In today's SvD debate page, there is a signed op-ed by a number of members of Sweden's left where they compare the situation in today's Iraq to that of Vietnam. It is a curious ailment in Sweden, more so here than in other countries, that the generation that protested the Vietnam War (and rightly so) can't seem to let go of it. In no other country that I have ever been to is the spirit of Vietnam regurgitated as often as in Sweden. One wonders why this is so. Is it because it was the entrance of Sweden on the world stage with Olof Palme making a worldwide name of himself? Is it because of the enemies he attracted, namely Richard Nixon? Whatever the reason, no matter what action the US takes in the world; if there is a military component, there will be a comparison to Vietnam.
The merits of their argument are faulty, to say the least. They commit the common fallacy of comparing a situation in the present to one in the past based on some superficial likenesses. In this case, that many American troops are in a foreign land. It is just as wrong to compare the action in Iraq to Afghanistan or Vietnam as it is to compare modern dictators, such a Mugabe or Hussein with Hitler and Stalin. The cases are very different and one undermines one's argument by making false comparisons for rhetorical points.
It is also an insult to the reader's intelligence to think that we can't tell the difference between the conditions and facts of each case. And it is morally dishonest to even consider the US's actions in Vietnam as the same as what the international community is trying to do in Afghanistan, as the authors would like us to do.
What remains is a pathetic reminiscence of their youth. Their op-ed uses dubious facts and false analogies and what floats up through that murky mix is a desire to see themselves on the right side of an argument as they were in the 1960's. Never mind that the world has changed. Never mind that the US has changed. Never mind that Sweden and Europe have changed. Never mind that their initial call for solidarity 40 years ago was so successful that it has led world leaders today to conclude that oppression in one part of the world will eventually find its way back to our doorstep and that we must help those who suffer under the thumbs of theocratic and despotic regimes.
It has been said that despite one's advancing years most people still have the minds and view of the world that they had when they were 18. The authors of this fallacious piece have proved that point once again in spades.
5 comments:
You mind that that the worldview of these people is frozen in their teens, but you don´t mind hundreds of thousands of iraqis killed? If these people had been westeners the war NEVER would continue. Go figure.
Dear Anonymous,
The point of my piece is that the authors knee-jerk reaction lends nothing to the debate. They arguing their position by appealing to past emotions and a different case. If there is to be any sort of real debate on the merits, or lack, of action in Iraq and elsewhere it needs to be on the basis of the situation at hand and not by appealing to past crimes to justify their point. It is equally dishonest for those who support the invasion to justify it by saying Saddam was the new Hitler.
Criticism and debate are welcome and necessary, but their piece does nothing to further any debate on Iraq or Afghanistan.
Word up man!
Very well written and analyzed.
However. It would be intresting to see you view points on the war matter.
Needless to say, I can read your blogg to find hints but I don't have the time right now.
Hey anon: way to make an argument. If hundreds of thousands of "westeners [sic]" were killed by Arabs (a fair analogy if you blame America for the Iraqi deaths, which I'm guessing you do) you would see MASSIVE all-out war.
"Hundreds of thousands". Hmm. Okay. I'm interested. Can someone please post a link to a non-biased international source that has verified this? As emotional an issue as this is, facts will win the day for the reasonable person. Otherwise we've resorted to childish temper tantrums, which do nothing for a topic well worth discussing.
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