Do you recognize this technique from the Viet Nam Era?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070914/ap_on_re_us/us_iraq

Troop draw-down will not return us to pre-surge levels...

That was the endless game in Viet Nam. The politicians would claim they were bringing troops home, all the while they sending even more of them to the front. This was the game played from 1968 to 1974.

One week you'd have 50,000 troops. The Pentagon would announce it was bring 20,000 home, but not mention they were sending 40,000 new troops in. By the time this did get mentioned, they'd be blathering about another reduction, while planning on committing even more on the side.

In this way, they kept reducing troops in Viet Nam for about five years. They reduced 30,000 troops all the way down to 100,000 troops.

And the public never even noticed the game.

Sad how history is repeating itself.

Exhausting really.

martini--sorry if I mistated the capping date (yes 1973 is right)... but the rest is true and actual.

That was the way the news manipulated then and now.

Do you believe, if Bush 'withdraws' troops right now, that there will be less troops there in a few months? Believe that if you want, but you will be feeling foolish for doing so, I can assure you.

Answer 1

The only technique I see that is from the Vietnam era is the peace freaks supporting the enemy. That hasn't changed.

Answer 2

The reduction in troops in Vietnam started in 1969 not in 1968; and the number of ground troops steadily decreased from that point until the North Vietnamese broke the peace accord and took over South Vietnam. Figures were rather hard to get since some politicians wanted to everyone in an aviation unit stationed in Guam or Japan who sent planes on bombing missions as part of the number of troops in Vietnam. But the "draw down" did not officially start until late 1969 and actually was fairly consistent-did they bring troops home and send others over-Yes; they brought units home and sent individuals over to keep the units still there up to strength.
By the way these are the troop levels as of Dec of each year listed: 1965 180,000, 1966 389,000, 1967 463,000 , 1968 495,000, 1969 380,000, 1970 280,000, 1971 156,800 1972 through 1975 less then 20,000 mostly advisers and support. The information is from a non-U.S. government source see the reference; other sites have basically the same numbers does vary a little and I did go to nearest 1,000 trying to hide things from you.
The only game I am seeing is lies or misinformation put out as facts by people who either don't check or don't know what honesty is.

Answer 3

The U.S. was holding the North Vietnamese at bay. The U.S. left and three years later South Vietnam fell. The real problem in the end was the South Vietnamese felt that the South Vietnamese government was corrupt. They wouldn't back their government. The sheiks and clerics at least provide a back up government in case the elected government fails. The U.S. isn't propping up a government on their own. The people in Iraq elected this government. It took the U.S. 9 years of military occupation of half of Germany and all of Japan to get those countries on their feet and another 30 years before they got where they were today.

It took about 60 years to knock out the mafia in The U.S. The mafia was using car bombs, dive by shootings and torture killings. I would say it will take 30-60 years after the U.S. leaves before Iraq really gets on its feet. I also think the U.S. military has a 5 year plan although it will mostly be air support and training after 1 year.

Answer 4

First of all, you need to read up on your history. The US forces were out of Vietnam by the summer of 1973. The Paris Peace Accord which ended the war for the US was signed in April 1973.

Answer 5

Being a veteran and in my late fifties, I remember it differently. From a peak of over 550,000, there was a real draw-down, and if there were 100,000 troops in-country in 1974, they were certainly well-hidden. I also remember seeing LBJ make an announcement each time he increased troop levels.

Answer 6

Do these verbiages ring any bells?
Same old games,
same old places, different names,
different faces !!

A pea and shell game.

Politics, politicians, pollutants, pundits.

Politicians play, the troupes pay.

FIASCO, aka, snafu.

Life ain't worth a damned dime in a fox hole.

"Praise the lord, and pass the ammunition"

Who in the hel* ordered this shi*??

Why is that troupe ship heading to where we just came from??

Where in Hell are we?? I never heard of this place !!
Yes, folks, This ol' vet feels that some one has shi* the troupes again, and I believe NOTHING UNTIL I SEE IT, MYSELF !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TORO GRINGO

Answer 7

The really sad part is that most people don't understand what is happening or care - or both!

If you disagree you're "un - American" (another term from the past brought back to life by W)

Answer 8

No, I didn't recognize this technique .



g-day!