Michael W. Altman – 9/26/04

This page was last updated on September 26, 2004.

History is repeating itself; Michael W. Altman; Beaver County Times; September 26, 2004.

According to an editor’s note accompanying the letter, “The writer is an honorably discharged veteran of the Navy who served four years of active duty during the Vietnam War, including serving on the USS Newport News, a heavy cruiser renovated from World War II, that shelled the coast of Vietnam.”

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“It is painfully ironic that in order to guarantee that some 58,000 Americans did not die in vain in Vietnam, we must admit that they died in vain.

“Only by taking a long and hard look in the mirror can we learn from our past and vow never to make the same mistakes again.”

[RWC] I don’t believe that anyone who dies to secure freedom died in vain. I’m sorry Mr. Altman feels the way he does.

“The way to honor our friends and family members who died in Vietnam, and I had two, is to admit the terrible truths that continue to haunt our national conscience. Emotionally speaking, this is very difficult. The fact that we have not as a people come to grips with the painful truths of Vietnam helps to explain the nightmare that is becoming Iraq.

“To be sure, the roots of American involvement in Vietnam and Iraq are not the same so that direct parallels between the two are mistaken.

“However, the longer the war against Iraq continues, the more the similarity to Vietnam broadens.

“In both cases, we fought or are fighting against a majority of people (small in Iraq, large in Vietnam) who did not or do not share our vision of how their country should be organized.”

[RWC] I don’t know where Mr. Altman gets his information, but we are not “fighting against a majority of people” in Iraq. All reports indicate the terrorists represent a small minority of the Iraqi people. Otherwise, how do you explain Iraqis continuing to sign up to be policemen and servicemen despite being targets of the terrorists?

“In both cases, we failed to make adequate preparations for temporary occupation and exit strategy.”

[RWC] Folks like Mr. Altman constantly claim there was no plan for post-war Iraq. When will they present evidence? The fact that everything is not rosy is not proof there was no plan. In fact, the undeniable progress is evidence of planning, unless you want to believe that everything good that has happened was by accident. No post-war periods have been without their problems and the most meticulous planning in the world doesn’t guarantee smooth sailing. Believe it or not, life is not like a “Mission: Impossible” episode. As a military man, I’m sure Mr. Altman is familiar with the quote, “No plan survives contact with the enemy.”

The exit plan is victory.

“In both cases, we underestimated the resolve and tenacity of the opposition, and in both cases we manufactured or otherwise manipulated the facts and rationale to justify the start and continuation of the war.”

[RWC] Can Mr. Altman prove his comments? If so, why didn’t he?

“We’re repeating a similar pattern because we have not yet learned the lessons from the past. You may say that this line of reasoning is treasonous, but I think otherwise. These are the most patriotic ideas I can imagine, and should serve to promote public discussion.”

[RWC] Mr. Altman is correct when he says we’re repeating a pattern. The pattern we’re repeating is talking down our mission while approximately 150,000 servicemen and servicewomen are in harm’s way in Afghanistan and Iraq.

I don’t think Mr. Altman’s comments are treasonous, but I find it interesting Mr. Altman has this thought. Perhaps it’s his conscience speaking to him.