Why compare Iraq to Vietnam when only 3,000 dead?

Question

By no means am I trying to downplay the sacrifice of our armed forces. I respect them for their honor and allegiance to the greatest country on earth.

However, while I understand the comparisons between the messy wars of the 70s and today, how can people compare hundreds of thousands of american casualties to only 3,000 thus far? I just don't get it...

Answer 1

It's called "Spin," and it's a highly inaccurate characterization of this conflict, mostly from anti-war and anti-Bush propagandists. I agree that 3,000 service men and women KIA is no small sacrifice and no less as great as that of our Vietnam Hero's. Unfortunately, opponents often negate and undermine the sacrifices of these American Hero's by ignoring the mission, the accomplishments, and the personal sacrifices of our fallen countrymen and women, as well as the alternative to not combating our enemies abroad. The message we have sent to the world is as important as the act of war. The enemy we fight understands strength and has no respect for weakness. We have seen nothing of OBL since he was bombed back into the stone age, and we have not suffered a single terrorist attack at one of our domestic nor our foreign installations outside of Iraq or Afghanistan since bringing the fight to the terrorists. Prior to 9/11, we were hit quite frequently in Embassies, ports, ships and airliners throughout the world on an almost daily basis. People often forget that.

Answer 2

First every war is different but we are yet in full time and constant combat in Iraqi if Bush has his way you'll see it in March. We need the draft back because you might not like it but Kerry was right. When there was no war the Army was the best place around for most the only place around, now this is going on one has to be crazy to sign-up. Our training manual were being written at a ninth grade level has now gone to comic books and contractors to service the gear our troop cannot handle. Kerry said it wrong it is not that they are stupid but we no longer train soldiers. This is one time where history from the entire world proves it out. You cannot have soldiers who cannot handle being screamed at, run in running shoes, no over time. Watch the numbers roll up, if Bush gets his way.

Year of Death or Declaration of Death Number of Records (three thousand takes up the almost the first seven years of the Viet Nam war.

1956-1960 9
1961 16
1962 52
1963 118
1964 206
1965 1,863
1966 6,143
1967 11,153
1968 16,592
1969 11,616
1970 6,081
1971 2,357
1972 641
1973 168
1974 178
1975 161
1976 77
1977 96
1978 447
1979 148
1980 26
1981-1990 34
1991-1998 11
Total 58,193

My prayers go with you. God Bless You and Our Southern People.

Answer 3

They put 500,000 into Nam, if there are only 1/5 of the forces in Iraq by comparison you would expect 5 times the casualties which would be 3,000 x 5=15,000 so Iraq is actually worse. Plus its not over yet they are dying at the rate of 1000 per year.

Answer 4

It's not so much the number of servicepersons who have died in Iraq, but in comparison to Vietnam, Iraq is a conflict against unorganized guerilla forces who want to basically terrorize the coalition forces and the nation of Iraq from cooperating with the coalition forces.

Answer 5

I don't think they are comparing the number of dead. I think what people are saying is that there shouldn't even be 1 dead, because we should not have been in Vietnam, just like we should not be in Iraq right now. They are comparing the Stupidity of both

Answer 6

The number of US soldiers killed in Iraq is higher over 3 years than the number of US soldiers killed in Viet Nam over 3 years. See the link below.

Other similarities: we went in without a real plan as to what to accomplish and how to do it, we got bogged down by resistance fighters who didn't fight with our own tactics, our leaders made huge mistakes in dealing with the issues during the war, and we never had a clear plan for an orderly withdrawl.

THAT is why it gets compared to Viet Nam -- because it's so similar :(

Answer 7

Because they were failed wars of choice in which public opinion before the war was shaky at best and the American People turned against those who started the war.

Answer 8

3,000 dead
2,000 have committed suicide
20,000 wounded
and a quite a few have gone awol.
It doesn't matter how many you lose you are losing them fast because America has approached this whole Iraq thing wrong.

Answer 9

yes, you are right, iraq is no vietnam. it's worse. much worse. in vietnam, at least in the beginning, it was a matter of principles. iraq is purely about money. these poor soldiers, who believed to serve their country, are dying for the fat bank accounts of a few private companies, and not only oil companies. people, wake up, look who is ruling this country, this is no democracy, this is "dollarcracy" take your power back, open your eyes, we are becoming a disgrace to the world !!!

Answer 10

The comparison isn't restricted to numbers of Americans dead. The similarities are that they are both American wars fought overseas, and wars that are not winnable. You simply can't win a "War on Terror."