Vietnam War influenced the Iraq War?

Question

Did the United States' interpretations of the Vietnam War influence their thinking about the Iraq War?

Answer 1

It's an interesting question. I think to many people, they see many similarities between the two, especially those who served in one of the wars.

You got lots of serious answers on this question. Perhaps you could do the same for people whose questions you answer.

You are obviously intelligent. Don't waste your time answering questions you don't have an honest or serious answer for. Stick to the questions that really interest you.

Answer 2

What comes to mind immediately is the U.S. using the Gulf of Tonkin as a reason to go to war w/Vietnam- As vessel in the gulf initially reported being hit by torpedoes, and some 1-2 hours later said there was a mistake, that they were not attacked at all. But the president and Robert McNamara (secretary of state) were already planning war in Vietnam. I believe the fear of Communism was behind this, I am not sure. Then we have what out right lies by the Bush administration, to create public fear, and so support to go to war in Iraq. I from what I have read/heard on the news there was direct effort by the President to pressure CIA into giving the kind of information that they wanted rather than actual fact. This information is the most popular. But there are more subtle or obvious comparison that has to do why we went to war at all - in neither case was the U.S. in actual danger. What were the motivations for going to war in Vietnam? - I don't know financially, but certainly the "Cold War" had a lot to do with it. The "Cold War" I believe was only 2 governments fighting for power, and money, rather than citizen protection. To me it seems obvious that the Iraq war was based on money, and regional power and influence. Also in Iraq and Vietnam U.S. Citizens were subject to excessive propaganda that encouraged us to support the war. I have seen a number of documentaries on both subjects. Below is a Wikipedia link about the Gulf of Tonkin. You should also find info about the phony intel documents claiming that Iraq was trying to buy centrifuge stuff from Nigeria. Also the saddest thing... Is that many civilians died, Also I would also research the nature of the NVA and the insurgents fighting in Iraq. How much control did North Vietnam have over there army, did the NVA kill civilians, were there attacks on civilians as there have been in Iraq.

Answer 3

Lessons learned were applied. A lot of lessons were forgoten though too since recording these lessons did not start until about 15 years ago.

The biggest things that changed from Vietnam was first, we have an all volunteer force and the military will have to be dragged kicking and screaming to go back to draft. The military doesn't want it all.

The lessons from Vietnam changed a lot of doctrine that was used leading up through the 80's then was applied in Desert Storm in 91. Vietnam affected how we conducted Grenada, Panama as well.

Then Somolia happened. Somolia probably has more influence on what we are doing in Iraq then Vietnam. We saw what happens when we change course suddenly and leave. We saw what happens when the civil side of efforts and the not-so-civil side of efforts do not work together.

Overall, Iraq and Vietnam are quite different. The religious aspect alone seperates Iraq for Vietnam. In Vietnam, the NVA and VC had a plan for how South Vietnam would be governed when they took control. In Iraq, there is no vision like that for our enemies. The terrorist only want civil war in the name of religion, not a government. No two groups in Iraq have the same vision on anything. That makes the environement in Iraq more unstable then Vietnam. One to two dozen viewpoints in Iraq vs two viewpoints in Vietnam.

The US Military and State Department are looking at Iraq in a different light then Vietnam. Vietnam was more of a military viewpoint, Iraq is joint view. This meshing of the military and diplomacy has its successes and its failures in Iraq where in Somolia it was only failure.

Answer 4

Not quite. The lessons learned from Vietnam were exploited in both the UN Peace Enforcement Mission to liberate Kuwait in 1991 and the initial stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In both operations they also drew on the wisdom of the MacArthur Doctrine which came out of World War Two in the Pacific. That is to use aerial and naval bombardment to the point where opposing forces are reduced to less than 50% fighting effectiveness before having U.S. troops move to contact.

Answer 5

No what happened in Vietnam influenced Desert Storm, which is why they let the Generals come up with the battle plan. The Iraq War like Vietnam was planned by the state departmant and other civilians like Rumsfield, and look what happened. Hopefully someday politicians and other civilians realize that the second you decide to commit American troops somewhere you are to STFU, tell the Generals what you need done and let them win.

Answer 6

no the Iraq war is just another case of us sticking our nose in s&^% for no reason, it's going to get alot of good people killed for nothing oter than greed and hate

Answer 7

It is rather the continuity.