‘Domino theory’

It seemed to be a case of three and out on The Star’s coverage of the passing of former Defense Secretary Robert McNamara in the 7/11 Opinion section. George Will of The Washington Post Writers Group, Jay Bookman of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Joseph L. Galloway of McClatchy Newspapers all missed the three words that carried the day for Kennedy’s “whiz kids” going into Southeast Asia. “The domino theory” espoused the concept that, “As Vietnam goes, so goes all of Southeast Asia.”

The 58,000 names that rest on the Vietnam memorial in Washington once again remind us to understand the words used to justify any American deployment of troops. The flower children of the era may have had it right all along: “When will they ever learn?”

Bruce Eighmey
Kansas City, Kan.