The antiwar moverment of the 60's was large and well organized. The antiwar movement today is small and diffuse. What is the major factor which is missing when comparing Iraq and Vietnam?
2007-01-03 06:41:25 · 12 answers · asked by Bryan 7 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
I think there are a few reasons, which combined, make clear the difference in the intensity of feeling among the American people. In 1964 our troop level was at around 16,000, by 1969 we had over 550,000 troops in the area. There was a general war draft, unlike now. The length of the war was troubling to people, and it just kept escalating. In 1968 the My Lai Massacre occurred, in which hundreds of unarmed women and children were slaughtered by U.S. troops and it just fed the fire that was already burning in this country over being in Vietnam. That sent many anti-war people over the edge and into the streets to protest. It also caused U.S. soldiers to be heckled by crowds upon their return, prompting too many to label them all baby killers. I was an anti-war person back then, but I found the general attack on the soldiers to be wrong, to say the least. The daily casualty totals were staggering, often in the hundreds, and by 1975 the total of U.S. soldiers killed in Vietnam topped 57,000. The media was relentless in Vietnam. Every night we Americans sat and watched film and reports from Vietnam that just made our heads spin. There was no cable, just the network stations, so no one could really just turn the channel to avoid it. You either turned off your television or watched the war news at 10, and it was never good news. The intensity of feeling about Vietnam just continued to escalate over the years until we finally got out in 1975.
2007-01-03 07:21:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not TOO sure that's true, but to the extent that it is, perhaps it is because there was a draft then and that the present level of American casualties, while horrible, were much overshadowed (eventually?) by those of Viet Nam... or do I speak too soon about Iraq Nam? Down with Dictator Dumbya!!!
2007-01-03 07:41:08 · answer #2 · answered by rhino9joe 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
to paint a huge group of folk like the militia with this style of huge stroke does not incredibly supply the entire image and quantities purely to political grandstanding. The perspectives of infantrymen with regard to the conflict variety a great deal and that i'm particular their suggestions are uniquely nuanced and complicated on somebody point besides. all people on the two side who claims "it incredibly is what the infantrymen think of" to assist their view is the two uninformed or playing politics. infantrymen are unique persons like the rest human beings.
2016-10-29 22:02:54 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Give it time. Look how many administrations dealt with Vietnam. People will get more agitated as time passed.
2007-01-03 06:46:42 · answer #4 · answered by edubya 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Vietnam lasted much longer & casualities were much higher. 58,000 deaths in Vietnam vs 3,000 so far in Iraq.
2007-01-03 06:45:03 · answer #5 · answered by yupchagee 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The major factor was that THE DRAFT was in effect.
2007-01-03 06:46:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Because people today have more brains then to waist there time with anti war efforts. They are counter productive. Besides showing that you support terrorists.
2007-01-03 06:45:48 · answer #7 · answered by bildymooner 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
because the blood and souls of our soldiers became priceless
2007-01-03 07:40:33 · answer #8 · answered by saaadman 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just wait until they reinstate the Draft.
Just wait.
2007-01-03 06:47:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
because we know how chaotic the middle east is, somebody has to stop them, or at least let us understand why?
2007-01-03 06:44:03 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋