Do you think that the war in Iraq is comparable to the Vietnam war? If so how?

Answer 1

Yes, in some important ways, it is very comparable. While this did not begin as a civil war, as did Viet Nam, the conduct of the military action is strikingly similar. I suspect that this is because those in charge were the product of the same military culture that values personal promotion no matter the cost to the troops, an elitist culture of Good Ole Boys all dressed up in medal bedecked uniforms.

The evidence can be seen in the dismal performance regarding in the first instance, the utter lack of armor plating on the military convoy vehicles, which would still be the case had not the press pulled back the covers on that indefensible spectacle.

So, they took steps to remedy the situation. So what. Practically everwhere you care to look, the military is either run by morons, or the agenda of those in charge has more to do with their own individual careers than it has to do with their oath and responsibility to the troops, who, by the way, are the true heroes, marching off into harm's way, while the brass plot their careers when they should be attending to business.

This state of affairs has be known by those in charge, either that or they actually don't know, which raises serious questions of competence (I mean, the jury didnf't buy it when Ken Lay testified that he had no idea what was going on a Enron) or they are willingly incompetent, or just don't care about the troops in the least, or they truly are idiots, which in any case should result in their immediate removal, and possibly prosecution for manslaughter at the least.

The amazing thing is that the press, which has been critisized for bad mouthing the military, sits on these reports of such unimagineable incompetence, leaving the general public in ignorance. It seems that this disease that the brass in the military have, has spread to the press as well.

If the public knew the full scope of such incompetence, the public would demand the return of our troops at once. There would be demonstrations, and even rioting in the streets, until they came home. It would border on civil war, except that it would be the government against the people, never mind the liberals against the conservatives. This would unite the people whatever their political stripe. It would be bewildering, but it would be a sign of hope and redemption in a country where spin and polls and re-election, graft and dishonesty rule..

Yet, this will not happen, not in a million years, for there are no voices, except, perhaps the internet, where such news could be rapidly and widely diseminated. However, as much as such a movement would result in grief and loss to millions of people across the United States, the alternative, the loss of the best and brightest, our youth, is worse. If no one can see this, then we are all doomed and have no one to blame but ourselves

Recalling the Viet Nam war period, whatever one thought of the Hippies and war protesters, they believed what they were doing, so much so that they were willing to go to jail, to be beat by police, and even fired upon by the National Guard. Had they not acted, and persisted in the face of a hostile government, it is doubtful that the Viet Nam war would have ended when it did. Yet, we seem to have forgotten the lesson. Shame on this generation for forgetting that lesson.

Answer 2

It is not comparable at all. The war in Vietnam is Politics while the war in Iraq is the war for oil, religion, culture, etc. You know the rest.

Answer 3

Yes in the following sense:
1. Both wars are based on false fears of USA
2. In both wars the President, government & military lied to American people about the reasons for the war
3. In both wars the President, government & military lied to American people about progress being made and how well the war is going
4. Both wars are very costly - resulting in huge numbers of civilian lives lost and lots of taxpayer money down the drain
5. Both wars are shown to be useless in end
6. American people will demand an end to Iraq war - same as they did in VietNam war
7. Both wars have decimated the US military capability - requiring years of rebuilding
8. Both wars were riddled with war profiteering by corporations

Answer 4

Completely different. One was a bloody, terrible war that wasn't really ours. The Iraq war is Our War because we are fighting terrorism and it is not bloody at all. It is one of the least bloody wars of all-time. Look at the world wars, civil war, revolutionary, and the war of 1812. The fact is we've lost 2500 the terrorist i would say have lost 20-30 thousand counting the iraqi soldiers who actually stayed to fight. Vietnams only similarity is the ratio of Deaths to Kills, Completely one sided.

Answer 5

ruud_van_nistroiz - Let's see what you say the next time a European dictator gets a bug up his *** and decides to invade every country in Europe. We'll liberate every country - AGAIN - except yours.

How's that sound???

EDIT: pherdpherphle - My point is that if it wasn't for the United States and her citizens' love of freedom and liberty, the official language of the entire European continent would now be German. Regardless of when the US entered the war, Europe was on the brink of collapse and it was only the infusion of the American military that saved it. And the US NEVER debated about which side to be on. Check your history. Long before we entered the war militarily, we supported the Allies with tons upon tons of war materiel losing many merchant marines in the process. Your lack of historical knowledge does not justify such an ignorant statement.

Answer 6

There are SOME points of comparison, but overall, Iraq is closer to our occupation of the Philippines. You see, we didn't invade Vietnam and overthrow its government. We invaded and conquered the Philippines during the Spanish-American War (also based on HUGE lie). When the locals realized that we weren't leaving, they decided to fight us. It took several years and cost over 3,000 Americans, who had to kill over 500,000 Filipinos, but the US DID suppress the "insurrection" alright. Americans may not care, but the Filipinos did, which is why they kicked us out in 1992 when our base-rights expired.

Answer 7

Sgt_k is taking credit for something he didn't do. You seppos came into the war late (after a long deliberation about what side to be on) after the two armies had been kicking the cr@p out of each other for years. In both cases, the enemy numbers were severely depleted. Then you took credit for beating them.

In the Pacific, MacArthur wanted to surrender half of Australia to the Japanese.

You're not a great ally and if it was left up to me, we wouldn't support you in your expansionist ideals

Answer 8

we cant talk body counts. vietnam went on 13 yrs. 2500 for the time in iraq. we lost more than that on one day in ww2

Answer 9

Um no. Just look at the gigantic difference in body counts. 2500, which we will respect and mourn their loss, is a very low body count comparted to vietnam.

Answer 10

yes, all of them show how USA make some " war crazy" to any nation in the world. Go to the Hell USA.