|
|
| From | Message | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
 The Truth about the Vietnam War |
||
|
jonheck 25-Oct-14, 03:40 |
Softaire The US doctrine for involvement in the war was the product of Eisenhour's "domino Theory", or: giving in there would be followed by the spread of Communism throughout the region. That was clearly not the intent of Ho Chi Men and the North. They wanted reunification, a return to the brief post WWII single Vietnamese nation, and had made it clear that they would fight forever to achieve that status. They were "Commies" and France wanted a return to their pre WWII colonial status there. With some assistance and the blessing of the West, France took the South by force of arms and installed a puppet and highly corrupt government. The North kicked the French out and the US entered the conflict on the basis of the false "domino theory" fueled by anti communist hysteria and the Cold war. The over riding truth of the Vietnam war is that the West and US was miss-guided, Ho Chi Men was the most favorable and best leader and option for the nation. Shortly after achieving reunification Vietnam invaded Cambodia, defeated the despicable Kimar Rouge, and having given the blood of their finest returned that nation to it's people. Today, as "Commies", they are among those nations of the world with the most nations that they are on friendly terms with. The US should never have gotten involved there. |
||
|
jon In hindsight, it is easy to suggest and believe that we shouldn't have gone into Vietnam. That was very costly... especially in light of the fall of Vietnam later. At the time, however, I believe that we were trying to make the best decision for our long term survival. You might consider our actions today in Syria and Iraq to be very similar. We provided a stable, free and Democratic government to Iraq after freeing them from the tyranny of a despotic dictator. Then we left. The Iraqi government could not protect and defend itself. Iraq (and Syria now) are not able to hold ISIS off because we did not leave any personnel or equipment/weapons support. Now, we must be reengaged or the entire area will be lost. We seem to feel that ISIS is a major threat to us, to the Middle East and Europe... maybe as much as Communism was to us back during the Vietnam era? I keep hearing that we need to stop the spread of ISIS, degrade and contain. Doesn't that sound vaguely familiar? |
||
|
jonheck 25-Oct-14, 06:34 |
Softaire Thankfully and significantly absent today is the Cold War with it's automatic enemy, those Commies. I would not suggest as you did that we left Iraq with a particularly stable, free and democratic government, and their Army recently fled several battles and left $billions worth of arms that we had given them. I believe that we need to stop ISIS for they seem to be a confirmed threat with out regard to political affiliations in contrast to the "your enemy is my enemy so you are my friend" approach of the Cold War. South Vietnam should not have been our friend nor should N Vietnam have been our enemy. ISIS is clearly our enemy although one can never be certain and the future could prove that wrong |
||
|
Jon On the one hand, you see ISIS clearly as our enemy and we should stop them... on the other hand, you say Communism wasn't our enemy and we should not have made the North our enemy and we should not have made the South our friend. But, at that time, it was as clear to the West (not simply the U.S.) that Communism was clearly our enemy and needed to be stopped, just as ISIS is to you. btw, it is still our enemy although we are all trying to get along as best we can and all have moderated (somewhat) our belligerence and aggression's. However, the competition for power, territory, resources and financial advantage still exists as always before. The zealots of foreign Communism have given way to our own domestic Marxists... the extreme liberal leftists. |
||
|
jonheck 25-Oct-14, 08:22 |
Softaire Did I miss speak and say Communism at that time wasn't our enemy or did you simply inject that for convenience to carry your argument? The problem in those times was that any Communist nation was automatically our enemy as was near any friend of the USSR and that gave birth to the cold war. There were 2 sides, with us or with the USSR. N Vietnam, although Communist, need not have been our enemy, except for the times. It was the distructive attitudes of those times after the departure of Stalin rather than reality that moved us to S Vietnam. That has no relationship to ours and most of the world position on ISIS. |
||
|
Jon Since North Vietnam wanted reunification, that would be a spread of Communism. They were our enemy. South Vietnam NOT being Communist therefore would be our friend. We chose to try and stop Communism at the DMZ. So, when you say that North Vietnam should not have been our enemy... yes, of course, you are saying that Communism was not an enemy. It surely was. It's not that hard. |
||
|
jonheck 26-Oct-14, 02:04 |
Softaire |
