Powell dismisses comparison between Iraq, Vietnam war

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, April 09, 2004

Powell dismisses comparison between Iraq, Vietnam war

US Secretary of State Colin Powell on Thursday dismissed comparison between Iraq and the Vietnam War and said Iraq was not a "swamp" that was going to devour the United States.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

US Secretary of State Colin Powell on Thursday dismissed comparison between Iraq and the Vietnam War and said Iraq was not a "swamp" that was going to devour the United States.

"I don't think these types of comparisons are terribly helpful.Vietnam was another part of the world, another time in history, and we ought to see the situation for what it is today and not tryto find comparisons that can then be painted in a negative light,"Powell said when testifying before a Senate committee.

"This is quite different. We have an army over there that knowswhat it is doing. We have a people that want to be free in a democratic society. We do not have huge, state sponsors outside of Iraq, flooding the place with weaponry and manpower," he said.

"It is not a swamp that is going to devour us," Powell said.

Over 630 US military personnel have died in Iraq since the United States invaded Iraq on March 20, 2003, and the clashes withthe Shiite Muslim militiamen since April 4 have claimed lives of more than 20 US soldiers.

In comparison, as many as 58,000 US troops were killed in the Vietnam War.

Despite the rising casualties in Iraq, US President George W. Bush has vowed to stay the course and stick by a plan to hand oversovereignty to an interim Iraqi government on June 30.

Source: Xinhua

Questions?Comments? Click here

Powell: Evidence of Iraqi weapons labs may be wrong

Powell acknowledges disagreements with new Spanish PM

China tries to break Boeing, Airbus domination with self-made aircraft ( 6 Messages)

Will "Section 301" affect Chinese economy? ( 2 Messages)

Taiwanese businessmen further expand investment in Chinese mainland ( 2 Messages)

Japanese court rules PM's shrine visit "unconstitutional" ( 12 Messages)

China urges US to honor promise on Taiwan issue ( 4 Messages)

How the US could improve its image abroad ( 202 Messages)