i need specific information regarding reasons why citizens and verterans protested the war?
A first hand account or a link to a website with one would be a good bonus thing!
2007-04-17 04:43:44 · 10 answers · asked by Ben Wilson 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
The American people were lied to. Their leaders (Eisenhower on) made agreements which had no buy in from the American people. When those agreements were acted upon, Americans found they were being drafted to fight a war they didn't understand, against and for peoples they didn't know, and for reasons their leaders could not articulate in any meaningful way. As our commitments went up, our casualties increased. The South Vietnamese government never had support of their people and their armed forces lacked the capacity to aggressively fight a war against their communist foes. Americans did most of the fighting and was burdened with most of the cost. Eventually Americans turned against the war because they were never told the real reasons for the war, their returning soldiers lacked community support to deal with the burdens of fighting in war, and the nation didn't have the strategy to win such a war.
2007-04-17 05:24:22 · answer #1 · answered by aries_jdd 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How do you describe such a complex situation in such a short format as this offers. Best that you go to Winipedia, or to the library and start researching... like your teacher WANTS you to do... not have someone else write your homework for you.
I lived through the entire war, which spanned nearly a decade as I grew up. A report on the nightly TV news regarding the war was almost as "normal" as watching the weather report or the sports report.
My brother was eligible for the draft, and while he did not volunteer to join the military at the time, if he had been drafted, he would have gone and not "dodged" the draft, like Bill Clinton did.
Our family were strong supporters of the war throughout the war. You may hear the phrase, "We were not ALLOWED to WIN the war," which refers to much the same situation as is happening today in Iraq... The US military could have won the Vietnam war decisively, but due to political interference, they could not achieve that victory militarily. If it had, Vietnam would be an entirely different country today, and the area would be different, too.
The only thing our family ever protested was the protestors who weakened the resolve of the US in Vietnam, and thereby, aided in losing the war in the end.
I have a friend who served in Vietnam. He won the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for putting HIS life on the line, getting shot/wounded in doing so, to save the life of another soldier. What did he get for that? He was spat upon and called a "baby-killer" when he returned.
Again, the reasons are so broad and varied, researching articles in newspapers from that time, and other publications (books, magazines... you know, the "old" media!), is the best place to research your question
2007-04-17 12:08:04 · answer #2 · answered by wyomugs 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was the first major war with significant media attention and tv cameras on the front line. There were horrific scenes sent back to the US. Check out a 1974 (ish) documentary called Hearts and Minds. Some of the scenes are quite disturbing.
Plus the increasing death toll, casulties and no end in sight. Its a lot like now with Iraq.
2007-04-17 11:52:33 · answer #3 · answered by Caroline H 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wars and campaigns are different things. War have a purpose and end goal. Campaigns are tiresome and endless. So going to War, your motives should be pure. If you're motives of going to war becomes tainted by lies and profit motive then the support will crumble in time. All wars are fought on the battle fields, but all campaigns are fought in the will of its people. Without the support of the people at home...the war will lose resolve. Sun Tzu wrote this in the Middle Ages in China. Its funny how history repeats itself.
2007-04-17 11:50:10 · answer #4 · answered by Laughing Man Copycat 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It drug on too long. If the politicians would have let the military handle it, it would have been over in a short time.
General Westmorland said he could end it in 6 months. The politicians wouldn't let him.
General Lemay said he would bomb North Vietnam back to the stone age. The politicians wouldn't let him.
We are too concerned with how we look to the rest of the world, which is BS when are young peoples lives are on the line.
2007-04-17 11:54:54 · answer #5 · answered by convoiceofreason 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One big reason was the draft for an unpopular war. Turn it around. Why aren't people as upset about the Iraq war? Because the soldiers are all professionals or volunteers.
2007-04-17 11:48:39 · answer #6 · answered by DAR 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A bunch of drugged out hippies didn't like the draft in general. Also the Vietnam War was relatively the most expensive war when compared to the U.S. economy.
2007-04-17 12:53:14 · answer #7 · answered by gregory_dittman 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I remember that what turned me against the war was that the people who wanted the war (chickenhawks as I now refer to them) sat around demanding that slaves (draftees) be sent to fight it for them. Then they sat around at home talking about "honor and patriotism" etc. Somehow they always had a great excuse not to get off their butts and go enlist in the military themselves, usually career or being female etc. etc.
2007-04-17 12:04:02 · answer #8 · answered by deltoid 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Carpet bombing Cambodian citizens, who had NOTHING to do with the war.
2007-04-17 11:51:28 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Want me to do your math for you too?
2007-04-17 11:46:52 · answer #10 · answered by Dave K 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋