Audio: NBC’s Andrea Mitchell has a Vietnam flashback
posted at 9:30 am on November 1, 2007 by Bryan
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Well, a lot of people did say that Iraq would be another Vietnam. And they are the same, other than being, you know, completely different. Even though Iraq isn’t Vietnam, some reporters just can’t let that meme go. This clip is from Wednesday’s West Coast feed of the NBC Nightly News; Mitchell is talking about the State Dept’s mini-rebellion against assignments to Iraq. Iraq. Not Vietnam. Iraq.
Thanks to John Ziegler for catching it and sending it along.
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Not just once – but twice! Wow.
nailinmyeye on November 1, 2007 at 9:35 AM
It’s been this way ever since Pearl Harbor…er, I mean, 9/11.
flipflop on November 1, 2007 at 9:36 AM
I told you, Andrea, don’t take the brown acid.
jaime on November 1, 2007 at 9:39 AM
This @$$hole has a lot of nerve. Taking our tax money all these years, then when we most need diplomats, he’s too good to serve his country. Traitor.
jaime on November 1, 2007 at 9:42 AM
Can the State Department not fire people?
Hoodlumman on November 1, 2007 at 9:48 AM
The State Dep’t is a permanent left/liberal part of Executive Branch — think MSM– exact same kinds of people. They haven’t served the country for years. I’m not a big Condi fan, but sometimes I think the job of the Sec. of State under a Rep. Pres. is simply to keep State out of the way as much as possible. There’s no reforming it in the short run. Only generational change can address the problem over there– i.e. baby-boomers die off (same for most institutions of course.) http://www.boomerdeathcounter.com/
JiangxiDad on November 1, 2007 at 9:49 AM
Oh yea, the left’s not stuck in a time warp.
Irenaeus on November 1, 2007 at 9:49 AM
I am tired of hearing about the sniveling going on in the State department. If they do not want to go to Iraq, they have the one option soldiers to not, they can quit their jobs. Don’t blame us if your skill set is worthless outside of the political realm.
BohicaTwentyTwo on November 1, 2007 at 9:53 AM
I cannot think of a really good reason for the State Department to be in Iraq while the war is going on. Also, no State Department, no Blackwater.
tmitsss on November 1, 2007 at 9:59 AM
So, Mitchell is what? 65? 70? What’s with the 17 year old’s blond wig? She’s just embarrassing; I hope they keep her on forever. Nitwits like Mitchell and Stahl do more to discredit the leftist women in media than anything we could ever point out.
Jaibones on November 1, 2007 at 10:02 AM
Mrs. Alan Greenspan really showed her bias, eh? Not like it is the first time. Let’s rememer that she covered the Scooter Libby trial as if she was wasn’t on the list of potential witnesses.
highhopes on November 1, 2007 at 10:02 AM
Iraq is analogous to Vietnam in a great manys. Cheifly the political situation in America is very similar, except this time the outcome is the opposite.
In the same way that our exit from Vietnam was a springboard into neoliberalism spreading to all parts of society, so to will Iraq be a springboard into conservatism and hopefully a return to classical liberalism reaching all parts of society.
You can see it happening. Nearly every cornr of our society is feeling the influence/criticism of conservatism. From halloween costumes, to chocolate Jesus, to D.C.’s gun ban on its way out. We are entering a new age domestically.
Theworldisnotenough on November 1, 2007 at 10:07 AM
Wasn’t Mitchell’s last book titled “I’m What’s Wrong With Jounalism”?
jaime on November 1, 2007 at 10:11 AM
And soon the DBM will start calling Bush, Nixon. Has the Watergate scandal broke yet?
roninacreage on November 1, 2007 at 10:13 AM
Tancredo for Secretary Of State!
Texas Nick 77 on November 1, 2007 at 10:14 AM
Reminds me of the story about Alexander Haig when he was SECSTATE. As is the custom, he’d meet with new ambassadors enroute to their assignments. He’d ask them to point out their country on a globe in his office. Invariably, they’d point to the country to which they were being assigned and not to the United States- giving Haig the opportunity to “remind” them that THEIR country was the America.
highhopes on November 1, 2007 at 10:17 AM
Also Vietnam was a prelude to heighten tensions in the Cold War. We can see a new Cold War forming between us and NokoChinaRan (N. Korea, China, Iran)What could be a disasterous, just like Iran feel within a decade after Vietnam we see pakistan on the brink, that is no small matter. I heard Biden address Pakistan during the last debate. It would be nice if the Republican candidates would release policy statements better than “stay on offense.”
Theworldisnotenough on November 1, 2007 at 10:18 AM
I was hoping a Rep. Pres. would put Tanc in charge of DHS.
JiangxiDad on November 1, 2007 at 10:21 AM
There is now a link between ‘nam and ‘raq soon to be ‘ran. Is this the back door draft the Dem’s have eluded to? Do these people know about the magnificent facility that awaits then in the land of sand and camels? Ha quit yer bitchin and do you job diplomats. Give diplomacy a chance.
sonnyspats1 on November 1, 2007 at 10:27 AM
I watched this on the boob tube, she hesitated before correcting herself, looked like wishful thinking to me.
The Soros:
Narrated
Bucolic
Chorus
right on key.
Speakup on November 1, 2007 at 10:30 AM
I was thinking it looked more like Florence Henderson, circa Brady Bunch.
James on November 1, 2007 at 10:37 AM
Breaking News. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger has announced that the Beatles have just agreed to get back together and play an anti-war concert at the UN. UN Secretary U Thant confirms.
pistolero on November 1, 2007 at 10:40 AM
Vietnam, Iraq, Iran, what’s the difference? Who wants Kool Aid? It’s cherry flavored! Mmmmm. Kool Aid. Sweet. Yes, I see it now. Iran is Farsi for Iraq which is Arabic for Vietnam which is Vietnamese for capitalist imperialist warmongering oppression. Oh, my face, it’s melting. Gimme another shot of that Kool Aid.
Tantor on November 1, 2007 at 10:41 AM
F. Murray Abraham in drag.
Of course the “diplomats” are afraid to go to Iraq. Now that the Dems have their fangs into Blackwater, no one’s gonna look out for their weasely yellow backs.
fogw on November 1, 2007 at 11:02 AM
Have another drink Andrea…
Zorro on November 1, 2007 at 11:12 AM
Reminds me of the Simpsons where Krusty the Clown is in repeats and he breaks into his show with “England has just invaded the Faukland Islands.” Then pulls down the map of South America.
BohicaTwentyTwo on November 1, 2007 at 11:24 AM
Heh.
Jaibones on November 1, 2007 at 11:39 AM
To hell with NBC and Andrea “Vietnam Skank” Mitchell.
As for the mini rebellion at State? Take every 4th so-called “diplomat” participating outside and shoot them. Isn’t that the traditional punishment for mutiny?
georgej on November 1, 2007 at 11:44 AM
As for Blackwater….
The next time Democrats in Congress go to Vietnam, er, Iraq, they can bring CodePink along for their “security.” After all, CodePink plays Blackwater on TV.
georgej on November 1, 2007 at 11:46 AM
Not only is the State Dept a haven of liberal leftovers, I daresay a vast number of Staff officers primarily Generals and full Birds who are liberal vestiges as well.
MNDavenotPC on November 1, 2007 at 11:48 AM
That says it all!
ronsfi on November 1, 2007 at 11:50 AM
True colors shining through. The MSM is a disaster and needs to be cleaned out. I wish I knew where and how to start.
saiga on November 1, 2007 at 11:59 AM
Sound like something Uncle Joe Stalin might suggest as a cure. I prefer pink slips and a boot in the ass.
saiga on November 1, 2007 at 12:01 PM
Well, that’s one way to clean house at State…let the morons all quit or be fired and replace them with people who can get with the program.
James on November 1, 2007 at 12:04 PM
The woman is a tool of the left. PERIOD.
csdeven on November 1, 2007 at 12:06 PM
I see a number of similarities.
MB4 on November 1, 2007 at 12:21 PM
Time for State to cut some of that overhead then.
danking70 on November 1, 2007 at 12:26 PM
saiga: “Sound like something Uncle Joe Stalin might suggest as a cure.”
It’s a “time honored” tradition when dealing with mutiny. Pre-dates Stalin by centuries.
True, we don’t REALLY execute mutineers anymore, though that is still the maximum punishment on the books (see: 10 USC Sec. 894). But we have to do something that gets the point across to the CIA and State that attempting to sabotage the country and the Commander-in-Chief, during a time of war, has very serious consequences. and ought to have a very serious punishment.
If they take Uncle Sam’s dollar, they owe Uncle Sam their complete, loyal, and devoted efforts. If they can’t for reasons of conscience, they must resign. If they don’t resign and they sabotage the war effort, they belong in prison. A pink slip is not enough.
georgej on November 1, 2007 at 12:26 PM
A number of Army officers have had to pull their duty. Other than that? No Blackwater would be good, then the Army wouldn’t have to spend time trying to clean up their messes.
MB4 on November 1, 2007 at 12:27 PM
I took the test to be a Foreign Service Officer decades ago. The test was like none that I had ever taken before or since. The questions were disproportionately on English literature and poetry and “sissy girl” stuff like that. What kind of result would anyone expect.
MB4 on November 1, 2007 at 12:31 PM
If an outfit like Blackwater had somehow showed up in RVN, that would have been the last thing they ever did. They would have heard a whump whump on the one side of them, then a whump, whump on the other side of them and had less than a minute to bend over and kiss their a$$es goodbye.
MB4 on November 1, 2007 at 12:39 PM
I see a number of similarities [to Vietnam].
MB4 on November 1, 2007 at 12:21 PM
Right!
Let’s see now. We invaded Iraq and in a 3 week war toppled their government and occupied their major cities. And after a 4 year on and off struggle, have essentially destroyed Al Qaeda, and are in the process of neutralizing the Shiite militias. The people of Iraq have had 3 national elections, drafted and approved a constitution, elected a parliament, appointed ministers, and is trying to rebuild their country after 3 wars and 3 decades of tyranny and terror.
I guess that means, if Vietnam and Iraq are similar as you say, that we invaded North Vietnam in 1965, and in a 3 week campaign, toppled Uncle Ho’s regime, captured Hanoi and Haiphong, and by 1969, had ended most resistance while implementing a democratic form of elected government, including a new constitution approved by a plebiscite of the people.
Oh.
Wait.
That’s not what happened.
No. Instead, thanks to the leadership of Lyndon B. Johnson, and Robert S. McNamara, we had 3 “bombing halts” (we were “sending them a message, don’tchaknow) on their watch, we never invaded North Vietnam (though Westmoreland proposed it) much less captured their capital, and the two chief clowns (that’d be McNamara and Johnson) in charge micromanaged the war by selecting each and every target to bomb in both North and South Vietnam in a blinding display of incompetence that will be remarked upon as such for the next 100 years.
Of course, the fact that the Democrats HAVE tried to REPEAT their performance in Vietnam of abandoning the South Vietnamese in 1974, to their attempts in 2007 to abandon Iraq, does support your point. There is indeed a similarity in both mindset and perfidy between both wars by the Democrats, in this area.
If you want to say that the experiences (and losses) in Vietnam shaped our current military, you’d be right. If you want to say that the fine work of sabotage done by the media and the Democrats has made the US military “casualty-adverse,” considering the high number of KIA in Vietnam compared to the very low number in Iraq, you’d be right again. And if you wanted to note how Gen. Creighton Abrams structured the post-Vietnam military to transform the reserves and National Guard from a strategic reserve to part of the “total force” of America’s military, you’d be right again.
And if you wanted to agree with author Robert Kaplan’s assessment that the US military today (post Vietnam) is the most LETHAL MILITARY FORCE IN HISTORY, you’d be right on the money.
Yeah. I can see the similarities to Vietnam all right. How stupid of me to have missed it!
georgej on November 1, 2007 at 12:56 PM
Well, if they refuse an assignment; terminate their employment. I use to work in the government and I recall the fine print…”perform all duties and assignments as ordered and/or given.”
oldelpasoan on November 1, 2007 at 1:03 PM
Not stupid, just tunnel vision. You can see some of the differences to a degree, but you have some trouble with the seeing simulates part. There are both, similarities and differences, that is why I said, “I see a number of similarities”, rather than saying they are the same.
Elementary my dear Watson.
- Holmes
MB4 on November 1, 2007 at 1:07 PM
MB4: “If an outfit like Blackwater had somehow showed up in RVN, that would have been the last thing they ever did.”
Actually, I agree with you and Ralph Peters (LTC, USA, Ret.) on Blackwater being a net negative factor.
Peters noted a few weeks ago, that Blackwater (and the other “mercs”) recruit from our active duty people who are ending their current enlistment. These are people that Uncle Sam has spent considerable money on training over the span of their careers. They offer the individual recruit a considerable “raise” in pay over what they get in the military.
Then, they turn around and charge Uncle Sam bucoup bucks for the same guy we used to have on the payroll, doing the same work he did as a soldier or marine, because we’ve hired him back as a “consultant.”
Peters’ solution would be to require 2 year non-compete clauses for anyone who leaves the military before formal retirement. They do it for other parts of the government.
I don’t know about that, but it rankles to know that we are paying a lot for their training, and then even more so as employees of a merc company we hire back (because of a perceived shortage of personnel).
georgej on November 1, 2007 at 1:29 PM
She plagiarized whole pages in her history book and is still in the MSM, why should she be held accountable for a slip of the tongue?
Neo on November 1, 2007 at 1:30 PM
MB4: “…but you have some trouble with the seeing simulates part.”
‘Cause maybe there aren’t any???
georgej on November 1, 2007 at 1:32 PM
…other than the fact we are fighting a war…
georgej on November 1, 2007 at 1:33 PM
I think that you went off course here as for this analogy of yours to make sense RVN would need to be in place of Iraq and North Vietnam would need to be in place of Iran. Reflect upon it and I think that you might even agree.
MB4 on November 1, 2007 at 1:34 PM
You are missing much of the forest for the trees.
We are not fighting a war. A miniscule tiny fraction of Americans are fighting. The vast majority of Americans are out shopping (or goofing off on the internet).
MB4 on November 1, 2007 at 1:39 PM
I think that you went off course here as for this analogy of yours to make sense RVN would need to be in place of Iraq and North Vietnam would need to be in place of Iran. Reflect upon it and I think that you might even agree.
MB4 on November 1, 2007 at 1:34 PM
You’re the one (along with the MSM and Democrats) making analogy between Iraq and Vietnam, not I.
You’re the one trying to stretch the Vietnam template to line up with Iraq, not I.
What I did was point out in a rather straight-forward manner that any comparisons between Iraq and Vietnam (other than they are wars) are nonsense. They are NOT the same. They are not even close.
Everything is different. The terrain is different. The equipment is different. The tactics are different. The training is different. The level of White House micromanagement is different. The mindset of both officers and men are different — one was a conscript military, the other purely volunteer. And most importantly, the level of moral and dedication to victory are different.
So, no. I don’t agree.
georgej on November 1, 2007 at 1:44 PM
MB4: “You are missing much of the forest for the trees.”
Maybe there is no forest to see.
You know. Iraq is a SANDBOX. Vietnam was the RAIN FORREST.
georgej on November 1, 2007 at 1:46 PM
MB4: “We are not fighting a war.”
Oh? What do you call it then?
georgej on November 1, 2007 at 1:47 PM
The Vietnam War meme is an artifact in the minds of those who want us to LOSE in Iraq. It gives validation to their perceptions which are 180 degrees out of phase with reality.
georgej on November 1, 2007 at 1:51 PM
I do not agree with that. Our Soldiers and Marines at that point would have done their duty and then some and should not be treated that way.
My problem with Blackwater is quite different than Peters’ problem with them.
“Snapshot”:
The colonel was furious. “Can you believe it? They actually drew their weapons on U.S. soldiers.” The colonel, who was involved in a follow-up investigation and spoke on
the condition he not be named, said the Blackwater guards disarmed the U.S. Army soldiers and made them lie on the ground at gunpoint until they could disentangle the SUV. His account was confirmed by the head of another private security company.One military contractor, who spoke anonymously for fear of retribution in his industry, recounted the story of a Blackwater operative who
answered a Marine officer’s order to put his pistol on safety when entering a base post office by saying, “This is my safety,” and wiggling his trigger finger in the air. “Their attitude was, ‘We’re f—ing security; we don’t have to answer to anybody’.”
MB4 on November 1, 2007 at 1:51 PM
Freud is giggling in his grave.
Kevin M on November 1, 2007 at 1:52 PM
Freud is giggling in his grave.
Kevin M on November 1, 2007 at 1:52 PM
Oh? How so?
Come on, now, share the punchline with us.
georgej on November 1, 2007 at 1:54 PM
Now I would say that you are about 3200 mils out on that claim. At least 2800 anyway.
MB4 on November 1, 2007 at 1:54 PM
Don’t make me do one of my Sigmund Freud routines.
MB4 on November 1, 2007 at 1:55 PM
MB4: “Our Soldiers and Marines at that point would have done their duty and then some and should not be treated that way.”
Non-compete clauses are common in the private sector.
Congress has attempted to control the ‘revolving door’ between the regulators and the regulated for decades, with limited success.
This is no different. Just another revolving door, but with armored glass.
georgej on November 1, 2007 at 1:57 PM
Now I would say that you are about 3200 mils out on that claim. At least 2800 anyway.
MB4 on November 1, 2007 at 1:54 PM
You are entitled to your (mistaken) opinion.
georgej on November 1, 2007 at 1:58 PM
Don’t make me do one of my Sigmund Freud routines.
MB4 on November 1, 2007 at 1:55 PM
[Shudder]
Not I, brother, not I.
georgej on November 1, 2007 at 2:00 PM
I am sorry to intrude, but I did hear my name being mentioned and besides I am having a very perplexing day and
thought that maybe one of you might be able to help. I have just been going through my patient files from years past. I have been trying to decide which ones I want my secretary to enter into one of those new finagled computer instruments that the famous inventor Albert Gore invented before he became a famous meteorologist.
Oh, that reminds me that I must move my office to higher ground before the oceans rise by 23 feet. Al Gore won a Noble Peace Prize, something that somehow I never did, so I must respect his views in spite of the fact that they do seem very strange indeed. Albert Gore has never tried to intrude on my field, that I am aware of anyway, so I must not intrude on his. Professional courtesy.
Anyway, I came across one patent’s file from decades ago that rings a bell in my subconscious mind, but somehow I do not seem to be quite able to make the proper connection. Unfortunately the ink has worn thin and I can not make out the patent’s name otherwise it would probably jar my
subconscious memory. However, there is something about it that I just know has ramifications for today. This young boy, who’s name I just can not quite make out from the faded
ink and who’s name does not quite come to me, was a patient who had a VERY serious and destructive problem. Try as I might, I was never able to help him much I am afraid, and sometimes I wonder whatever happened to the disturbed lad as he must now be well into middle age.
He had this very strange idea that he could make members of two terrible rival neighborhood gangs get along if he just kept pushing his brothers and sisters in between them when they fought and killed each other. I am afraid that he ended up with very few remaining siblings, even though he came from what had been a very large family.
He just seemed to keep on thinking that success was just around the corner, and was not able to admit to himself that he had and was continuing to make a very big mistake. I guess his self esteem could not handle even the very thought.
I just wonder if he ever out grew his delusional and destructive behavior?
Or if he did not, will he ever?
I can only hope.
- Sigmund Freud
MB4 on November 1, 2007 at 2:02 PM
What do the tribes of Ishmael and Isaac have to do with anything?
georgej on November 1, 2007 at 2:05 PM
georgej, one thing is exactly the same …. how the MSM reports the war, distorts the facts and degrades our military. Maybe that’s why they’re convinced it’s the same kind of war. As it relates to them, it is.
Otherwise I agree with your observations 100%.
fogw on November 1, 2007 at 2:05 PM
So what, they have not exactly made the same sacrifice, not by any stretch. I’m not into f##king the troops even further. Repeated tours with short turn around, 15 month tours, stop loss, etc. is more than enough $hit on them.
MB4 on November 1, 2007 at 2:06 PM
MB4 on non-compete clauses:
“So what….”
The purpose of a non-compete clause is to prevent an employee to carry the knowledge, training, customer contact lists, etc., to a competitor.
They are contractual; people usually sign them when they begin employment. Usually, they cannot be enforced beyond a 2 year period.
Peters is recommending that the same criteria that the government uses in some agencies concerning ‘revolving doors’ be applied to the military as well.
Peters also says that this ought to apply to those who haven’t retired. For those who have put their 20 in, any such provision would not apply.
georgej on November 1, 2007 at 2:15 PM
Everything is never different. That is as much of an out of touch statement as I have ever read. As far as the “dedication to victory are different” part of your “Everything is different”, I don’t know if that is more of a slander on those who served in RVN or more of a fantasy about those serving in Iraq.
Just out of curiosity did you ever serve in either place?
MB4 on November 1, 2007 at 2:16 PM
She was a regular on IMUS. Lots of “who cares” moments when her mouth is moving.
I’m sure she refers to the President as Johnson and searches the channels for Perry Mason on bad days.
Hening on November 1, 2007 at 2:26 PM
Peters is more concerned about $$$$$$$$$. I am more concerned about the troops. Fortunately I think, certainly hope, that a majority in congress is not on his $$$$$$$$$ side here.
MB4 on November 1, 2007 at 2:32 PM
Just out of curiosity did you ever serve in either place?
MB4 on November 1, 2007 at 2:16 PM
Why don’t you STFU, you pompous know-it-all.
Since you asked, my father served in the U.S. Navy, I served in the U.S. Army and my son is currently on the ground somewhere in Iraq. I don’t know exactly where he is or what he’s involved with today or any other day. I don’t know if he’s still alive as we speak, but I pray that he is and that he soon comes home to his wife and two small children.
Are three generations of serving one’s country good enough for you?
Jerkoff.
fogw on November 1, 2007 at 2:38 PM
MB4: “…a slander on those who served in RVN or more of a fantasy about those serving in Iraq.”
Neither. Just a simple statement of fact.
georgej on November 1, 2007 at 2:41 PM
Know how the state department diplomats rebelled? Through thier union! The frickin college educated, high paid, benefit loaded state department weasels have a union!
peacenprosperity on November 1, 2007 at 2:42 PM
The Vietnam War era cowards were not punished for TREASON, and continued to have successful lives since then.
Many Americans have learned that being a TRAITOR and COWARD equates to a good life later on.
Helloyawl on November 1, 2007 at 2:59 PM
This problem with State Dept. careerists not being exactly super-patriots is not something new.
.
Here’s an illuminating incident. Reagan’s Secretary fo State, George Schultz, exasperated in a meeting with one of these high-level staffers who’d spent most of his career in a certain foreign country and was identifying with it’s interests over America’s. He asked the diplomat to point out “his country” on the map on the office wall. The diplomat went to the map and pointed to this foreign country.
.
The Secretary then got up, came over to the map and pointed to the United States, coldly staring at the State Dept. hack and saying, “No, that’s your country.”
.
Here’s a quote from an equally exasperated Franklin Roosevelt, speaking sarcastically at the start of WW2: “The best we can expect from the State Department during this war is a position of strict neutrality.”
DavePa on November 1, 2007 at 3:59 PM
In Andrea’s defense, I think she had just completed an interview with Sen. John Kerry. Apparently, there is a rumor that he may have served in Vietnam.
striper1 on November 1, 2007 at 5:45 PM
One pill makes you larger
And one pill makes you small
And the ones that mother gives you…
Teddy on November 1, 2007 at 6:15 PM
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