Which defeat was more humiliating: the Americans in Vietnam or the Soviets in Afghanistan?

Question

I would say more humiliating than the above two wars was when Israel defeated three Arab armies in six days in 1967.

Answer 1

The American defeat in Vietnam was political - South Vietnam continued on for three YEARS after our last trooper had left and didn't fall until after the Democrats in Congress cut off all funding and weapons. Across 16 years in a country on the far side of the world, we lost about 58,000. In addition, we were essentially fighting the military of Russia and China, both of whom provided aircraft, training, armor, artillery, air defense, and more.

The Soviet defeat in Afghanistan was total. They got their butts kicked militarily and had to withdraw under fire, losing control of the country as they went, despite the 'Geneva Accords'. They lost over 14,000 troopers killed and hundreds of aircraft and helicopters, nearly 150 tanks and over 1,000 APCs. This in a third world nation on their own border across a span of 10 years.

The Israelis regularly destroy Arab armies. In fact, an Arab army hasn't won a war in something like a thousand years.

So...To my way of thinking, the Soviet defeat, being completely unexpected, was far more humiliating. They got their butts handed to them militarily and politically. Everyone expected them to win handily. The US won militarily, but packed up our toys and left, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. No one expected the Arabs to win anything. It's hardly humiliating for the Girls' Powderpuff team to lose to the Denver Broncos.

Orion

Answer 2

It was worse for the Soviets, Afghanistan's failure was one of the things that caused the USSR to collapse. Afghanistan turned into an war destroyed place afterwards and still hasn't recovered. Vietnam, though communist still, is making strides towards a free market economy and has stable trade relations with the US.

I also agree with you about the Arabs. Not just in 1967 but in the Yom Kippur War as well. Israel has defeated anything the Arabs have thrown at them so they just fund Palestinian terror groups now to undermine Israel internally.

Answer 3

I would say that it was worse for the Soviets, since defeat in Afghanistan led to the downfall and breakup of the Soviet empire. The US had a bad few years after Vietnam, but recovered fairly quickly.

Answer 4

I doubt it. i'm no great patriot yet in comparison to for the duration of the chilly conflict, the US certainly has the help of many in Afghanistan. The Russians by no ability did plenty to attempt build up the financial equipment or infrastructure of Afghanistan. the US is presently pouring money into that section. additionally do no longer forget approximately that we are no longer having to fret approximately some remote places u . s . a . investment the Taliban except you count quantity the extremist factors interior Pakistan who're (possibly) engaged in that undertaking. the sole draw back I see previous the rampant corruption is that extremely some Taliban warring parties are using the comparable weapons that we (u . s . a . of america) gave to the Taliban for the duration of the resistance against Soviet profession.

Answer 5

I would not say either was humiliating, it was really the other side supplying weapons, money and training that defeated them. We gave the taliban and Afghans the best weapons and the Russians did likewise for the vietnamese.

Answer 6

I don't see Vietnam as humiliating. We killed 2 million of them, only lost 58,000 of ours. Some "defeat". More like we lost interest and forefitted.

Answer 7

Totally the Soviets...but they were dying as a superpower anyway.

Answer 8

I'm afraid I cannot answer this question, as I am neither an American nor a Russian.