how was vietnam similar to iraq?

Question

i need this info for a world cultures project. i did all of the facts, i just need opinions, so i need yours. so what do you think? how was the vietnam war similar to iraq? ( answers an 8th grader will understand)

lonnie: what the heck is that?!

Answer 1

I have answered this before, but another time won't hurt. I would also ask that you quote your sources, because I don't do homework ;-))

Both involved stabilizing a world region. Nam was about the "Free World" being surrounded by Communisim and the expansion had to be stopped. Then you had Iraq and Afganistan hiding and supporting terrorists (a THREAT to the Free World). Now mix in chemical warfare (AGAINST ALL rules of war) and humanitarian issues.

Both also have issues involving the real BAD GUY because they don't wear traditional uniforms. In Nam NVA would dress as South Vietnamese, South Vietnamese would also switch sides when it got tough so you NEVER knew who you were fighting.

Both had issues of oppression and a two class system.

Nam used booby traps in the jungle and threw IED's in the city. One BIG difference was that in Nam the traps and IED's were directed at liberating troops and NOT at their OWN people.

NAM was NOT supported because many young adults were hippies and AFRAID that they were going to be drafted. Iraq is NOT supported because the young adults are "Entitled" and it is causing problems with their perfect life.

We withdrew from Nam because of internal pressure. We weren't dealing with a civil war and US casualties were HIGH. In Nam most of the fighting was in dense jungle (many times you could not even see the sky) In Iraq is it like fighting a war in a house with boogy men in every closet. Then you have the guys that are supposed to be fighting with you fighting among themselves. The South Vietnamese wanted to be FREE and unoppressed; the Iraqi's are so busy fighting among themselves that they can't focus upon the task at hand.

Both are about stabilazation though and I believe that the US took on more than it could handle without just mass bombing the whole region or the COMPLETE SUPPORT of the Middle East in whole.

There are religious and cultural issues too that have to be considered.

In summary the similarities are amazing, but it is a different time with many more considerations so the two really can't be compared. Look at the increases in technology over 30 plus years that have been HUGE. This alone has completely changed how countries fight wars and the underlying reasons for that war. The reason for Nam was BOGUS, but ultimately brought Russia to it's knees to eliminate the threat of world Communism. Iraq is about world stability (CONTROLLED NUKE capability) and HUMAN RIGHTS.

Enjoy your religion and culture, just do NOT KILL INNOCENT Americans to make a point! It is like poking a really NASTY BEAR with a sharp stick for too long.

I could go on and on but won't. I tried to keep it at your level but give have your PARENTS read this and DISCUSS it with them if you don't understand.

Answer 2

Guerilla Warfare. In Vietnam as well as Iraq, the enemy sneaks up and attacks. Unlike WWI and WWII in which the battle lines were drawn, there are no battle lines in Iraq or was in Vietnam. In Vietnam, a lot of the combat took place in the jungles at the spur of the moment. A patrol team would be walking through the jungle, then they would be ambushed. In Iraq, a squad would be driving through Baghdad and hit a road side bomb.

Answer 3

The beginning was different. In Vietnam, the US became involved by stages, first there were American soldiers on an advisory capacity, then they became involved in firefights and from there escalated to full commitment. In Iraq ther Americans invaded the country for reasons that are unclear. The similarity is that in both cases the American Government didn't/doesn't know how to win it and is losing ground at home in support for the war effort.

Answer 4

Both Vietnam and Iraq are now considered police actions. A way of saying we are there to keep the peace but our troop are still getting killed because the people in the country don't want us there.

Answer 5

It's not similar. Each war is for a different reason and each war is in a different area (jungle vs desert). The Vietnamese didn't want anything we had to offer and the Iraqi people want the freedom and security we are trying to give them. So, all in all, I think the only similarity is the fact that neither one of them have democracy.

Answer 6

politicians ran the war in vietnam, much like now
population not supportive of the war
long conflict, americans like quick answers
stated we wanted to win, but never making the hard decisions to win
lack of definition of what constitutes victory, beyond a vague idea of total surrender by the other side

Answer 7

One BIG similarity is that it's hard to tell who the enemy is. At least in Viet Nam, the V.C. from N. Viet Nam wore uniforms, but not ALL did. In Iraq NO one wears uniforms and they act like the cowards they are by hiding behind innocent civilians, knowing our troops will try to keep from injuring/killing civilians.

Answer 8

LOL, That is a great question. I ask that every night when I hear it on the news. 60,000 casualties in vietnam vs. 3,000 in Iraq. The only thing I can see that is the same is the Democrats wanted us to lose Vietnam and they want us to lose in Iraq.

Answer 9

It is a war we have no business being in and thanks to our lovely President, more and more people are being senselessly killed. Vietnam was the same case.The men who served in Vietnam were not given a hero's welcome when they came home. Hopefully, this will not be the case with the men who are serving in Iraq.

Answer 10

It's only similar in that The Lib's want us to quit, before the Battle is over. But the truth is. The Vienamese People? Didn't wanna have their own Government. The Iraqi People do. And they've voted, three times to prove it. But the Democrats, don't want to have this as a Badge of Honor for Our President, George W. Bush. All they want is to tag him as a Loser. But we need to stand up and say, in one voice! That we want this War over, when it's time. And not beofre!