Repeating Past Mistakes

Thanks to E.B. Boyd ’89 for her insightful piece, “Looking Back at a Forever War” (November issue). As one who participated in our Vietnam experience from the beginning to the end — first as a young company commander on the ground followed by various staff assignments, in-country as well as stateside — I can readily relate to the recounts of those whom Boyd profiles. It’s “déjà vu all over again.” Their thoughts and observations closely echo those of their counterparts of 50-plus years ago. 

Despite all of the lessons learned from our failed Vietnam experience, we seemed to have been hell-bent to repeat the same mistakes. Noble intentions aside, there was the same lack of a clearly defined, practicable objective, no endgame, and our ignominious retreat from both conflicts was the result. The doers, those with boots on the ground and hands on the throttles, performed admirably, accomplishing each assigned tactical mission. Unfortunately, in my view, those successes were, in many cases, not integral parts of a defined national strategy. And we as a nation, despite having the best trained and equipped military on the planet, may find it difficult to generate the national will, singleness of purpose, and international support to respond to the next threat to our national security.

Mark F. Bernstein ’83’s Q&A with Ambassador Ryan Crocker *85 (published online, Oct. 1, 2021) is thought-provoking and does provide, in my opinion, a realistic perspective on how we could have avoided the Afghanistan debacle.

Mark F. Bernstein ’83’s Q&A with Ambassador Ryan Crocker *85 (published online, Oct. 1, 2021) is thought-provoking and does provide, in my opinion, a realistic perspective on how we could have avoided the Afghanistan debacle.