Will Iraq be as defining a failure as Vietnam was?

Question

Far fewer soldiers have died in Iraq, but, the middle east is much more of a powder keg when compared to Vietnam.

Answer 1

Not sure. We will have to wait and see when it's over with. And where are these morons getting the idea that things are getting better in Iraq? Most of Baghdad still does not have clean drinking water or electricity. A car bomber killed 28 in Iraq yesterday and 4 U.S. soldiers died today. Yep things are sure looking up in Iraq. 25% of adults favor how GW is handling Iraq 69% disapprove 6% unsure. 3% say things are going well 29% somewhat well 31% somewhat badly 35% very bad 2% unsure. 12% say increase troop levels 15% think it should remain where it is 30% say decrease 36% say remove all troops 7% unsure.30% of all adults approve how Democrats in congress are handling the Iraq war 59% disapprove 11% unsure. 22% approve how the Republicans are handling the war in Iraq 65% disapprove (sorry repubs) of how the republlicans are handling the war in Iraq. If you look at the polls you will also see that only 19% of the public believes the troop increase has helped 20% say it's worse 53% believe it has had no impact 8% unsure.44% believe the war is creating more terrorists 18% say it's eliminating terrorists 27% believe the war is having no affect 11% unsure. I would go on but the republicans will just claim that the statistics that were just given came from the "liberal media". So I will stop here and get ready to laugh in their face come September and the reports show that the troop increase did little or nothing at all to help the situation and the call for our troops to come home has icrease 10 fold.

Answer 2

I think that Iraq will be considered a colossal failure compared to Vietnam being just a tragic failure.

True, there is a lot less life in the Iraq war but medical technology is leaps and bounds ahead of medicine back in the 1960's and 1970's. It is much more likely that you will survive a bomb and/or bullet wound than it was back in Vietnam. Look at our rate of wounded (specifically the very high rate of head and brain injuries as a comparison... we are in up to 25,000 "serious" and permanent injuries... and believe me there are a lot of things worse than death, ask a quadriplegic).

Vietnam was also a very traditional war compared to Iraq. We knew who we were fighting on a day to day basis; we actually had dialogues with them to broker cease fires and eventually a (sort of) treaty. There will not be any kind of dialogues like this to create some sense of finality. Also, the communist government could have actually been decimated (if we won), in Iraq what would exactly be a victorious condition? That the insurgents would just disappear? So we have to wait and hold our breath for awhile until we know they have stopped?... We are basically fighting very well armed, and now trained, gangs. There is no one to broker a peace accord with. Do we really think that we can destroy all our shadowy enemies in a war of attrition? That's insane but that is where we are.

At least the Vietnam War had a plan anchored to reality. It just didn't work.

Answer 3

I think it will be viewed as a failure because of popular opinion. Your right when comparing the death toll to Vietnam. Maybe in 50 years from now the view will change but it will all depend on whither Iraq can stand on it's own.

Answer 4

Depends on how it turns out, of course. When Bush is out and we can begin brokering a solution, it may turn out to be very successful.

Vietnam has a booming economy and they are an excellent trade partner. So you can argue that, in retrospect, Vietnam was actually a success.

Answer 5

I hope not. The only hope is to get someone in office who will not continue any pointless bloodshed. We are killing innocent Americans and Iraqis for a victory that no one can even define. First it was WMDs, then Saddam, now democracy. I think Bush is running out of reasons to continue fighting. Unfortunately, he doesn't need a reason, it's not his children dying out there...

Answer 6

yes, it will. the definition of victory in iraq(if there will ever be such a thing) will be such a nebulous thing, that it be like a wisp of smoke on the wind. what is victory for this endeavor?

it will be even more of a defining failure because of our failure in viet nam and our failure to have learned from it.

Answer 7

Maybe.

But it will certainly be a political failure, not a military failure, similar to Vietnam.

Answer 8

and here the current testimony is that some things seem to be going right in Iraq.

Or do you support the Democratic position that we must fail in Iraq so they can tar the Republicans with the loss and therefore seize political power for decades??


:-)

Answer 9

Bush won't leave and we are winning and support for the war is rebounding, so your comparison is not valid

Answer 10

the thought of "failure" or "winning" in Iraq both seem inconceivable!!!!