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Blues-
Excellent post. In 1991, I think it was mainly that we were simply unprepared to act so decisively in a geopolitical sense. Militarily we would have smooshed the Iraqis and been sitting in Baghdad no problem, but on a larger scale we weren't ready for altering the structure of the M.E. so drastically, and propping up a new ally (Iraq) against an old enemy (Iran). That is the quagmire I think people were desperate to avoid - a regional one.
When the Sovs collapsed I remember having a conversation with a friend of the family (Navy guy, asst CAG on the Kennedy for a bit I think) about how dissapointed I'd be if America didn't take the moral high ground over the next few years and be more assertive with our foreign policy. Sure the French and Russkies and UN would whine and cry, but they wouldn't really DO anything.
Then I voted for Clinton. Yikes!
-dale
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