So Bush was in Vietnam the other day and, when asked by a reporter if the experience in Vietnam offered lessons for Iraq, Bush said, "We tend to want there to be instant success in the world, and the task in Iraq is going to take awhile."

Now, I wasn't alive during Vietnam, but I've studied the history books pretty well, and I don't think that the Vietnam War was ever going to be successful, no matter how long we stayed. After all, large numbers of American combat troops began to arrive in 1965 and the last left the country in 1973. That was after the French and then American "advisors" had been in the country since the end of WWII. Hardly a case of "inadequate patience" in my opinion considering that American involvement in WWII itself lasted less than 4 years.

No, rather than paying attention to our dear leader, perhaps the American people should have learned from Vietnam and Iraq that it is unwise to trust politicians when it comes to matters of war and peace and that warmongering is a bi-partisan affliction.