Vietnamese civilians rescue John McCain from Trúc Bạch Lake in Hanoi
The true tragedy of John McCain’s wartime captivity is that he did not learn a thing from it. Why would he think Iraqis would welcome invading Americans any more than the Vietnamese mob that beat and stabbed Lieutenant Commander McCain after rescuing him from Trúc Bạch Lake in Hanoi?
Senator McCain crows about how “right” he was in thinking that “The Surge,” a small increase in U.S. ground troops, would curb violence in Iraq. Actually, another “surge” – of sectarian violence – had segregated Baghdad neighborhoods at the time of the U.S. troop buildup, and the aftermath of this “ethic cleansing” was significantly reduced violence.
Simultaneously with the troop increase, the U.S. formed and armed Iraqi paramilitary “Awakening” or “Sons of Iraq” units in all factions, and these keep a sort of peace in their own communities, preserving segregated community boundaries while terrorizing and shaking down their own neighbors. The result: continued apparent reduction in violence. See? “The Surge” worked! Maverick McCain was right!
How long until “Awakening” units are in conflict with Iraqi and U.S. Forces?
