I think Iraq qill be a humbling experience for the U.S.

[zeek]

Right now many Americans, particularly on the right, think we are unstopable and invincible. This attitude is similar to the prevailing attitude of the late 50s and 60s which led to ultimate failure in vietnam.

Although Vietnam was a totally different war, I think the two are similar in that regard. I think we will eventually leave Iraq with a bloody nose and a realization that while we are the most powerful country in the world we are not invincible.

I think we will be humbled, much like we were after Vietnam. This will result in a loss of diplomatic influence worldwide, a long lasting recession and a general pecimism amongst the American public.

Last time it took us about 9 years after we left in 1974 to start to start to recover from the "vietnam syndrome", and 17 years to fully recover. This time it may take longer because with the cold war raging we had to recover from vietnam, we had no other choice. This time, as the worlds only superpower it will be different.

Comments, differences of opinion or flames welcome :-)