Tuesday, April 20, 2004

Ambivalence

Saigon and Saddam - The use and abuse of Vietnam analogies

Since we've talked in recent days about the similarities and differences between Vietnam and Iraq, here's an article that considers the way Vietnam has impacted U.S. foreign policy and thinking in the ensuing three decades.

Also of interest today: there's an article by Richard N. Rosenfeld in this month's Harper's that advocates the abolition of the Senate, or the conversion of it into a House of Lords style ceremonial body with less impact on governance than the House of Representatives. He calls this the logical continuation of the nation's gradual move toward more and more representative democracy and away from the notion that aristocratic interests should be protected from the majority. This, too, is something we've debated here. Unfortunately Harper's doesn't publish its content online, but if you're interested in discussing this topic I'll be happy to summarize Rosenfeld as best I can during the ensuing debate.

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