> The Democrats defunded the defense of South Vietnam. They own the loss. But who knows? or cares?
The Democrats had to fund the war before they defunded it (and let’s not bring up Dallas).
Defunding the defense of South Vietnam was a very exceptional event. It was kind of like defunding the police in Minneapolis and elsewhere in recent years. Simply bizarre to anyone of any sense.
Nixon bombed North Vietnam back to the negotiation table. They negotiated a peace. US troops withdrew in an orderly manner. Peace as obtained and could have continued as it did between North and South Korea, East and West Germany, and Israel and it’s Arab neighbors (for the most part).
After Watergate, a more left-wing Congress was elected. Democrats de-funded the defense of South Vietnam. North Vietnam turned to the Soviet Union requesting re-armament. It’s been claimed that North Vietnamese regulars invaded with more tanks than Patton had in WWII. The US had, or could re-establish, air superiority. Democrats had already made that course of action illegal in or near Vietnam. President Ford asked Congress for permission to intercede, but that was denied. 55,000 American deaths were rendered pointless.