Was Vietnam a just war?

Question

If just, why did we pull out?

If unjust, why is there a monument to those who were forced to fight it?

Is it an honorable thing to obey a command that is dead wrong?
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Answer 1

To many Americans the war in Vietnam was just.
The Americans left in April, 1973 after Cease Fire agreements had been signed in January, 1973.
Many of the Americans who served were not forced to, they volunteered to fight. It is an honorable act to disobey a command if it "is dead wrong" or involves breaking the rules of warfare.

The basis of the war in Vietnam:

France denied Vietnam's independence when the Vietnamese declared the Democratic Republic of Vietnam on Sept. 2nd, 1945. The Vietnamese then fought the French from 1946 -1954, with the United States paying a large percentage of the France's costs near the end of the war.

The Vietnamese were given their freedom from France at the Geneva Agreement in the summer of 1954 - but the country was split into "North" and "South' and the elections promised to the Vietnamese people in 1956 never took place. Ho Chi Minh had become a national hero by then, and would have easily got 80% of the vote.

Vietnam fought to unify their country - only to see it split in two and a new country "South Vietnam" created by the Eisenhower administration using SEATO for its political cover. The Vietnamese fought for their independence and a socialist governmment - only to see "South Vietnam" called a "democracy" when it was run by the corrupt and highly unpopular dictator Ngo Dinh Diem.

By 1973, the Americans had not defeated the Vietnamese, and pulled out. "South Vietnam" under the Thieu-Ky regime kept fighting. As you know, "South Vietnam" lost the war.

In April 1975, after 30 years of fighting and having their country split into two - Vietnam was finally unified and an independent nation.

Answer 2

The Vietnam War was fought because the US was utilizing the domino theory of Communist containment. Basically we were worried that if Vietnam fell, Taiwan would fall, Japan would fall, Australia would fall, and finally America would fall to Communism. It was a flawed policy created by the men who watched Hitler conquer much of Europe one nation at a time while the west 'appeased' him.

Unfortunately it was a war that America couldn't win because politicians got too involved in running the war. By the late 60s the writing was on the wall for the US to get out. Our politicians, however, couldn't find a way for America to end the war without losing face. So what started as an honorable plan to help the South Vietnamese ended in America bogged down in an ugly Civil War.

That being said...whether or not you agree with Vietnam you have to understand that you can hate the war but love the warrior.

As for whether or not its honorable to obey a command that is wrong....it isn't the soldiers job to question the politics of a war. That is Congress's job. It is the soldier's job to obey their commanding officers. If the officers give them an unlawful order, like killing innocent children, they are expected not to obey. Big distinction.

Answer 3

South Vietnam was our ally in SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, eastern counterpart to NATO). They were faced with insurgencies from inside (Viet Cong), as well as invasion from North Vietnam, so they were the aggrieved party. We honored our commitment and in that sense, it was a just war. It was badly mishandled at the political level, and could then be arguably an unjust war. The war was finally ended by treaty, which the North broke as soon as the US Congress refused to further fund South Vietnam, and pulled out the bulk of our troops. In other words, the communists cheated. The monument is to honor the American troops who lost their lives in the process. It is VERY well deserved. As to obeying a command which is wrong, it is probably NOT an honorable thing. There may be commands which are in violation of regulations, the rules of war (yes, it has some rules), and even common decency. To determine whether it is "dead wrong" will depend on the context, the wording, the situation, and other factors.

Answer 4

Some people honestly thought they were fighting the good fight. Propaganda is a powerful tool.
There was a lot of unemployment in the US at the time and sending young men off to war was a good way of keeping the stats down.
I think the majority of people who fought in Vietnam were misguided more than bad, and have probably never gotten over it.
The Vietnam war is very significant as being the first war that had worldwide protests going on- and public feeling was a large part of why the US withdrew, which showed us commoners that we can actually make a difference.

Personally, I think Mohamed Ali had the right idea, but not everyone was a world superstar who could get away with that (not the Ali wasn't punished for it anyway).

And the stuff about communism taking over the world? Nonsense.

Answer 5

2 Sep 1945 - April 1975 and also you want 1/2 a web page? you're conscious there have been 3??????? or are you a member of the bathing room Kerry fantasy club? SSG US military seventy 3-82 A time line will be stumbled on at below. the different 2 are basically fantasy busters. Chuq Mung Nam Moi (Chuke Mung Num Moyee)

Answer 6

No, it was a war of politics, and the bad kind although it started out just.
Because they weren't the politicians. They were people who were pulled into it because they swore to uphold the US and what we believe in, and at first it was just, but the wrond people were in positin and they gave bad orders and that is why they died, and this happened on both sides not just ours. It would be disrespectful to them.
We honor them not the politicans that gave orders, and not all of them went because they wanted. Some were foirced, should they be condemed? it isn't right that their loss and their family's lost be shushed and shunned. That is dishonorable.
Depends on the command. Did you take an oath? It would be wrong to break it. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Also we are US Citizens and we fail to take an order to fight when we are called upon that is dishonorable to our country as patriots. That is what we created the United States for.

Answer 7

Well:yes it is as know about "American Soliders of World
War II has a Veterans historical Memorial site plus they
should get respect & Honor our Heros
visit http://www.american.solidersmemorial.site

Answer 8

For every vet that was there, it is still very real!! If the Govenment wouldv'e let the militart do its job, the turn out would have been different!!

Answer 9

dude if we hadnt of intervened in Nam communism would have taken over the world.

Answer 10

no