People have for years been drawing parallels between Viet Nam and Afghanistan, between Viet Nam vets and Afghan vets.
Well. Here we are.
Perfectly Aged
Biden in July: “The Taliban is not the North Vietnamese army. They’re not remotely comparable in terms of capability. “There's going to be no circumstances where you’re going to see people being lifted off the roof of a US Embassy in Afghanistan.” pic.twitter.com/Dw7ghFs8Vz
— IndSamachar News (@Indsamachar) August 15, 2021
PHOTO 1: US diplomat evacuate US from embassy via helicopter as the #Taliban enter #Kabul from all sides. #Afghanistan (2021)
PHOTO 2: US diplomat evacuate US from embassy via helicopter as the PAVN & Viet Cong capture of Saigon, Vietnam (1975) pic.twitter.com/YamWmzjOay
— Stefan Simanowitz (@StefSimanowitz) August 15, 2021
History may not repeat, but it does rhyme.
Of course, disasters are helped along by bad planning:
The US Embassy in Afghanistan spent more time planning for Pride Month than it did for the withdrawal. One unforced error after another. https://t.co/hgqN8PKIrR
— Ian Miles Cheong @ stillgray.substack.com (@stillgray) August 15, 2021