I wish Americans would learn more British history...
The reason we didnt fight in Vietnam is simple...we were already fighting Communism AND nationalist terrorism in not one but FIVE theatres between 1962 and 1975, the years you were in Vietnam in numbers:
Borneo 1962-66
South Arabia 1964-67
Aden 1964-67
Northern Ireland 1969-
Oman 1958-72
ALL successfully,btw.
And had just finished a TWELVE YEAR WAR against Communist terrorists In Malaya,from 1948-60. A VICTORIOUS war,btw...
I said it was interesting. I didn’t say they were wrong to do so. I would like to point out though that Australia’s and New Zealand’s expertise in Malaya was greatly appreciated and utilized in Vietnam. And when it comes to jungle warfare and insurgent warfare the Brits wrote the book and we could have used it there.
I was intrigued by your post in which you recite Great Britain's efforts in fighting communism and terrorism.
Some years ago I ran across an Irishman whom I believed to have been a NRA fugitive hiding in New Zealand. I was astonished at how bitterly Stalinist he was. Needless to say he was rabidly anti-American.
I assume you included the struggles in Northern Ireland to fall under the category "national terrorist" rather than "communist". But I'm curious to know if you believe there was strong communist taint to the IRA?
I confess that I'm culturally naïve in this subject, having had an aunt who actually donated to the IRA despite the fact that she was a typical American Irish Catholic, culturally conservative. Upper middle class, she was also staunchly Republican. I believe she would have been astonished to learn that the IRA had pronounced leftist tendencies.
Any insights?
