My lai Massacre?

Question

What is so significant about the My Lai Massacre on the outcome of Vietnam war?

Answer 1

The Vietnam War was a complex event, not fought too ably by American politicians. Although our opponent was North Vietnam, for inexplicable reasons, we mainly bombed South Vietnam and fought there against the Viet Cong.

When we did take the war to North Vietnam, we should have bombed it to bits, and flooded its rice farms, we instead subjected the South to most of the fighting. This did cause some unrest from the South Vietnamese, and of course there were large numbers of Viet Cong there.

Sometimes it was hard for U.S. soldiers to tell friend from foe. Lt. William Calley apparently did kill some South Vietnamese civilians. At the time, not considering the impossible position we put our U.S. soldiers, Calley's actions were decried as horribly inhumane. Unfortunately, soldiers get terribly abused by civilian leadership. Today, our military is carrying out police duty in Baghdad, and being senseless maimed as a result. Some soldiers have had FIVE TOURS of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Regardless, of all the specifics the fact remains Lt. William Calley was put in a very bad situation, and this has to be considered.

Answer 2

The My Lai Massacre put a name & a face on the soldier serving in Vietnam and he was a lot like the kid next door.
Though no one aside from Lt Calley was convicted of any wrong doing, the incident showed a US military in disarray with duplicious chains of command conflicting confusing orders and a general inclination to shuffling responsibility around at whim. The incident was a good exuse for millions of ordinary Americans to opt out of supporting the war.

See the movies 'Platoon,' 'Full Metal Jacket,' 'The Deer Hunter,' for further lessons.

Peace-------------------------

Answer 3

It had nothing to do with the outcome. What did, was the fact journalists were right there with cameras and pens. There was no way it could have been wished away. Massacres and atrocities are the unfortunate by-product of war, and this was was witnessed and recorded

Answer 4

It had no effect on the military outcome. It had a significant effect on the domestic political outcome.

And to the huge credit of the USA, it is one of the few occasions in history where someone of the judging tribunal's nationality has been convicted of war crimes.