[Partisan Gunslinger]

“Um, didn’t the south start it?” Actually, no. If you recall your history (but then, maybe you don’t), first Buchanan, and then Lincoln attempted to send reinforcements and supplies to Fort Sumter (after Fort Moultrie was evacualted because it was less defensible than Sumter). That, in itself was an act of aggression towards South Carolina, which had already seceded. South Carolina fired on Sumter to prevent the reinforcement and resupply of a hostile military reservation in its own harbor (i.e., Charleston Harbor). Look at it this way: Who would be the aggressor? North Vietnam for sending troops and supplies to a fort it occupied in South Vietnam, and refused to relinquish after North Vietnam and South Vietnam split; or South Vietnam for firing artillery to stop that reinforcement and resupply? In that scenario I would argue that North Vietnam initiated the conflict, and thus was the initial aggressor.

The United States built these forts to protect the inlets. Sumter was not on state soil and so since the fort and the island was built and owned by the Federal Government they had the duty to keep it supplied to protect against foreign invasion and to keep river commerce going.

[central_va]

Federal Government they had the duty to keep it supplied to protect against foreign invasion and to keep river commerce going.

We're from the Government and we are here to help you.

[Georgia Girl 2]

So, out of school for a snow day I see. :-)

[Ditto]

Look at it this way: Who would be the aggressor? North Vietnam for sending troops and supplies to a fort it occupied in South Vietnam, and refused to relinquish after North Vietnam and South Vietnam split; or South Vietnam for firing artillery to stop that reinforcement and resupply? In that scenario I would argue that North Vietnam initiated the conflict, and thus was the initial aggressor.

Your knowledge of the Vietnam War is seriously lacking... as in Jane Fonda lame.