This is a question that involves complex issues but has a simple answer:
NO
This is not denigration or opprobrium on those who served. I respect and honor them.
The blame falls squarely on the shoulders of Lyndon B. Johnson. What a piece of ####. Possibly the worst President before Biden.
Just my humble opinion of course. Welcome to correction.
...I believe you are correct....I am no historian, but if my memory serves me correctly, LBJ inherited that war in Southeast Asia from JFK that he really did not wholeheartedly support, but he was fearful of appearing to be “soft on communism” to quote the expression of the day.... as they say, the rest is bloody, wasteful and futile history....
....re: the cost.....my wife has a relative who served two tours in the ‘Nam as a combat Marine...still wakes up in the middle of the night with nightmares; has to take medications every day to help prevent night sweats, nightmares, etc...he never ever talks about his service there...just too many very bad memories....those were the costs to him as he volunteered to join the Corps...
That’s what’s so hard to separate when good men are either drafted or volunteer to serve a country that uses its military for nefarious aims.