A little truth about the Viet Nam War..

originally posted by: works4dhs
ook over? They knew a cruel and hostile regime was coming and they wanted no part of it.
Our failure in Viet Nam doomed a whole nation to a generation of poverty and enslavement to the communist masters in Hanoi. Too bad Ho Chi Minh wasn't more like Ghandi instead of being a Mao wannebe.

Actually south Vietnam was a pretty nasty dictatorship too.

Lessons HAVE been learned.

Vietnam, just like Iraq has one thing in common.

They're wars meant to be SUSTAINED not won.

Thats why they never wipe out for good isis.

So they have to keep on, keeping on and in combat.

Short wars mean no profit.

a reply to: works4dhs

The real world is Darwinistic; show weakness and they come after you.

Bullies think like that, too. They garner there own kind of retribution.

Empire building is bullying, one hapless victim at a time.

We didn't "win" in Korea or Vietnam.

originally posted by: crazyewok

originally posted by: works4dhs
ook over? They knew a cruel and hostile regime was coming and they wanted no part of it.
Our failure in Viet Nam doomed a whole nation to a generation of poverty and enslavement to the communist masters in Hanoi. Too bad Ho Chi Minh wasn't more like Ghandi instead of being a Mao wannebe.

Actually south Vietnam was a pretty nasty dictatorship too.

Have you been to Vietnam lately. It's a booming economy and has been modernized beyond belief. The area that I was in 1969-70 is a national resort with modern hotels and beautiful beaches. The area during my 1972-73 tour is totally rebuilt as well. It has schools and businesses unlike the goat paths when I was serving there.

There's still some poverty but it is unlike here in the US. They are able to live well without government support and appear to be happy and reasonably educated.

I was surprised during my trip because I didn't know what to expect. Please, don't feel sorry for the Vietnamese because they are stronger and better off than we are.

a reply to: buddah6

You get me wrong.

I was talking the south Vietnamese the supposedly democratic, capitalistic "good guys". They did some pretty nasty stuff.

I Havant been but its on my list of places to visit now.

a reply to: crazyewok

One thing that hasn't changed is the cowboys on motorbikes. They still grab bags and watches as they drive by. The cops are very corrupt so if you get robbed forget it if you are an American. If you go, go with a group where all travel and lodging is arranged. They are quick to take advantage.

The South Vietnamese government was always a joke. In the early years, the president was a catholic and had his own army. They persecuted the Buddhists which gave rise to the Viet Cong an offshoot of the North's Viet Minh. The Tu and Ki governments were CIA functionaries but when the US left the government broke down and failed.

I read a book written by Aaron Bank, the man who started the green beret, about his OSS (CIA) assignment in Vietnam in 1945. It's an interesting read...sorry but I can't remember the title. I guess it's a function of my age!

no argument that the SViet gummnt was awful. that was one reason the Viet Cong did so well; few people felt much loyalty to Saigon.

I'm happy to see them doing well now but remember for decades under the Marxist idiots in Hanoi the country was a craphole. only recently have they loosened fiscal and property laws so people could run their own farms and businesses (leading to relative prosperity).

Andy1972 I refer you to my previous post; if 'they' wanted to sustain the VN war to make $ for the arms makers why did Nixon sign the treaty to end it?

Intprtr, I think the good people of South Korea would dispute your point about our winning the war. Theirs is one of the freest and most prosperous nations in the world. Thank God we kept them free from those lunatics in Pyongyang.

a reply to: works4dhs

It's just my opinion and it comes from just my observations. When the US does the major warfighting and carrying the responsibilities of the war, the host countries have little "skin in the game." They have no need to defend their homes because the US has done it for them.

In Vietnam, their troops threw down their weapons and shed their uniforms and disappeared. The US was not there to fight for South Vietnam.

In Iraq, their troops threw down their weapons, shed their uniforms and started crying for the US to continues to fight and die for Iraq.

If you're not willing to fight for your country... you are a parasite and don't deserve to enjoy it's freedoms. This goes for the SOS who burn our flag and demonstrate for feel-good issues. Go join the military were your service counts.