When people worry Iraq with be another Vietnam why ? What are the commonalities between the two ?

Answer 1

People worry that Iraq will become another Vietnam because, after initial victories against convention forces, coalition forces are unable to deal with an insurgency or a brewing civil war, both of which could prove to become black holes of resources and soldiers should they develop. The Vietnam war was the single most expensive war (in terms of dollars and cents) in American history and that alone would make it desirable to avoid, but it also happened at a crucial phase in America's development, in which America entered as the premier world power and left as a fallen giant. Both wars were started as a result of terrorism, in Vietnam, it was the Tonkin Gulf incident involving an attack on an American gunboat, while Iraq was invaded because of suspected Al-Queda links. The United States entered a nation it had supported in both cases (Iraq was sold Chemical weapons for use against Iran in the Iran-Iraq war and the USA had supported the military ruler of South Vietnam). When these leaders were removed as a result of US intervention, the nation destabilized, while Vietnam had been losing stability for years before as it first fought off French colonial forces and internal protests against the leader of South Vietnam. This discontent in Vietnam gave rise to the famous Buddhist monk who lit them self on fire in protest. In Iraq, the situation is a violent self-destructive protest instead of the non-violent destructive protest in the form of suicide bombers and insurgents. The recent Haditha massacre draws a disturbing parallel, that is not on the same scope as the My Lai massacre, is not a step in the right direction. Vietnam however did not have the large cultural divides which plague Iraq today. If there is any need for clarification, please contact me.

Answer 2

War itself has similarities, but the reasons and circumstances surrounding war are different. Many of the answers in this room are incorrect. For years the Vietnam war was popular. Unpopularity of the War came mainly from campuses of professors and students. These protesters only made up a small fraction of the population. This reminds me of a lecture about the unpopularity in a Vietnam History Class.I was told that it was fairly common for a Professor to givea flunking student a passing grade so they would not go to Vietnam. The professor stated that this happened to him many times when he was a student. So I raised my hand and said " So you mean many of our professors today really did not earn their PHD and received it under false pretenses." :)
In this next presidential election we will find out if the war in Iraq is unpopular if the polls are correct.
Another inaccurate statement is that the Vietnam War was a civil war. In the last ten years this has been proved incorrect by declassified Soviet Documents. Do make a long story short, the war was not just the United States, Australia, SVA against the NVA and VC, but The United States, Australia, SVA against the NVA, VC, China, and the Soviet Union. That is not a civil war.

The Iraq war is like no other war we have fought. Unlike Vietnam, we are fighting a enemy that is to cowardly and will not face us on the battle field. Moreover, it is very difficult to put pressure on an enemy without a legitimate country to apply that pressure.

In Iraq we are not fighting soldiers who believe in Marxism fueled by Nationalism, but rather an enemy that believes that all non-muslims should die.

I am tired my son will not go to sleep. So if nobody understands this I am sorry.

Answer 3

Although many try to make comparissons between the two wars, especially the media, there is actually very little similarities.

Many say that both wars started with government lies. That could be said about our involvement in Nicaragua, Grenada, the Spanish-American War and even the Civil War. The difference is America lost Vietnam and Iraq is yet to be decided, while the rest of the conflicts have decisive victors.

Many say that Herzbola (???) is similar to the Mai Lai massacre in Vietnam. The difference is American troops in Vietnam killed innocent civilians in trying to find Viet Cong, while American troops killed innocent civilians while bad guys were shooting at our troops as they were hiding among the civilians.

Long story short, you have to stretch the truth about anything involving the Vietnam War to make it relate to the Iraq War.

Answer 4

Iraq & Vietnam? FAILURE to secure the borders is the commonality, along with the leftists in America protesting. Less than 10,000 Americans had been killed in Vietnam when the protests took off(lefties wanted to save communism), the protests resulted in almost 50,000 additional American deaths. After the TET offensive by North Vietnam in 1968, the communists were going to sue for peace, they had been convincingly beaten.... the protests in the USA gave rise to the thought, by North Vietnam, that the USA would eventually withdraw due to the leftist public demonstrations and that US absence would
allow communism to flow virtually unimpeded into South Vietnam. They were correct.

Lefties protect lefties.... Islamo-fascists and much of their ideology parallel communism. IE: brain washing their citizens from childhood, all power in the hands of elitist few, hiding behind women and children during military action, serious lack of freedoms and rights, a willingness to KILL anyone who opposes their ideology, no real choices in elections, etc.

Answer 5

America should immediately leave Iraq as to avoid civil war. American army failed to take control of the iraq and innocent majority is killed daily. If majority or say ruling power decided to fight against insurgents, no douubt, there will be a civil war that's why Shiiete muslim clericks are avoiding reaction against suicide bombing. If they start reaction or declare war against americans what will be the result you know recently middle east war resulted in absulate defeat to Israel.

Answer 6

Here is a great link (in pdf) that outlines the similarities between the two:

http://www.wagingpeace.org/articles/2005/10/00_iraq-and-vietnam-similarities.pdf#search='vietnam%20iraq%20similarities'

Answer 7

There's some things that are similar. Both wars were unpopular and handled in a controversial ways. We're fighting insurgents. There's death. All the things that are common in all wars.

Answer 8

It's a "war" that is not winable, and one that most Americans now don't want us to be in. there is no objective, and no clear exit strategy. Once the US leaves, Iraq will deteriorate into civil war.

Answer 9

1. We got into both wars due to lies told by the president
2. In both wars the people of the country did not want us there because it was basically their own civil war
3. In both wars the people of our country had no business butting into another country's business
4. In both wars public opinion was polarized.

Answer 10

The press!