Hope and Fear

No, not the Kelly Ripa show.

The Maximum Leader draws a distinction between the analysis of the 1967 and 2005 elections.

I hope that he is correct.

I am suprised and pleased at the Iraqi turnout for the election and the apparent responsibility of the transition government. But, as a historian, a little part of my brain remembers that we felt exactly the same way in '67.

I have the same little voice talking to me when I read other blogs that minimize the negative stories coming out of Iraq by saying that the attacks are coming from a relatively small area and/or are being overemphasized by journalists who ignore the "good news." That was exactly the position taken by hawks throughout the early years of Vietnam.

Those darn hippie reporters alla time ignorin' the schools and medical clinics we wuz buildin' for the Montegnards in favor of writing about Viet Cong massacres of South Vietnamese trainees.

I hope for the best, fear for the worst.