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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Medford water plant will get $17.3 million upgrade East Medford burglar pleads guilty Bly marks 70th anniversary of Japanese balloon bomb Haggen prepares to replace Safeway in Ashland on Sunday Medford to host regional bridge tournament May 11-17 Crime, Courts and Emergency Services East Medford burglar pleads guilty Peavine Creek Fire north of Glendale grows to 100 acres Emergency services Trail man pleads guilty to federal weapons charges in bizarre drugs and guns case Emergency Services, May 5 Politics and Elections Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline opponents rally in Medford BREAKING: Baltimore prosecutor charges officers in Freddie Gray's death Earthquakes hit regularly in Medford (Oklahoma, that is) Medford School Board, Position 6: Curt Ankerberg vs. Janet Lightheart Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Education Hedrick principal to take helm at North Medford High School More kindergartners vaccinated in 2015 Elementary students honor local police officers Levy backers eye final push Two seats contested on Central Point School Board Environment State waives college placement tests for students who hit high marks Stopping fire in its tracks Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline opponents rally in Medford Earthquakes hit regularly in Medford (Oklahoma, that is) Residents say armed mine supporters sully Josephine County's reputation State News Police video bills approved by Oregon House ACLU touts video app for people recording police Volunteers battle invasive plant in Southern Oregon OSU warns that Benton County GMO ban could hurt research Oregon gun sale background check bill heads to governor Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries Layne Alan Battenfield Gene Fredric Wolf Milton (Mick) Laverne Cady Connie Leigh Doolittle (Barber) R. Charles "Charlie" Snyder Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Conley returns, leads Grizzlies past Warriors Colon notches rare win over O's Panthers cruise to cross-town sweep Evans lifts North over GP Carle carries South Medford to victory Varsity 541 College Sports Beavers score early, roll over Ducks, 10-2 Craig, Randall earn conference honors Spring has sprung, but work isn't done Raiders' Abbott breaks 22-year-old record Dodge signs as free agent with Falcons Pro Sports Conley returns, leads Grizzlies past Warriors Colon notches rare win over O's Hawks rout Wizards to even series, 1-1 Suit filed against Pacquiao for hiding injury Collins' agent says his client is not meeting with NFL teams Community Sports Bailey picks up modified win Wilson delivers in return of local boxing Palmer breezes to second straight men’s title Business Latest Stories Haggen prepares to replace Safeway in Ashland on Sunday Single-family home sales take off Blog: Feeling like a few days in Italy? Medford/Jackson County Chamber has trip planned just for you Cars We Remember: Car enthusiast wishes new model designs were ‘more different’ Women's Leadership Conference prompts Lithia's own version Real Estate News Single-family home sales take off Never enough: New Starbucks proposed on Barnett Road in Medford Jackson County debt-ridden homeowners have an option New home in an old house Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house People In Business Transportation Erickson finds room to work at Medford airport Lithia Motors nets $40.7 million in first quarter Lithia Motors reports second-best quarter ever Business briefs Medford airport's record run continues Agriculture 1-800Flowers.com reports $10.5 million loss in third quarter Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house New bosses take charge at Harry & David Dancin Vineyards covers up Opinion Latest Landgren cartoon: Mother’s Day in Baltimore Clive McFarlane: Racial divide talks often fall off topic Our View: Set firm deadlines on blighted houses Letters to the Editor, May 6 Kathleen Parker: Matters of perception Editorials Our View: Set firm deadlines on blighted houses Our View: Oregon's full of givers, and can use more Our View: Our picks for Medford School Board Other Views: Gun-bill recalls misguided, futile Our View: Bill gives ex-convicts a glimmer of hope Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, May 6 Letters to the Editor, May 5 Letters to the Editor, May 4 Letters to the Editor, May 3 Letters to the Editor, May 2 Columns Kathleen Parker: Matters of perception Michael Gerson: The intricate knot of urban poverty Kathleen Parker: Wife of the party Dana Milbank: Clinton's opponents need to smoke her out George Will: The Lusitania's role in history Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Animal-killing program pulls wool over taxpayers' eyes Guest Opinion: Uniting to restore our sovereignty to we, the people Guest Opinion: This Earth Day, we celebrate the Northwest Forest Plan The Medford School Board was wrong: 'American Pageant' is a political agenda, not history The Medford School Board was right: 'American Pageant' is a fine book, and the board did its homework Lifestyle Latest stories Drones helping create unique wedding photos In Good Faith: Dirty work Community blog: Teatime is anytime when recipes brew new dishes Community blog: You and Me at 83... Eat your greens (tea, that is) Food Community blog: Teatime is anytime when recipes brew new dishes Eat your greens (tea, that is) Season Stepp: Make some cheesecake mousse-filled strawberries Page H. Onorato: Baked potato soup is comfort in a bowl Page H. Onorato: Grandma Jane comes a-calling Home and Garden Dear Monty: Water rights of property owners Paul Rogers: ‘Living’ mulches a healthy alternative to bark Heirloom tomatoes bring ageless flavor Betty Montgomery: You can have a variety of ferns in your garden Clean out household chemicals Friday and Saturday Health Community blog: You and Me at 83... Search on for new medical provider for Butte Falls, Prospect clinics Dr. Murray Feingold: Turn down that noise Health Watch: Pack your pantry with healthy items HealthStyle: It’s all in the family dinner Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, May 1 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 24 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 17 Religion briefs: Friday, April 10 Milestones and Achievements Drones helping create unique wedding photos Pick your favorite wedding flowers The ring’s the thing Chic brides are choosing a range of complementary colors for their celebration Registries: ‘Year of the groom’ Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Tina Malia at SOU Music Hall in Ashland Los Lonely Boys and Lucas Nelson at the Rogue Theatre Page Hamilton comes home REVIEW: Randall Theatre's 'Little Shop of Horrors' a rollicking good time 5 picks for live entertainment Theater REVIEW: Randall Theatre's 'Little Shop of Horrors' a rollicking good time REVIEW: Carson, Patton shine in 'Arsenic and Old Lace' Some Oregon Shakespeare Festival crew members seek to unionize Randall Theatre stages 'Little Shop of Horrors' 'Much Ado' at SOU Music Tina Malia at SOU Music Hall in Ashland Earthquake benefit for Nepal Los Lonely Boys and Lucas Nelson at the Rogue Theatre Interview: Country singer Suzy Bogguss enjoying life on the road Page Hamilton comes home Community Events Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic at OSF's Black Swan in Ashland Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Master Gardener Spring Fair at The Expo A Taste of Ashland pairs food and wine at galleries Rogue Valley Earth Day 2015 Movies Victor D. Infante: ‘Avengers’ begs the questions, ‘Why superheroes, and why now?’ Movie review: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ has a lot going on Movie review: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ knows how to party Catching up with the Avengers Interview: Sofia Vergara talks ‘Hot Pursuit’ Dining Trium is a classic example of a boutique winery Restaurant inspections, May 3, 2015 Taqueria Picaro offers casual Mexican cuisine Restaurant inspections: April 26, 2015 Island Grindz serves up Hawaiian specialties Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Medford water plant will get $17.3 million upgrade ... East Medford burglar pleads guilty ... Bly marks 70th anniversary of Japanese balloon bomb ... Medford water plant will get $17.3 million upgrade ... East Medford burglar pleads guilty ... Bly marks 70th anniversary of Japanese balloon bomb ... Rick Holmes: The war we'd rather forget Comment By Rick Holmes Wicked Local MailTribune.com By Rick Holmes Wicked Local Posted May. 4, 2015 at 3:20 PM By Rick Holmes Wicked Local Posted May. 4, 2015 at 3:20 PM » Social News We are selective in the historical milestones we celebrate. The 50th anniversary of the Selma march was a big deal in March. The 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War was barely noted. President Obama went to Selma, not to Appomattox. Neither Obama nor any other American politician did much to mark the 40th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War last week. We celebrate what we want to remember, and some wars we’d rather forget. Forgetting history, though, can be dangerous. I thought about the fall of Saigon a few weeks ago, when I grabbed for a half-used reporter pad from a stack in the corner of my office. My eyes lit on a quote from Henry Kissinger, the author of the second half of America’s Vietnam disaster. “I have no regrets,” Kissinger said. The notes were from a 2006 gathering at the JFK Library. A bunch of old Vietnam warriors and media figures had come together to talk about Vietnam, including Kissinger, Gen. Al Haig, who was Richard Nixon’s last chief of staff, JFK speechwriter Ted Sorenson, LBJ aide Jack Valenti, ex-network anchor Dan Rather and reporter Frances FitzGerald. Some were still clueless after all those years, notably Kissinger and Haig. “We defeated ourselves,” said Kissinger, whose appearance inspired a handful of pickets outside calling him a war criminal. Haig criticized “incrementalism” in U.S. Vietnam policies. The Christmas 1972 bombing of North Vietnam “brought Hanoi to its knees,” Haig said. “If Nixon had continued with it for two to three months, Hanoi would have withdrawn.” The topic of discussion was Vietnam, but Iraq was on everyone’s minds that day. Three years after George W. Bush’s invasion, the U.S. was in the middle of a civil war in a country its leaders didn’t understand. America was trying to establish a democratic government in a place that had never had one. It was losing soldiers daily to an insurgency while trying to win hearts and minds. It was training a new Iraqi army to take over the fighting and allow the American troops to come home. The parallels were hard to miss. The Iraq project wasn’t going well. A secular war was escalating between Sunnis and Shiites. Nine years later, Iraq is again falling apart at the seams, the Iraqi army fell apart at the approach of ISIS just as the South Vietnamese army dissolved in the face of an invasion from the north 40 years ago. At the JFK Library event, the freshest, most relevant perspective came from Frances FitzGerald. She was the rare American journalist in Vietnam who took the time to know the Vietnamese. Her Pulitzer-winning book, “Fire in the Lake,” put the people whose country Americans were fighting over at the center of the story. FitzGerald explained that, while we call it the Vietnam War, in Vietnam they call it the American War, which came after their Japanese War and their French War, just one phase in their centuries-long struggle to rule their own country. The uncomfortable truth, FitzGerald said, was that “the war wasn’t ours to win or lose.” Haig was dead wrong about the Christmas bombing, she said. “The U.S. never destroyed the morale of the North Vietnamese.” “For all their sacrifices,” FitzGerald said, “the American soldiers were largely irrelevant.” Vietnam was always going to belong to the Vietnamese, and the hearts of the Vietnamese were with the government in Hanoi that had led the struggle to throw off the colonial yoke. The succession of rulers propped up in Saigon by U.S. muscle were corrupt, incompetent and doomed. As Vietnam faded in the memory of an America eager to forget, that lesson was lost. So here we are again, attempting nation-building at the point of a foreign invader’s gun in Iraq and Afghanistan. In Vietnam, America tried to keep one people separated into two countries, North and South. In Iraq, America is trying to hold a country created by colonial powers together despite the sectarian differences pulling it apart. America’s humiliation in Vietnam should have taught us that the U.S. has neither the authority nor the ability to impose regimes or governing philosophies on other nations, even when our intentions are pure. The Vietnamese tried to teach Kissinger that lesson. At the Boston conference, he said that, in private negotiations, North Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Van Dong, told him, “We’re going to win because there are more North Vietnamese that are willing to die for South Vietnam than there are Americans willing to die for South Vietnam.” It is widely accepted that Nixon and Kissinger could have made the same deal in 1969 for a ceasefire and withdrawal of U.S. troops they eventually agreed to in 1973. While they kept the war going, more than 22,000 Americans and hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese lives were lost. Kissinger may have no regrets about that, but lots of other people do. Rick Holmes writes for the GateHouse Media and the MetroWest Daily News. He can be reached at [email protected]. Like Rick on Facebook at Holmes&Co, and follow him on Twitter @HolmesAndCo. By Rick Holmes Wicked Local MailTribune.com By Rick Holmes Wicked Local Posted May. 4, 2015 at 3:20 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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