I can't help but think of this as a sign of things to come. It's pretty obvious that things aren't going well in Iraq. It's just as clear that the blame lies squarely on the administration for ignoring advisors, allowing profiteering to flourish, and continually under-staffing and -equipping the American military. But not so fast, there, bucko! According to Kissinger, the fault lies with American civilians who were critical of the administration (emphasis mine):
America's emotional exhaustion with the [Vietnam] war and the domestic travail of Watergate had reduced economic and military aid to Vietnam by two-thirds, and Congress prohibited military support, even via airpower, to the besieged ally. None of the countries that had served as guarantors of the agreement was prepared to lift a diplomatic finger.
All this demonstrated two principles applicable to Iraq: Military success is difficult to sustain unless buttressed by domestic support. And an international framework within which the new Iraq can find its place needs to be fostered.
We've already got Texas yahoos threatening peaceful protestors with shotguns-- what do you suppose will happen when the administration cries out that it's actually Democrats who are responsible for those killed in Iraq? It fits in all too perfectly with the White House's refusal to admit fault in any circumstance.
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