Vietnam & Iraq

[txswinner]

We hear they are alike then others argue no, then some say we won militarily (not while I was there) and some say we lost.<br /><br />I am certain of one similarity and that is our people have not be so split apart by the actions of our government since Vietnam and the division is along the same type of lines.<br /><br />My hope for the next administration regardless of party is we can find at least some common ground.

 

[bootle]

Re: Vietnam & Iraq

I don't believe that is a fair comparison, this big split that is so often brandished about is of the making by the entertainment/news industry.

 

[txswinner]

Re: Vietnam & Iraq

Vietnam was on TV as well. and movie theaters.

 

[Ron G]

Re: Vietnam & Iraq

When the media or a persons propaganda gets thrown in,theres no way to become one as a nation.and far as both wars if the politics stayed out and let the commanders and generals do ther thing the outcome in veitnam would have been different,and in iraq we wouldnt be worring about terrosits cause it would've been a big glass fish pond,just my 2 cents.

 

[JB]

Re: Vietnam & Iraq

I agree that we could do better with a more centrist government, but I am not sure that the media's lust for controversy would be at all cooled. If not, the public would remain deeply divided.<br /><br />I think Nam and Iraq are very different. One was a "rebellion" supported and supplied by a foreign power seeking to take over. The other is an insurgency by internal minorities seeking to prevent a democratic system in favor of a theocracy. It wouldn't surprize me at all if they are supported and supplied by Iran, Syria or others interested in a theocracy in Iraq.

 

[txswinner]

Re: Vietnam & Iraq

How about a description from an Iranians perspective. The US would be an outside force helping insurrectionist to overthrow the government. Ouch not the US I was brought up to believe in. <br /><br />Sorry I do not agree with you on invasion of a sovernign nation without a clear and decisive information they are and have the ability to be a threat to this country.<br /><br />Call me an isolationist but I leave other countries to run themselves rather than try to make them into little USA's.<br /><br />We stuck our nose in Vietnam where they wanted to govern themselves and got it cut off. Now we are in Iraq and I doubt seriously there will little semblence of our government after we leave.<br /><br />Big difference is no balance of power in middle east and Iran may kick Iraq's butt when we are gone.

 

[Kalian]

Re: Vietnam & Iraq

Wrong again Tx, Iraq was conquered and a new government installed. (or being installed.) There was no insurection or rebelion before the invasion. I don't care how Iran sees it. The only parellels with nam is the way the press is handling it.<br /> If we let you lefties run the war we'd be having daily meetings with the enemy telling them of our next move to ensure no inocent terrorists were killed, and no feelings were hurt or civil rights violated durring the attack. (which would probably consist of demonstrations and chants, since we don't want to hurt anyone, right?)

 

[JB]

Re: Vietnam & Iraq

Beg to differ on Nam, txs.<br /><br />We were obligated by treaty (SEATO) to help SVN defend itself from foreign intrigues.<br /><br />President Eisenhower had documented proof that NVN planned to finance, train, support and supply Viet Minh/Viet Cong "rebels" in order to "unify" the countrys under NVN communism. He got that in 1956. I was there. I saw it. I nearly got killed helping get it.<br /><br />On Iraq, we also disagree. Based on the inputs he had (partially orchestrated by Saddam himself) our President and our entire government believed that the Saddam regime was a serious threat. He did the right thing. Neither of us saw that, neither of us was there. We trust different sources. It is as simple as that.<br /><br />BTW, I called "reich wing" an insult, along with some anti-left terms. An insult is an insult whether it offends one or many. My job as a moderator here is to keep the insults out, so get off my case.<br /><br />I respect your apology to one of those offended enough to call you on it. Accept that and let it go.

 

[badandy]

Re: Vietnam & Iraq

I would have to say that the only simularity between the two wars is that if we with draw prematurly from Iraq as we did Vietnam the governemt we are suporting will colapse.<br />On differences the north vietnamiese were organized and well equiped while the insurgency in Iraq is poorly orginized as evidenced by there low level of efectiveness against such a small force. The north vietnamiese had larg numbers while the insurgency is rather small and shrinking as democracy takes foot in Iraq. But as another simularity we are fighting powers from outside the country.

 

[treedancer]

Re: Vietnam & Iraq

It wouldn't surprize me at all if they are supported and supplied by Iran, Syria or others interested in a theocracy in Iraq.

It would surprise me if they weren’t. You could also add a big portion of Saudi Arabia into the mix especially the wahobbi or whatever the are called.