'Nam: What we won

Jewish World Review ^ | 5-3-05 | Thomas Lipscomb

[SJackson]

The spectacular fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975 had Americans glued to their television sets. Millions watched as long lines snaked up stairs at the American Embassy waiting to be rescued by the U.S. military.

It had been barely 10 years since the first U.S. Marine combat troops arrived in Vietnam at Danang. That decade had been punctuated by premature proclamations of victory, promises of "light at the end of the tunnel" and a Tet offensive that effectively destroyed the Viet Cong, but remained a potent Communist propaganda coup in Western media.

"Vietnamization" finally removed almost all America combat troops from Vietnam more than a year before the fall of Saigon. But by then many Americans felt so whip lashed by media accounts of a war they didn't understand they accepted the fall of Saigon as the final humiliating proof of an American defeat.

As the years passed, a collection of myths accrued that today are regarded by many as historical fact. It is time to reexamine them.

There may be good reason to do so since Edward Kennedy, John Kerry and others repeatedly warn there is an imminent danger that America's attempt to liberate Iraq may become "another Vietnam."

[SampleMan]

Very well put.

We won the battles. They won the campaign. We won the war. One never hears from the MSM about what a backwater Vietnam is compared to its neighbors.

The Cold War was won, and Vietnam was part of that war.

[Mach9]

Not to mention that forcing the Russian and Chinese communists to spend time, materiel, and men in the 14-odd yr. "intervention" probably eroded at least the USSR's capacity to wage the Cold War.

[rahbert]

Wasn't the supposed "We had to destroy the village in order to save it" quote also a myth? Ill-informed leftish types
regard these as an article of faith.

[RAY]

At a high cost, the U.S. weapons development during and as a results of the Vietnam war could be argued as a benefit of the war.

This is not a Vietnam war endorsement or otherwise, just and observation of a side result.

Another lesson of South Vietnam which fell back into communism, which could apply to Iraq if the Iraqis don't have the determination, courage, and character, to resist those who would take them back to Islamic fundamentalism and autocratic rule. The people of Iraq must secure their own freedom and the rights of democracy.

[B4Ranch]

Did you read the article?

"Asian prosperity is the wonder of the 21st century and particularly valuable to U.S. trade at a time when the stagnant European Union is becoming an increasing problem. And in this brilliant company of Asian states, full partners in the global economy, the People's Republic of Vietnam remains mired in irrelevancy.

America may have lost a tactical intervention in Vietnam, but the strategic consequences of that intervention were part of one of the most masterful exercises in foreign policy in modern history."

As in all wars, the dollar is the master. I came home with a lot of ugly memories from seeing too many wounded, dying or dead soldiers and civilians. That's the benefit of volunteering, not being drafted. I can't blame amyone else.

The next war is going to have to be on American soil for me to start shooting again.

[SampleMan]

In fact I did read the article, and much more.

Communism killed tens of millions in the countries where it took hold. The populations of the countries where it still exists live in miserable conditions in comparison to their neighbors. I think that was worth holding at bay.

Sometimes choosing to fight is more important than winning.

Freedom and prosperity are definitely related. If I follow you correctly, you are saying that because we (and many others) are likely more prosperous than we would have been had we not chosen to fight the Communists, it is logical that our underlying reason was to make money.

This also would apply to wars fought on U.S. soil. There is little doubt that retaining our freedom would result in us being richer in the future.

Had Vietnam fallen quickly to the communists, were they done expanding?

[MainFrame65]

Another fact about Vietnam is that Saigon (or whatever they call it now) is the capitalist engine driving whatever economic recovery is actually taking place in the country.

[Stand W]

Another overlooked fact (as was pointed out in a posting from yesterday), is that after Tet, the North was militarily finished. The so called indigenous Viet Cong was completely destroyed. The North signed the Paris Peace accords foreswearing future invasion of the South and the US went home, turning the defense of S Vietnam to the S Vietnamese.

In 1975, the North broke the treaty and invaded. THE POST WATERGATE DEMOCRATS VOTED TO CUT OFF ALL MILITARY AID TO SOUTH AND OVER RODE PRES. FORD'S VETO.

WE WON THE MILITARY STRUGGLE, HAD THE COMMIES BOTTLED UP AND THE TRAITOROUS DEMS HANDED THE VICTORY TO THE NORTH.

Never forget that. Dems cannot be trusted to defend America.

[B4Ranch]

>>Communism killed tens of millions in the countries where it took hold. The populations of the countries where it still exists live in miserable conditions in comparison to their neighbors. I think that was worth holding at bay.<<

And who made the US soldier the cop of the world. If our gov't kept it's promises to us guys then I might feel a little better but since the GI is the 1st get phuked when the shooting stops, I don't.

>>Had Vietnam fallen quickly to the communists, were they done expanding?<<

With the Communists we have in our own Congress and Senate? Hell no, they aren't done expanding.

I don't give a rats ass what the rest of the world does. If they want freedom then let the people rise up and fight for it the way we did!

When we finally leave IRAQ they are going to remember the incident where their young children, women and infants were killed, not the times when our GI's died for them. They'll have a lot of disabled civilians to remind them everyday about the war and their last concern will be our disabled GI's here at home.

I love to stop off at the VA hospital to bring some gifts during the holidays, but I feel like dogsh!t because I can't do more for them. Never once have I seen a politician there who didn't have a gdam cameraman with him!

We could live a great life without all the electronics and clothes that we buy stamped Made in China when our politicians made damn sure our American companies would go bankrupt with the trade policies they enact.

Don't preach to me about money and the benefits of war unless you've been there and done that. Look at our economy today and tell me that the war in Iraq is beneficial. Borrowing 1 Billion bucks a day isn't the smartest fiscal move that a President can do.

Don't give me any crap about how we are fighting terrorism either. Not with the borders open we aren't.

Look at this and tell me America is as safe.

Sorry for taking it all out on you but that's life.

[SampleMan]

Sir, you are very bitter about a great many things. I don't desire to argue with you, because even good logic doesn't cure bitterness, and on matters such as our borders, I am in complete agreement.

Unless I've been there? Well, yes and no, but there are so many that have given so much (and so many dead), that I would feel more comfortable if you would just continue to think I'm naive.