Why Was the Lesson from Korea Ignored in Vietnam and Iraq?

Question

In the Korean War, the Koreans welcomed our help and fought side-by-side with us, in Pusan all lived side-by-side.
We were not greeted in Vietnam or Iraq, why the difference?

Answer 1

The only lesson is that America should not get involved in another countries affair.

It went into Korea in 1950 and 57 years later it is still there.

It went into Vietnam in the 1940's and stayed more than 30 years and then left with it's tail between it's legs.

America went into Iraq to destroy the country and kill its people. Why would the Iraqis greet the Americans?

America went into Vietnam to restore colonial rule. The Vietnamese wanted their country to become an independent country but the U.S. tried to restore the French rule against both the French and the Vietnamese wishes.
Why would the Vietnamese have greeted the Americans?

Reminder:
The millions of Iraqis who have died would still be alive if the Americans had not invaded Iraq.

There was no sectarian violence before the American invasion.

Iraq was destroyed by the Americans and the Iraqi people are suffering because of the American invasion.

The number of Iraqi dead is never mentioned in the American media.

When thinking of the Iraqi dead, always include in the number of those dying/dead because of starvation, lack of medical supplies, "friendly fire", no fly zone etc. This was all by caused the American invasion. (Include in the dead all those that died because of George Bush Sr's invasion, Clinton's continued bombing and George Bush Jr 's aggressions.)

The American invasion has displaced millions of Iraqis who are now homeless.
The number of Iraqis dead since the American invasion is more than the number supposedly killed by Saddam Hussein.

What has been the long term effect of American's involvement of the Vietnam?

Land mines (maimed people)
Agent Orange (birth defects)
Amerasians (Vietnamese children abandoned by their
American fathers and treated as 2nd class
citizens in Vietnam with little or no prospects.

American politicians have refused to recognize these children and their descendants as what they are:
AMERICAN CITIZENS.


The countries are better off without the American intervention.

Answer 2

Historically, the US military has never entered a warzone prepared. From our revolution to today, soldiers have entered combat partially unprepared. However, the way our soldiers are trained and the way our officiers are not bound by strict doctrine (at least tactical doctrine), allows our combat effectivness to evolve.

Your question is more political than tactical. In South Vietnam (the side we supported), the government was very corrupt and innefective. Many South Vietnamese viewed communism as alternative to their own corrupt government. Iraq is a different story. Initially, we were supported by the largely anti-Saddam populace. However, without a stable power to control the tension between the Kurds, Shi'a and Sunnis, conflict ensued. There is support from the Iraqis, but only if we support their faction, there lies the double edges sword we face now in Iraq.

Answer 3

the war in Vietnam was fought to stop the spread of communism. the war in Iraq is to stop the spread of terrorism.

the Korean war was fought differently than the Vietnam and Iraq wars but on the same idea as the Vietnam war. the Korean war was a normal war, you could see and knew where the enemy was and America had help from the south Koreans. it resulted in a stalemate.

Americans were greeted in the Vietnam war by the south Vietnamese because they wanted democracy and the north wanted communism like in Korea. it was fought differently since it was a guerrilla war, you couldn't see your enemy, which made it alot harder compared to the Korean war. America pulled out of Vietnam because the American people were against the war due to high casualties.

Iraq is totally different than the previous two wars. unlike Korea and Vietnam, Iraq wasn't in a civil war, therefore, the Iraqi people didn't welcome the Americans because it was a sovereign nation.

Answer 4

No more or less were we greeted in Korea as we were in the former Republic of Vietnam in [1960] 1965 or Iraq in 2002. You should state the source of your historical evidence.

The Lessons from Korea? Which lessons are you referring to exactly? If you're referring to interacting with the indigenous population of these countries and training them to defend themselves, I fail to see your point. In all three countries and in all three situations this is exactly the tract we have taken. Culturally, there might be some differences in the exact manner this was done in Korea vs. Vietnam vs. Iraq, but in all three cases the intent has always been to train the indigenous people to do their part in their own defense.

Answer 5

We are not welcomed in Iraq? Too much liberal news pal, not enough substance.
Ask our men & women who were there the same bated question, see what your response would be.
Vietnam was ran from the White House along with the draft that forced men into a war that knew we could not win.
Comparing the 2? Get real, do your homework and apologize to our troops who is and have served in Iraq about not being greeted.
USMC father

Answer 6

In Korea the South Koreans had been invaded by the NKs

Vietnam was a political decision based on the domino theory and our fear of Communism taking over Vietnam and surrounding countries. The government of Vietnam was corrupt and to the average person they thought NV would give them a better life. The Vietnamese army was a reflection of the government and its leaders. When officers cannot lead, the troops cannot follow. We also were almost consistency changing our strategic policy.

Iraq is hampered by sectarian politics. They seem to consider themselves Shias or Sunnis and not Iraqis. We can thank Saddam and his 35 years of power for that.

Answer 7

The Vietnamese I know have never mentioned any hate for our involvement in VietNam. That involvement began in 1941 slowly ramping up to our combat operations in 1965. They now understand the political storm that caused us to leave too. I only know 20 plus their children. In fact Thomas (Tran) wanted me to help him remove Sen. John Kerrie's manhood for his lies about the war. His words not mine. Since he fought from 1955-1975 as an ARVN Officer I will give his version of the facts a lot more weight. As a Senior Officer in Trah Vihn Province (Delta Region) he would know about every so called atrocity, burned Villages, raped relatives, etc etc. So would the woman that loves me, his sister in law, also from Trah Vihn.

That said...just how accurate are your claims about Iraq? Especially since the current Prime Minister does not want us to leave.

SSG US Army 73-82

Answer 8

Cause Bush thought Iraq would crumble like it did in 1991, he didn't expect the terrorist backlasth, he thought it would be easy, but you need to face the facts. U.S. bases wil be permanent in Iraq, there are permanent bases in Kuwait, Germany, Africa, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Japan, Vitenam, Guma, Korea. etc. I don't think I need to go on??