Did the US learn any lessons from the Vietnam War?

Question

As a teenage combatant in the VN war and having survived and returned home, I remember a presidents speech to the American people. During the last days of former president Johnson's administration, his speech about the Vietnam war included the words, "let us never again take America to war without the full backing of the American people".

Secretary Rumsfeld recently made comments about lessons NOT learned from WWII and how important it is not to repeat those "lessons" not learned from that popular war.

Did Rumsfeld forget about a more recent lesson NOT learned from Vietnam?

Perhaps the outspoken Republicans in support of their war should take up arms and fight their wars. Including Bush his daughters and the Rumsfelds!

Let them see the children suffering, crying, and dieing like I did and so vividly recall!

Let us not all become Bush's coerced "cannon fodder".

Stop the War!

Answer 1

No.

Answer 2

I agree with you.

By United States I have to define that as the US Government, seperate from the people (since we were not consulted about either conflict and were lied to and coerced into both).

The US Government did learn some things from the Vietnam Conflict.

1. It learned that it could not use a civilian army to do thier bidding. Civilians were not properly brainwashed and succumbed to popular culture norms of the time, which was very much anti-war in the 60s and 70s. So, troops were using drugs, listening to similar music and listening to the more reasonable voices about what the conflict was about. They actually heard about the death toll's impact on the country and also heard a bit of the Vietnamese side too, because protesters brought that to light. In this "war" we don't get that Bush regime (Reagan leftovers) knew to keep the body bags secret, can't show coffins all that... demonize Cindy Sheehan and the voice of military families agains the slaughter worked.

2. They learned that they must control the media, no truth canbe allowed, the media (unlike the 60s-70s) has completely bowed to fascist pressure and is no more than a Governemnt mouthpeice. it takes great skill to ignore attrocities like Fallujah, but they did... they pacified the minds of Americans and keep us a a heightened state of fear so we do not ask the tough questions.
That is psychological warfare against the American people and it is working.

I suggest one further... maybe people who do remember Vietnam should start talking about it more, so we don't go over the same path again, talk to kids... my experience is that they want the information more than ever and are willing to resist this governement... at the same time they are far more politically dissallusioned than before. The activists now seem to be these misguied Young Republicans and thier lot, who are ntohing more than confused angry people looking for a scapegoat, often Leftists from the 60s 70s fit that role well, and they devour that, because the Left seems to be tired of fighting... hmmm

we need a Malcolm X to wake up the people again, give them back thier pride a bit, thier dignity, right now we are weak and impotent and tired of liberals as much as conservatives...

thats my rant, sorry.

good question.

Answer 3

Hello here are my responses to your statements, numbered the same. 1. In Vietnam we went to protect democracy in South Vietnam at the request of their governmenr. When we went to Iraq we went to get Saddam who was a war criminal for the genocides he commited and to find the WMDs. However with the WMDs he had plenty of warning we were coming and was able to dispose of them. 2. In Iraq we have been very successful. The Iraqi's are experienceing freedoms many have never had under Saddams regeim. Don't follow what the media shows on tv. They show the stories that will bring the most reaction, however they fail to show the progress we have done. In Vietnam, we could have been very successful however the fear was in order to achieve overall success could have triggered an all out war so the politicians did not let our military fight the war. 3. Rules of Engagment were set up to protect the innocent. The US military follows them the best they can, however at times, civilians do die. This does not give the enemy a huge advantage, however it does hinder your options when it comes to engaging them. Plus everytime a single civilian is killed there is outrage, but it is never mentioned the poor civilian was killed because the enemy ran and hid among them. 4. Most of Iraq is a safe place. There are placed that are dangerous, but even the USA has these places within its own borders. I relate the enemy in Iraq to gangs in the USA. They walk around in plain site yet hide amongst friends and family. However while the enemy is using guerilla warfare, it is nothing like in Vietnam. In Iraq the enemy is using more of Urban warfare then Guerilla. 5. The Military does not underestimate them. 6. How are we losing the occupation? 7. Going into Iraq the USA knew it was not going to be easy. They didn't think it was going to be this difficult however they didn't think it was going to be a walk in the park either.

Answer 4

I have stood watching in anguish as a member of Women In Black and later Code Pink and remembered with shame all the days, weeks and years spent protesting against the Vietnam War. Did so many in the end accomplish so little that it still continues?

It is too late now for America to withdraw from Iraq, the seeds have been sown and they won't wither no matter what the politicians do.

The Iraqi people will continue to kill each other with gay abandon whether Americans are there or not.

The devil was walking in Iraq for the longest time, but it seems that George Bush and his entourage opened the gates to hell and let the devil's friends out to join him.

One thing at least has changed. I don't think that the soldiers in Iraq feel the civilians back home are against them; only against the injustice being done in Iraq.

Let's all pray that a little sanity creeps back into the world and lets pray that it happens soon.

Answer 5

I don't think we have sadly enough. I grew up in the Vietnam War era and had friends & relatives who fought and died in that war. I can't say I totally blame the Republicans for the Iraq War. A good majority of Democrats backed it too. I am a Democrat and was against Iraq from day one. I saw too many coincidences with Vietnam. Afghanistan may have been a different story. I hope we can really take a hard look at where we're at in Iraq and not keep making the same mistakes.

Answer 6

The most important lesson we can take from the Viet Nam war, is not to let peaceniks and and the new breed of hippies lose us another war in the press and the cultural battlefield. If you were in fact in VN you would know that you and your comrades were winning engagement after engagement and would have eventually achieved victory over the commie *ssholes. The politicians caved in under the pressure of the peace activists costing our nation her victory and embarressing us before the world.
Prez. Johnson was unrealistic to demand the full support of the American people before it engaged again in another conflict. No war ever has the full support of any populace.
The Bush admin has learned from VN! They have learned to proceed with what is good for the country despite the ranting and ravings of peaceniks. The American people have learned that lesson as well, given the anemic state of the present anti-war movement.
You betray your ignorance of the nature of the world we live in and the enemy we face with your own anti-war stance. Islam must be put in her place. Islam will be put in her place! When that is done, rest assured, the war will stop.
Say what you want about W and co., whatever their faults (and they do have plenty of 'em), I would rather follow their lead than that of the mullahs and their jihadists. If you value our country, western civilization and the sacrifice of those who fought and died in VN and all our wars; if you truly support our troops, you would support their commander in chief.

Answer 7

Yes! The Military, not Politicians, should be in charge of a war.

Answer 8

Obviously Bush certainly didn't and neither did the rest of the House or Senate. I agree with you. It's none of our business to be in this "war".

Answer 9

Unfortunately, time goes by and we forget the lessons of those wars.

We went into Germany and Japan because we had the support of most Americans. But we haven't since that time.

Answer 10

no..in that that the government let non-military make the war difficult by letting anti-war activists rule the government...in ww2 the home front and the media did not hate the troops, today...sadly...they do...which impedes the work of our valiant troops.

Answer 11

You're an idiot. Peace doesn't come just by stopping war. War is often the only way to bring peace and justice. It's a pity that you are such a wuss that you can't stand to see people fighting. If we never fought, the U.S.A. would literally not exist as it does today and we would all still be living in England under a monarchy. Just because you care more about not making waves than solving problems doesn't mean you need to try to lower us to your level.