Dear Mark: The Economist- Banyan - 'From Saigon to Kabul'

“After eight years of flea-bites, the American dog is about to roll over.” Banyan.
In the October 3rd-9th issue of The Economist, Banyan wrote an article that compares and contrasts the Vietnam War with Afghanistan.
The wars against Iraq and Afghanistan have provoked critical debate for most of the 21st century. From Saigon to Kabul addresses the success of guerrilla warfare, or the ‘war of the flea,’ against invading armies.
North Americans are familiar with the similarities between the war in Vietnam and the current war in Afghanistan but Banyan devotes a portion of the article to explain how “A-stan is not ‘Nam.” His argument exposes that the Vietcong had overwhelming support from the Vietnamese in the north as well as China and the Soviet Union. Even though The Taliban acquires aid from Pakistani supporters they have no support from other nations backing the Taliban’s cause. This has allowed a great range of freedom for the allied NATO armies and it has promoted the ‘end justifies the means’ mentality.
The parallels between Vietnam and Afghanistan continue with the fact that neither country ever attacked the United States or their allies. The only difference is that 9/11 was an attack planned by the Afghani based al-Qaeda and this was enough reason to wage a war on the other side of the world.
Banyan’s article was written at a key period during the war in Afghanistan. U.S. President Barak Obama’s stance on the war has produced insecurities among his European allies. The Taliban’s guerrilla war has successfully demoralized the home front and exposed a vast number of people who oppose America’s, as well as Canada’s, involvement in Afghanistan.