The government doesn't lie just to you

We sometimes hear that Americans learned a hard lesson in Vietnam. Don't believe it.

The government lied to us, to the world and -- most consequentially -- to itself all through Vietnam.

So we got our sorry asses whipped.

Same method, different losing war in Afghanistan.

They described the Afghan president as furious at the breach of trust between allies, just months before a presidential vote in which he will seek a second term. In a meeting in Kabul the day after Mr. Khalilzad met the Taliban, according to the officials, Mr. Ghani specifically asked the American delegation about their talks with the Taliban but was not given any details — and the American envoy then changed the subject.

President Ghani should watch his back because Asian leaders of fake governments who displease American presidents tend to end up dead in thestreet: Remember Diem.