As of today, May 18, 2010, the number of Americans killed in the conflict in Afghanistan reached the first 1,000 mark and in Iraq, the figure was 4,381.
Amazingly, neither conflict has been declared a war, thus shielding the rest of us from having to take any responsibility for the death and destruction we have visited upon these countries.
Sound familiar? It should.
The only difference between Vietnam and the conflicts now occurring is the number of dead Americans. However, if we remain there as long and the draft once again becomes part of the vernacular, then perhaps we will reach that lofty number of 58,169.
Or even surpass it...
And for those interested; the number of dead Vietnamese during our incursion can only be calculated. Approximately 3 to 4 million Vietnamese from both sides [North/South] plus, in Cambodia and Laos, 1.5 to 2 million lives destroyed.
If we truly understood history, we would stop having these deja vu's.
In truth I don't think we can help ourselves... we’re destined to replay the script until we get it.
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