Yes, it IS deja vu all over again

Badtux the Ever-Insightful Penguin has done it again. The Vietnamization of Iraq is the name of the essay, and it's all about the dangers of learned helplessness, whether in people, governments, or nations. Best quote of them all:

South Vietnam's government fell because, unlike Israelis, the South Vietnamese had become accustomed to being bailed out by the Americans and literally didn't know what to do when the Americans were gone. Iraq's government will fall for the same reason -- but much faster. Vietnam on crack. No kiddin'. When will we ever learn that giving too much help can be worse than giving no help at all?

Which is another reason we need an exit plan. It's the Iraqis' job to run the country, not ours.

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