Deadly Silence

The U.S. dwelt on dominoes
In years that followed World War II.
In sequence, Communists depose
Regimes knocked down by war or coup.
At least that’s how the theory went,
And Robert McNamara gave assent.

As Secretary of Defense
He held this view, though secretly
He thought the war no more made sense
But didn’t want the Reds to be
Inspired to topple other lands
That still were in elected hands.

But very soon the dominoes
Fell not in line but in a pile.
The Khmer Rouge, Hanoi’s new foes
And in Cambodia so vile,
Wiped out a million countrymen.
Red Viet troops brought peace again.

In consequence, put-off Chinese
Who’ve loathed Viets since who knows when
Invaded them if just to please
Beleaguered friends in Phnom Penh.
Afghanistan’s Muhahiddeen,
Expelled a Soviet machine.

So much for Commie throngs run wild
In Southeast Asia and beyond.
If only hindsight could have smiled
On what went on and waved a wand
That somehow gave us one more chance
To leave much less to happenstance.

The Secretary might have known
Enough to save three million lives.
Near sixty thousand were our own.
And now he’s gone, and what survives?
Ironic he might think as well,
A Saigon Sheraton Hotel.