The Vietnam War?

Question

I have to do a report comparing and contrasting the Vietnam War and the war in Iraq. What would be the best place to get my information? Wikipedia can be edited by too many people for me to feel comfortable using it for a report even though it has the best format.

I really need a website where I can get info.

Answer 1

The Vietnam War was waged by the US to avoid the spread of communism in Indochina.

Iraq War was declared to prevent Saddam from harboring and supporting the terrorists.

Answer 2

There are far more legitimate contrasts than comparisons - despite all of the anti-war rhetoric presently making the rounds.

The troop levels are vastly different, the objectives of both the enemy and the U.S. are different, the casualty numbers are not comparable, the consequences of losing are not comparable, the tactics and terrain is vastly different, even the causes are completely different - it seems the only valid comparison I can conjure up is the anti-war fervor and the failure of a great many Americans to support what I personally believe to be a necessary and just cause to assure the safety and security of the American people in the future.

Answer 3

This will be a difficult proposition.

The Vietnam war is history and much has been written about it, including the other side's perspective which we didn't know then..

The current conflict is emerging, and there are conflicting writings, and hidden agendas everywhere that wee will only know in the decades after it is over.

By the way "comparing and constrasting" is not a good statement.

When you compare things, you find similarities and contrasts.

Answer 4

Eisenhower was responsible for the Vietnam war. In 1956, he stopped the agreed upon elections (Geneva Accords 1954) in Vietnam that would have unified the country and picked a leader. Eisenhower didn't want a communist nation to come into being democratically, so many had to suffer and die. (See also - Chile 1973) There were resource reasons for the war too (tin, rubber, manganese, still undeveloped off shore oil and control of the largest rice growing area on Earth, the Mekong Delta (Which we poisoned with Agent Orange before we left).
Have fun with this topic, but if you start with this, you can't go wrong.

Answer 5

The first thing you need to do is determine what criteria will be used as the basis of comparison. Come up with a basic outline indicating similar factors.

For example:
Protesting/Support of the war
Money spent on the war
Political Ramifications
Economic effects on USA and Iraq/Vietnam
Similarities between insurgents and Vietcong.
Similarities between neighboring countries (ie: Iran vs Laos)
Types of warfare (guerrilla, urban conflict, terrorist attacks on troops, etc...)

Then, your next step is to search through old and new newspapers, along with historical books to provide facts to support and confirm your ideas.

Answer 6

I highly recommend you read Col. T.X. Hammes' book "The Sling and the Stone" for starters. It gives a good perspective on asymmetric, 4th generation warfare. From there, your paper will almost fall in place on its own.