In terms of American History, is it better to appear to win the war or lose it outright?

Question

What was the result of the American loss in Vietnam? Is it better to admit a mistake or continue to deny a defeat?

Answer 1

Having been there I can tell you that, to begin with, the American public, after all the protesting and agitation to end the thing, was so happy to have our troops out of Vietnam that they didn't care that it was a loss. Sadly, having wanted them home so badly, the same American public denigrated the veterans as though they'd promoted the war and had all participated in atrocities. If they really wanted to vilify someone they could have gone all the way back to Eisenhower who made the deal with the French to take over the mess in the first place. Now, no one that I know, no one of my age, makes any pretense of Vietnam being anything other that a loss, and admit that we were lucky to have gotten out with our hides. If there's a result of the loss, it's that politicians are far more careful now days about what sort of a squabble they get the US involved in. That, however, may have less to do with our having been defeated than with the general unrest the conflict created for being none of our business from the outset.

Answer 2

Vietnam was a mistake. A mistake to let the press get away with all the crap that they did. Tell the truth not just twist them for your own.

Answer 3

Consider that North Vietnam invaded and conquered their southern neighbor in a manner that exactly fit the definition of aggressive war that Germans were hung as war criminals for.

Is this something for the US 'peace movement' to be proud that they caused?

Answer 4

Vietnam was lost by the media and protesters.