Which war do you think took a greater toll on the U.S.? The war in Iraq, or Vietnam and why?

Answer 1

The Viet Nam War we lost politcally. And as another poster cited we lost thousands of lives there.

The Iraqi War is integral to the war on terrorism; though the media and many people do not believe it. But September 11, 2001 caused many innoocents to ride a0riplanes that crashed into buildings. The 911 report tells us that people down below not only had to watch out for falling debri but innocent people who committed suicide and jumped off the building. It was the lesser of two evils at that time for them. And many brave passesngers fought against the terrorists on Flight 93 and lost their lives as well. IIf this war is in American treets we would fight them would we not? Or at least I would hope so.

In the war in Iraq it is not against the Iraqi's but against the insurgents and terrorists like those hijackers that came here and committed suicide. They are still doing it there in Iraq. And there are many common citizens in Iraq that are getting tired of those killers and want to be rid fo them so they too can live in liberty and peace. I hope the chicken little media well point that out also.

I an a byproduct of War War 2 where my father ad mother lived through the Japense occupation. And when the American's came as liberators it effected my father so much that he named me after an American President.

We are making a difference there in Iraq. We just need to patient.

Really the war in Viet Nam took the greater toll because the will to win was politically stripped from the American military and the American people here as well with all the dissent and rioting that occured here.

This is just my opinion. It is a good question.

Answer 2

That's difficult to answer. Casualties were greater in Vietnam. In the long run, though its impact on the U.S. has not proven to be as great as it might have been. We didn't lose the Philippines, or Thailand and the costs to us were less than they might have been. We remain very influential in Southeast Asia, and the Vietnamese would like to pursue friendship with America.

We have not yet failed in Iraq. It has been an expensive war, but I can't say to what extent the economic cost is the result of inflation or how it compares in real costs. Vietnam was also an expensive war, and it dragged on for 14 years. If we are successful, even moderately successful, in stabilizing Iraq the long-term impact could offset the economic and social costs.

If you look at all the wars in the 20th Century, the most expensive is still World War II, and it took a severe toll on the United States, much more than did Vietnam and more than is likely in Iraq. Some of the mistakes we made post World War II were also costly. Much of the difficulty we have today in Iraq and the Middle East and what we had in Southeast Asia has been the result of a failure to better manage the peace following World War II.

On the other hand our enemies, Japan and Germany (Italy almost doesn't count), have prospered and generally been the greatest successes post World War II.

The impact of World War II is too little understood by modern Americans. If we understood it better we could also understand Iraq better and we might actually have some national resolve in the matter.

Answer 3

At the moment I have to say Vietnam, and for these reasons:
a) The number of US servicemen killed and wounded in the Vietnam war is much higher than Iraq.
b) The Vietnam War divided the nation more than the current war in Iraq is doing.
c) The Vietnam War caused the near bankruptcy of the US which took over 10 years to recover from. The war in Iraq so far has not caused any major financial upheavals.
d) During the Vietnam War the draft was brought in. In Iraq the war is being fought by enlistees.

Answer 4

Vietnam.

Vietnam destroyed the US will to really do anything and that is evident in the USA today and the lack of support for the troops and war today.

In they eyes of probably 1/3 of this country's population, the USA is the bad guy in everything. When 1/3 of this country has been turned against the country before the start of anything, (Even Afganistan had a large protest against it before Iraq) this country will fail because 1/3 or so of the population gives the victory to the enemy prior to the event. This was all a result of Vietnam.

Answer 5

From military aspect of view after vietnam the military was breaking but in iraq the army now is much better than the begining of iraq war

Answer 6

The Vietnam war did n since I was serving during that time that is a good enough answer without having to explain to u why!
No war needs to be explained or tried to be compared too the biggest thing about any way is people die is that a good enough answer for u without having to explain as to why,do u want to know why that watch the History channel they will explain in great detail or get the tapes as well from the History channel.

Answer 7

There is no way to know. I am not asking for sympathy to mention again that I lost my fifty six year old husband last year. He was a twenty-six year Veteran. He left 'Nam in 1973. His death last year was ruled combat related. He was poisoned by Agent Orange and water that had been laced. His organs just started shutting down. Our poison, their poison, what does it matter. We have Vets lives being cut short from Viet Nam after all these years, so the body count goes on.

Answer 8

Vietnam was very bad.

Iraq is still just beginning.

Answer 9

I fear the war on terror will cause an equal if not worse level of division in American society.

One thing, Veterans will not be nearly as civil or restrained when dealing with the people who actively protested against them.

I know I won't, so I do not talk about what I did or how I feel about the whys in person with anyone. Not even friends.

Answer 10

Viet Nam for the number of war deaths and wounded, but the Iraq war has been more economically devastating.