cks throughout the country. The American public was shocked as images of enemy forces inside the American Embassy compound in Saigon flashed across television screens throughout the country and the war, in all its brutality and savageness, was brought home to the viewing public as it had never The Guardian (UK) reported in its May 22, 2007 edition that Iran is working to establish ties with al-Qaeda elements and Sunni insurgents in order to launch a major summer offensive against coalition forces in Iraq. The intent of such an operation, if the factional elements could pull it off, would be to undermine the President's security plan for Baghdad and al-Anbar Province, the so-called "surge," just as General David Petraeus was scheduled to return to Washington to brief the Congress on military and political progress in Iraq.

Let's suppose for a moment that the Iranians, Sunnis and al-Qaeda terrorists were able to come together in an organized assault against their common enemy, the United States, to launch the Iraqi version of the infamous Vietnam Tet Offensive. Just imagine the severity of the consequences, even if the offensive was only moderately successful. I suspect the sentiment in America would be much the same as it was in early 1968.

In January of that year, as American military forces in Vietnam expected a relative lull in fighting during the Tet holiday, North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops launched simultaneous and coordinated attacks throughout the country. The American public was shocked as images of enemy forces inside the American Embassy compound in Saigon flashed across television screens throughout the country and the war, in all its brutality and savageness, was brought home to the viewing public as it had never b

ould be to undermine the President's security plan for Baghdad and al-Anbar Province, the so-called "surge," just as General David Petraeus was scheduled to return to Washington to brief the Congress on military and political progress in Iraq.

Let's suppose for a moment that the Iranians, Sunnis and al-Qaeda terrorists were able to come together in an organized assault against their common enemy, the United States, to launch the Iraqi version of the infamous Vietnam Tet Offensive. Just imagine the severity of the consequences, even if the offensive was only moderately successful. I suspect the sentiment in America would be much the same as it was in early 1968.

In January of that year, as American military forces in Vietnam expected a relative lull in fighting during the Tet holiday, North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops launched simultaneous and coordinated attacks throughout the country. The American public was shocked as images of enemy forces inside the American Embassy compound in Saigon flashed across television screens throughout the country and the war, in all its brutality and savageness, was brought home to the viewing public as it had never

Sunnis and al-Qaeda terrorists were able to come together in an organized assault against their common enemy, the United States, to launch the Iraqi version of the infamous Vietnam Tet Offensive. Just imagine the severity of the consequences, even if the offensive was only moderately successful. I suspect the sentiment in America would be much the same as it was in early 1968.

In January of that year, as American military forces in Vietnam expected a relative lull in fighting during the Tet holiday, North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops launched simultaneous and coordinated attacks throughout the country. The American public was shocked as images of enemy forces inside the American Embassy compound in Saigon flashed across television screens throughout the country and the war, in all its brutality and savageness, was brought home to the viewing public as it had never

. I suspect the sentiment in America would be much the same as it was in early 1968.

In January of that year, as American military forces in Vietnam expected a relative lull in fighting during the Tet holiday, North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops launched simultaneous and coordinated attacks throughout the country. The American public was shocked as images of enemy forces inside the American Embassy compound in Saigon flashed across television screens throughout the country and the war, in all its brutality and savageness, was brought home to the viewing public as it had never

cks throughout the country. The American public was shocked as images of enemy forces inside the American Embassy compound in Saigon flashed across television screens throughout the country and the war, in all its brutality and savageness, was brought home to the viewing public as it had never been before. President Johnson withdrew from the race for the White House and the effort to "Vietnamize" the war gained considerable momentum.

On the battlefield, our enemies in Vietnam had suffered crushing losses as the Tet Offensive was systematically put down and attacking elements were forced to abandon their assaults without achieving significant tactical success. But in the eyes of the American press and public, and in the eyes of many Congressmen, it was the United States that had been handed a humiliating defeat. What was ultimately a military failure for the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong was in fact a crucial turning point in the war for public opinion. The press was crucial in shaping public perceptions about the war then, as it is with regard to the war in Iraq now.

The unfortunate truth today is that the public, the press, and a sizeable portion of our legislative branch lack a true understanding of existing military and strategic realities, both in Iraq and throughout the Middle East.

Militarily, on the battlefields of Iraq, coalition troops have conducted themselves with dignity and honor, and their performance has been nothing