> Vietnam was a mistake from the start. We should have learned from the French. They tried to hold it for 20 years prior to us tresspassing. If however we had fought that conflict with the same committment and zeal as the previous engagements, the outcome would have been short and (un)sweet. War is war and you cannot fight one worrying if you are insulting the rest of the world. You're best bet is to stay home if you cannot commit and finish what you start. We lost boys ( and girls) for nothing and probably learned nothing and you won't hear anyone of conservative 2nd amendment mentality tell you different.



Michael;

There are many factors related to the Vietnam War. I would enjoy discussing this with anyone in any degree of detail.

Historically;
1. Chinese occupation
2. French occupation
3. Japanese occupation
4. Ho Chi Minh – National hero to Vietnamese – assisted Americans during WWII with intelligence gathered from Japanese. Lead Vietnam to defeat Japanese occupation.

While this was going on FDR, Stalin and Churchill were meeting in Yalta and signed a document, sometimes referred to as the “Yalta Accord”. An interesting part of this document is “AGREEMENT REGARDING JAPAN”. In addition to the provisions of this treaty, the following concessions were made: Korea – all territory North of the 38th parallel would be communist and South would be “Democratic”. Vietnam – all territory North of the 17th parallel would be communist – South would be “Democratic”.

In return the Russians would assist by sending troops when the war with Europe had ended. A little known fact is that over one million crack Japanese troops who were well supplied were in Mongolia, under the direction of the “Little Mikado”, who was the Japanese Emperor of Mongolia. The Russians defeated the Japanese (after August 1945) and thus secured the agreements made at Yalta.

WWII is over and the French take control of Vietnam. The United States paid for 85% of the cost of the French involvement in Vietnam. The French could not defeat the Vietnamese so they withdrew, and the United States took over the operation as “Military Advisors”.

How about “Democracy”? 1954 the Geneva Accord required an election in Vietnam to determine who should lead that country. It was thought by President Eisenhower, that the people of Vietnam would vote for Ho Chi Minh, the countries national hero. This could not be allowed. Imagine a free election and the people of a subjugated nation being allowed to vote for their national hero!

We believe in “Democracy”, as long as it is on our terms.

1950 – Korean “Police Action”.
1964 –Viet Nam War. We were not allowed to shot back until that time. Yes, we were there in 1954 – 1964, with about 10,000 “advisors”. Do not shoot back. Great rule!

As far as Vietnam is concerned, I have the following thoughts: Vietnam is a proud nation with a long history. I feel it has as much right to be free as any nation on the face of the earth. Unfortunately, history has been unkind to Vietnam, as it has a long history of occupation. Also unfortunate, Ho Chi Minh was a communist, which is an ideology against that of the Free World.

With that thought in mind I feel it would be impossible to win a war against the Vietnamese people. The Chinese, Japanese, French and Americans (with the help of South Korea) tried. Why did we fail? Seems to me as though the Vietnamese like freedom as much as anyone else in the world.

During the election campaign of 1968, Richard Nixon (October 1968) stated he did not see why we could not drop a nuclear bomb on Vietnam, pave it with concrete to make it a parking lot and “have our boys home by Christmas”! The mothers of America loved that statement about having our boys home by Christmas! As you know that did not occur until 1975. When you run for President (or any political office) you promise what the people want to hear.

We lost 58,000 Americans and we killed as many as three million Vietnamese. These are facts and we cannot change them.

To me there is some irony about the Yalta Accord and the history it created.

My father was a U.S Marine Corp Advisor to the Chinese Army, before 1942, and “enjoyed” many South Pacific Islands until August of 1945. In addition he was called up for the Korean “Police Action”. My brother was a Marine and I was in the Air Force – we are Vietnam vets. I could write a book about how this affected our family. Imagine all the families of the world affected by war.

When I hear the expression “Peace on Earth and good will towards men”! I believe it. In fact I believe this statement 365 days a year and not just at Christmas time.

Tom