A Tale of Two Quagmires: Iraq, Vietnam, and the Hard Lessons of War (International Studies Intensives)
The plethora of best-selling new books on the Iraq War today merely catalogues the tactical errors and leaves the false impression that had the war been fought differently, victory would have been achieved and U.S. interests advanced. Campbell's lucidly written comparison of the wars in Vietnam and Iraq shows how costly this illusion is, a deception consciously fostered by American leaders and cheerleading members of the Fourth Estate. -- Lieutenant General William E. Odom (U.S. Army, retired), Senior Fellow with the Hudson Institute and former Director of the National Security Agency during the Reagan Administration. Campbell cuts through the rhetoric and obfuscation that passes for debate over Vietnam and Iraq, offering in their place measured, thoughtful, clearsighted analysis. Anyone who wants to understand two of the greatest debacles of my generation, how they relate to each other, and what we might do to avoid future such failures needs to read this book. -- W. D. Ehrhart, author of Vietnam Perkasie: A Combat Marine Memoir A Tale of Two Quagmires is a passionate and thoughtful analysis of the old war in Vietnam and the new one in Iraq. Kenneth Campbell understands war as a veteran and as an historian. The book is an invaluable aid to understanding the past and the present. -- Marilyn B. Young, Professor of History, New York University A Tale of Two Quagmires is a concise, cogent, meticulously-researched examination of how the American public was deliberately misled into ruinous military adventures in Vietnam and Iraq and of the "crucial lessons" that must be acknowledged in order to avoid such debacles in the future. Once a young, battle-hardened Marine determined to survive his time in a war of dubious necessity now a highly-regarded scholar of international affairs, Professor Ken Campbell offers a reasoned alternative to this cycle of deception and quagmire. In doing so he does not entirely reject the necessity of wars: only those without legitimate purpose and clear-cut strategy. The wisdom contained in A Tale of Two Quagmires has the potential to put the United States on a road to recapturing "the moral high ground in international relations" and, in the process, spare humanity the horrific consequences of such senseless and protracted conflicts -- a gift beyond value to future generations. -- Michael Archer, author of A Patch of Ground: Khe Sanh Remembered Informed by the hard lessons of first-hand experience and a lifetime of reflection, Ken Campbell offers a compelling and heart-wrenching story of America at war. Whether liberal or conservative, hawkish or dovish, thoughtful citizens must confront the questions Campbell bravely raises. America's aspirations as a moral nation depend on voices like Ken Campbell's - voices that challenge conventional wisdom, generate debate, and put into motion the forces of self-correction that keep us true to the best of our values and traditions. -- Joel H. Rosenthal, President, Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs Every American at all levels of society can benefit from this book, but it is especially valuable for young Americans who need to ponder these national traumas so as to make their recurrence less likely. -- Richard Falk