fifty-four forty or fight revisited

You may have heard that the Resident has been comparing the US occupation of Iraq to the war in Vietnam - as a reason to stay.

Yes, it's true. In other news, up is down, black is white, and hell has frozen over, here in Bizarro World.

For a more complete explanation, see the always-excellent uggabugga, who tells us:

Bush is right on the principle, but wrong on the history. The U.S. lost credibility in 1846:

Expansionists after the 1844 election shouted "Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!" This slogan [was] the position of [those] who wanted Polk to be as uncompromising in acquiring the Oregon territory as he had been in annexing Texas. Polk ... compromised with the British Foreign Secretary, Lord Aberdeen. The Oregon Treaty of 1846 divided the Oregon Country along the 49th parallel ...

The rest, as they say, is history. According to Bush-logic, Polk's compromising of U.S. credibility directly led to 9/11. Who can disagree with that? Only traitors and evil radical Islamo-fascist demons.

Bush can talk a good game about Vietnam, but clearly the United States has to undo the damage to its credibility in the order in which it took place. The solution to preventing another 9/11 is this:

- Take back all of the Oregon Territory, up to 54°40', from single-payer Canada. (That'll teach 'em to waste money on health care!)

- Push back the North Koreans all the way to the Yalu River. Vindicate MacArthur in the process. ("Old soldiers never die, they just reappear in different forms - like Bill Kristol.")

- Take back Vietnam (South and North)

Then credibility will be restored and Bin Laden will be defeated, even if uncaptured and still at large.

Excellent work from TPM and uggabugga, and thanks to my researcher-in-chief.