would disappear.
	But now ten years after the U.S. has left Vietnam, people still say
"What about Vietnam?". And England which has had troops in Ireland for EIGHT
HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN (813) YEARS and has NEVER RULED IRELAND WITHOUT MARTIAL
LAW and has CAUSED THE DEATHS OF MORE PEOPLE IN IRELAND THAN DIED IN THE DEATH
CAMPS OF NAZI GERMANY is NO CLOSER TO PEACE THAN THE DAY IT FIRST INVADED
IRELAND UNINVITED!
	They don't tell us anymore that Ireland is England's Vietnam. I
wonder why?