Ok - this week will be absolutely nuts! I've got to write 3 exams, give a lecture on the Viet Nam war, and drive to Joplin, Mo., to my brother-in-laws wedding. There will be no rest for Mikey!
So, the Viet Nam thing weighs heavy on my mind. Dr. Phelan was very complimentary in his email inviting folks to the lecture...but I've only got 50 minutes and there's a faculty meeting immediately following. Damn! The lecture is for his International Relations class, and I'd like to gear it to that class, but suspect I won't have time to do much with this.
Maybe it doesn't require much - after all, I think Pres. Truman screwed up on this (and I think Truman was perhaps the 2nd best president of the 20th century - FDR was the best). He followed what the European section of the State Department advised - support the French even though they're just trying to re-establish colonialism. The Asia desk of the State Department (the people who actually knew Ho Chi Minh) had recommended that he support Ho. If only he'd listened to them - but of course if he had everyone would have accused him of "losing" Viet Nam to the communists and he really would have lost in '48. Ah - hind sight. Anyway, that decision by Truman is what led us to the debacle I'm all too familiar with - 'Nam.
Here's the short version of my lecture - combat sucks. It'll hurt you in ways you never even imagined.
Well, my cat is falling asleep in my lap, and I think she's telling me it's time for bed. Cheers,
Mike
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