By flip-flopping on the Vietnam analogy, Bush is playing the opening gambit in the talking points war over Iraq coming in September.
Consider the following logic:
The most powerful argument against staying in Iraq is the comparison to Vietnam. (IRAQ = VIETNAM)
The White House needs a way to refute this argument in the minds of the American public.
Therefore, Bush embraces the comparison, but turns it on its head, saying the real lesson of Vietnam is that we left too soon.
The quickest way for the opposition to respond is to deny the comparison to Vietnam. (IRAQ != VIETNAM)
Whoops.
If you look at the rhetoric the Dems are countering with right now, you can see that are missing this strategy:
From Dan Froomkin:
Joe Biden:
"'The only relevant analogy of Vietnam to Iraq is this: In Iraq, just as we did in Vietnam, we are clinging to a central government that does not and will not enjoy the support of the people,' he said."
Harry Reid:
"President Bush's attempt to compare the war in Iraq to past military conflicts in East Asia ignores the fundamental difference between the two."
The more that academics and historians dispute Bush's comparison on its technical points, the more they just play into the hands of destroying the frame that IRAQ = VIETNAM.
Vietnam Argument Neutralized.
Point. Set. Match.
A better response from the Dems would be to NEVER refute the comparison between Iraq and Vietnam, but to forcefully differ on the lesson learned. Something like the following would be better:
"We are glad to see that the President has broken through his inability to recognize the obvious comparison between the futile situation that was Vietnam and the futile situation in Iraq. We hope that this new perspective helps him to work with the Congress to make a careful plan for withdrawal that does not add further to the tens of thousands of civilian Iraqi lives that have already been lost."