Movie deals death blow to vicious lies about Vietnam

wnd.com ^ | February 22, 2015 | Chelsea Schilling

[rktman]

In the 1960s, negative television coverage helped turn American public opinion against the war, the veterans and even the Vietnamese who fought to prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam.

Actress Jane Fonda, who called U.S. troops murderers, was famously shown sitting on a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gunner used to shoot at American planes.

By 1971, John Kerry, a Vietnam veteran and now secretary of state, declared on national TV, “We wish that a merciful God could wipe away our own memories of that service.”

But is what Americans saw on television and in the movies an accurate portrayal of those warriors and their mission to halt the spread of communism?

[MasterGunner01]

Remember that WW2 was a “good” war in terms of the Left because the U.S. was an ally of the Russians = good. In Korea and Vietnam were were fighting communists (Russians, Chinese, and surrogates) = bad. That's why these traitors were undermining the war effort at home and abroad. They were under orders and funded by Moscow and Beijing.

As far as Vietnam went, America had withdrawn by 1972 and the North tried a conventional attack to conquer South Vietnam. American air power broke the backs of the VC/NVA forces and the South Vietnamese repulsed the attacks.

Then came Watergate, Nixon's troubles and resignation. The Democrats in House and Senate, cut off all money, spare parts, ammunition — everything — to the South Vietnames government and denied U.S. air support so the communists could win. The 1972-1975 Democratic Congressional majorities and the MSM made certain the communists won because they had allied themselves with our enemies.

Nothing has changed — they're still the enemy and have grown stronger with their lies, deceit, and alliance with radical Islam.

Trivia: although LBJ got the blame for the war years, the guy who micromanaged the war for him was SecDef Robert S. McNamara. His policies and strategies, micromanagement including ROE and target selection, got a lot of Americans killed. After LBJ was dead, McNamara wrote a book that blamed LBJ for everything and exeronerated himself of all blame. This guy never got the credit for his despicable policies and actions.

[arthurus]

I volunteered. I wasn’t doing myself any good in college and there was something happening over there so I joined to go see. My attitude going over was that gee, I get to visit places I would never have hoped to see and Uncle is paying my fare. That attitude never changed for me while I was there.

[2CAVTrooper]

For every positive movie (The Green Berets, We Were Soldiers), or correspondent (Joe Galloway) there were dozens that smeared the war and the vets.

And for the junior officers, we only hear of john fraud kerry instead of real heroes like Rick Rescorla, Joe Marm, Bruce Crandall, Ed Freeman, and the hundreds of others who selflessly served.

[CrazyIvan]

“When the locals don’t unite and defend their own liberty, the eventual outcome is never good. We’re seeing it again in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

But is that their innate behavior or them knowing that we might not be willing to back them all the way? 

[cuban leaf]

The reason they couldn’t succeed with Bush’s Iraq war is simple: Not enough body bags.

And with drones and other explosions in warfare tech, the number will be even fewer in future wars. It’s very difficult to turn people against a “war that needs to be fought” when their husbands and sons are not dying in large numbers.

[CyberAnt]

I disagree with your analysis.

American Sniper was NOT a Hollywood movie.

And .. since Clint Eastwood is not “OF HOLLYWOOD” .. I’m quite sure he’s not sending any of his winnings to the Hollywood crowd. And .. especially not, since they have turned up their noses at the movie. But, Clint’s laughing all the way to the bank.

[arthurus]

Sounds good to me.

[cuban leaf]

The tet offensive was a spectacular military failure for the viet cong. But a HUGE propaganda success in the states. We actually could have won that war handily.

[mothball]

“Until we get back that fortitude, we will remain in this malaise.”

If there’s another dim. in the White House after this clown, I’m pretty sure we’re finished for good.

[rktman]

Well, I did say in “some circles”. LOL! Actually I enlisted in ‘67 and since my dad was an O-6, he got to swear me in. That was cool. We’ve been attending the Veterans Day parades here in Reno since we moved here in ‘11 and I am continually astounded by the number of kids who are in the ROTC programs at the area high schools. Not to mention the number of Vets who participate at each one. It does choke me up with pride at having served and honoring other Vets for their service.

[cuban leaf]

Yep. What angered me about it was that as I child I watched the war on TV while, at the same time, being a student of WWII. And then I was looking at age 18 and being drafted. They stopped the draft a month before my 18th birthday.

But it angered me that we were in WWII for only 3 years but this one went on and on.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"After 50 years I have come to the belief that we were never meant to win in Viet Nam."

Of course the politicos had a major hand in selling us out with defining very narrow objectives and then reneging on continuing to arm our South Vietnamese allies after the Paris Peace accords in 1973. However, the Generals failed in their part also. I believe a lot of their thinking came through in Matt Ridgeway's book about his experiences taking over for Douglass McArthur during the Korean War. In it, he advocated for this idea of limited warfare in the age of the Cold War. Don't get me wrong, Matt Ridgeway was a true American hero and commander of the 82nd Airborne on D-Day, but I believe he was dead wrong.

Another good book to read on the subject of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and how Johnson played them in the runup to the buildup of the Vietnam war is "Dereliction of Duty". Suffice it to say that General Wallace Greene and General Curtis LeMay advised to go all out to win or don't go to war at all. However, the Cuban Missile Crisis had made Generals reticent about all out war and Johnson knew how to manuever them.

[central_va]

Gaip’s book he said they were real close to surrendering and then the B-52’s stopped coming.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"Actually I enlisted in ‘67 and since my dad was an O-6, he got to swear me in."

Thank you for your service sir! The left will always be with us, hence we will always have people that hate the military. However, now at least they only criticize the mission and are always quick to say "but we support our troops". As you well remember, that was not always the case. The screw has turned.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"My attitude going over was that gee, I get to visit places I would never have hoped to see and Uncle is paying my fare."

When I was stationed in Hawaii, there was a popular t-shirt selling at the K-Bay PX. It said "Join the Marines, vist far away places, meet strange and exotic peoples then kill them". Needless to say, I doubt the PC crowd today would appreciate the humor and that shirt is probably no longer for sale....

[elcid1970]

I’m a Vietnam vet. A movie like this is long overdue.

The day when Jane Fonda croaks is also long overdue.

[edpc]

It depends. We were seeking aid from the French in the early years of the revolution. They were not enthusiastic. We secured a major victory at Saratoga without them. Once that happened, it ensured their support.

[donozark]

"Slim Jim" Gavin and others at the time, argued for a "Fortified Enclave" defense of S. Vietnam. Basically, major cities would be shielded from enemy takeover. Cam Ranh Bay (one of largest/best natural harbors in the world) would be protected as well.

Instead we got the McNamara Line. Which dead ended at Khe Sanh. Not especially bright...

[rktman]

Will it get widespread release or just in select locations. May have to wait for the dvd. Thanks for your service. Sadly, a lot of youngsters of today are of the “long time ago and far, far away” indoctrination set.

[Osage Orange]

Secondly, the Vietnamese were reluctant to do what was necessary to defend themselves from communist takeover. When the locals don't unite and defend their own liberty, the eventual outcome is never good. We're seeing it again in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Could almost say the same thing for California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.............