This story is all over the place, from Bush rehashing Vietnam to a millionaire's ad campaign to Democratic Presidential candidate's position on Iraq to an upcoming intelligence assessment. It simply lacks focus. A quote: "And, in a passage that set off a bitter debate even before the speech’s end, Mr. Bush suggested a quick pullout from Iraq could bring the kind of carnage that drenched Southeast Asia three decades ago." - Provides no evidence to support the assertion that there is a bitter debate that immediately ensued.

Bush’s uses past conflicts as justification for staying the course in Iraq. But his accuracy about history is questionable: Cambodia’s “killing fields” began several years before America’s withdrawal from Vietnam. And the Korean “police action” turned into a full-scale war when we changed strategy and crossed the 38th parallel, drawing China into it. Both Korea and Vietnam were unsuccessful "containment of Communism" wars, and became so hugely unpopular they toppled administrations. Those are the lessons Bush should have learned.