Friday November 17, 2006 Please explain

I've lived through many conflicts, World War 2, Korean War, Vietnam, Granada, Panama, The Cold War with Russia, Iraq 1, Afghanistan and Iraq 2. We won some and we lost some and tied some. In all cases, our former hated enemies became our trading partners and, in some cases, our strongest allies. After World War 2, we became allies with Germany and Japan. Time healed old wounds and all the hatred gradually disappeared.

Today, our president is visiting our most hated enemy of 25 years ago – Vietnam. Many thousands died in that conflict for their countries and now we no longer hate them and will trade with them. What was the reason for that conflict? Why did all those young men and all those natives have to die? Now we are engaged in another conflict in Iraq that in 25 years won't matter, but people are dying anyway.

Can someone please explain why we have to force our way of life on another people who apparently don't want to live like we do?

And another thing – How can we now deal with Vietnam and still boycott Cuba? It doesn't make any sense at all. We almost went to war with Russia when they sere setting up missles in Cuba and now we are good friends with Russia, but still treat Cuba as an enemy.

It appears that we have some ignorant, stubborn politicians directing our foreign policy who don't have a clue. It's frustrating and heartbreaking.


WASHINGTON (AP) - The Pentagon announced Friday that 57,000 U.S. troops, including five combat brigades, have been told to deploy to Iraq early next year - a move that will maintain current force levels there. The deployments, which will serve as replacements for troops leaving Iraq, will largely maintain the current force level of 141,000.