Won't Take "It's Not Vietnam" For An Answer

Just read this exchange between NBC's Matt Lauer and some U.S. soldiers deployed in Iraq as recounted by Jeff Jacoby in today's Boston Globe. It really does speak volumes about the current state of the GWOT:

[Success will do a lot to morale], as the Today show's Matt Lauer discovered when he visited Baghdad last week. He tried valiantly to coax some Vietnam-style disillusionment out of the soldiers he met, but as NBC's transcript makes clear, the troops weren't having any of that:

LAUER: We've heard so much about the insurgent attacks, so much about the uncertainty as to when you folks are going to get to go home. How would you describe morale?

Translation: Have we convinced you poor saps yet that Iraq is another Vietnam?

CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER RANDY KERGISS: My unit morale's pretty good.... People are ready to execute their missions, and they're pretty excited to be here.

LAUER: How much does that uncertainty of knowing how long you're going to be here impact morale?

Translation: Whaddaya mean your unit's morale is pretty good? Don't you watch our newscasts?

SERGEANT JAMIE WELLS: Morale's always high. Soldiers know they have a mission, they like taking on the new objectives and taking on the new challenges. . . . They're motivated, ready to go.

LAUER: Don't get me wrong, I think you guys are probably telling me the truth, but there might be a lot of people at home wondering how that could be possible with the conditions you're facing and with the insurgent attacks....

Translation: You guys have been brainwashed by Karl Rove. Don't you know the conditions you're facing? The insurgent attacks? You're soldiers, for Chrissakes, you're not supposed to get shot at! What the hell's the matter with you people?

CAPTAIN SHERMAN POWELL: Well, sir, I tell you - if I got my news from the newspapers also, I'd be pretty depressed as well.

LAUER: What don't you think is being correctly portrayed?

Translation: Are you calling us biased? Huh? Are you?!?

POWELL: Sir, I know it's hard to get out and get on the ground and report the news. . . . But for of those who've actually had a chance to get out and go on patrols . . . we are very satisfied with the way things are going here. And we are confident that if we're allowed to finish the job we started we'll be very proud of it and our country will be proud of us for doing it. . . .

LAUER: How would you feel about US forces being withdrawn before - you're shaking your head - before the insurgency is defeated?

Translation: You jarheads are too stupid to know you're being used in George Bush's nuclear war for genocidal oil profits, but we're going to turn this into another Vietnam and get the U.S. out of the Middle East whether you like it or not - howdaya like THEM apples?

POWELL: Well, sir, I would just tell you . . . as long as we continue to have confidence that we are supported and people have our back, there is nothing we cannot accomplish.

LAUER: So you would rather stay here longer and defeat the insurgency then be pulled out earlier . . .?

Translation: You mean you're not pulling my leg? You really DO want to stay here longer and all get killed in George's Bush's illegal war for nuclear genocide profiteering?

KERGISS: Yes, sir.

WELLS: Absolutely.

[Lauer, thinking to himself: Cripes, our mission is going to be tougher than I thought....]

~ ~ ~

The President could give them a hand by simply telling the story of what men like Captain Powell, Chief Warrant Officer Kergiss, and Sergeant Wells are accomplishing. Seems to me that would combat the "What about the insurgent attacks?" chorus and the daily Extreme Media body count a lot more effectively than endlessly repeating the "stay the course" mantra like a trained parrot.

We, the People, understand casualties are a part of war; we're not children (any more than our men and women in uniform). As long as we know that we're getting the promised return on that blood, as well as treasure, public support for the effort will be there. And that is precisely what the Extreme Media is attempting to deny us - the knowledge that we're winning.

Since they won't do their job and report that, it's up to the President to use his bully pulpit to do it for them.

Sure, it sucks. But it's reality. And that's the reality that Dubya is ignoring, and which will swamp the reality of success with the self-fulfulling falsehood of defeat if he doesn't start paying better attention.

Just ask Captain Powell, Chief Warrant Officer Kergiss, and Sergeant Wells.

I bet Matt Lauer wishes he hadn't.

UPDATE 8/26: Lauer might want to avoid this column from an active duty enlisted man as well, entitled, "It's A Wonderful Time To Be A Soldier".