by Anura Guruge
on August 19, 2021
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Yes, of course, I appreciate that they are not exactly the same. Different circumstances, different dynamics, different capabilities (especially in terms of technology) & most of all, different eras. But, in the end, push-comes-to-shove they are both evacuations — efforts to get the folks home. So, it is not so much a case of them being as different as cheese is to chalk, but more like: cottage cheese to yogurt.
I just feel that the whole tenure was different 81-years ago. Yes, it was a ‘popular’ war — meaning that all the folks back home were solidly behind the war effort. Everybody cared. Plus, of course, there is a huge difference in leadership. We lucked out. We had a King as well as Churchill (& his cabinet). Joe Biden is a very nice guy. But, now in his late 70s he is NO Churchill. I think that is a significant factor.
An order of magnitude different when it comes to scale. 339,000 vs maybe 60,000 & we didn’t have an operational airfield & tons of airplanes capable of carrying tons of people. It is worth thinking about.
How attitudes, expectations, planning & EXECUTION have changed — then vs. now.
More like Saigon in April 1975.
Yes, of course, you are RIGHT, but Saigon in 1975 was NOT Dunkirk either! SMILE. You are THE Historian. SMILE. We have to talk … e-mail. Cheers. Thanks. Just got back from another day in Maine. HISTORY. Popam. You must know Popham, Maine. Right? Only visited the Fort. Need to go back.