Fears rise about U.S. aims (IHT)

[Nambe]

the International Herald Tribune

HANOI Once the Bush administration is done attacking North Korea, will Vietnam be next? This seemed to be the burning question in the back of many people's minds as I visited Vietnam to lecture on U.S. foreign policy.

By their own account, and readily confirmed by the U.S. Embassy, U.S.-Vietnam relations are good and getting progressively better by the day. Sure, there are still disagreements, including continued expressions of American concern over human rights issues, but when one of the most contentious bilateral issues revolves around catfish, things seem to be generally on track. That's why I found the "Are we next?" question particularly disturbing, on at least three levels.

First was the assumption that the United States was intent on pursuing a military solution to the Korean crisis; this accusation was made repeatedly throughout my visit. Second was the belief that the Bush administration had a preconceived list of countries targeted for regime change. Third was the fear that Vietnam - or any other country that failed to embrace American-style democracy - would inevitably be on this list, despite the current upward trend in relations. "If we are still not a democracy within 5-10 years," one journalist asked, "would America still tolerate us?" The barely veiled belief that Washington might still hold a grudge and thus planned one day to "get even" for the Vietnam War was also implied in several conversations. ---

[Pale_Rider]

1. With this twisted Bush administration ...

... anything is possible. Their attempts at regime change in California is only the most current example.