Is Iraq Vietnam yet?

Too bad I can't find the cartoon that mocked all the endless comparisons between the Iraq war and Vietnam that showed the kids in the back seat of a car traveling cross-country with the caption: "Are we there yet?"

But in an attempt to answer that question, here are some sobering thoughts from yesterday's Washington Post.

As fighting in Iraq enters its fifth year, an increasing number of experts in foreign policy and national strategy are arguing that the biggest difference may be that the Iraq war will inflict greater damage to U.S. interests than Vietnam did.

Here is a sampling of what these experts told the Post:

Former defense secretary William S. Cohen: "In terms of the consequences of failure, the stakes are much bigger than Vietnam. The geopolitical consequences are. . . potentially global in scope."

Ret. Air Force Gen. Charles F. Wald: "It makes Vietnam look like a cakewalk. . . Worst-case scenarios are the most likey thing to happen."

Gary Solis, Vietnam War vet and former instructor on the Law of War at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point: "Most of my military acquaintances agree that the issues in our departure from Vietnam will pale beside those that will be presented by an Iraq withdrawal."

But do read the whole thing. You'll even find a counteropinion or two.