When GWB is running around the Rose Garden holding hands with a Saudi prince, "wobbly" doesn't come close to an accurate description.
I like George, but dang, what is selling government bonds to fund runaway social spending worth?
Actually militarily there were problems too. Not from the soldiers. But from the rules of engagment by the politicians. Hanoi and other large cities were no go zones for bombing. So the NVA put their Air Force and AA in big cities which we did not target and thus we never fully won the air war. High altitude bombers were not allowed to bomb (to minimize "civilian casualties") but smaller bombers were that had to fly low and were susceptible to AA fire.
Gen. Omar Bradley - "Amateurs talk strategy, professionals talk logistics."
We never cut of the logistical line from China and Russia(The Ho Chi Min trail was from China through Laos and Cambodia). As long as weapons continue to come in the enemy will be able to fight.
The State Dept. was busy supplying Truck factories and millions in food "AID" to Russia which in turn supplied weapons and trucks to the NVA. (We were at War with ourselves.)
The Communists wouldn't agree to a cease fire right near the end of the War so Nixon finally let the big high altitude bombers go in over Christmas and target Hanoi. The Communists quickly agreed to a cease fire. If he would have allowed it years before we could have crushed them.
Nixon kow-towed and offically opened relations with China in 1972 when we "lost."
Limited wars don't work out so well. Unfortunately right now Iran is supplying and fueling the Iraq war. unless we cut of the lines logistically the fighting will continue.
Oh another lesson from Viet Nam the communists didn't keep their "Cease Fire" and promptly invaded the South when we left.
Has there ever been a case in modern history of an invading country putting down a local rebellion by force?
England failed in Northern Ireland, The US, French & Chinese all failed in Vietnam, etc, etc...
Actually the only thing that would be close to what the US is trying in Iraq is Vietnam invading Cambodia.
Nationbulding is okay in Iraq because even obliteration of Iraq does not touch the heart of the beast. That heart resides, in this era, in Iran. Nationbuilding gives us the excuse and visible necessity for keeping our military in Iraq right next to Iran. I fear that Iran will not be finalized in the term of this president and his successor will drop the ball and pull back. If it is a Republican we will remain militarily strong even as we succumb to that other cancer from the south. If it is a Democrat, especially if he has a compatible Congress, then we will probably finish the war but it will be at tremendous cost. We must first suffer some truly grand catastrophe on our own land, perhaps Boston gaining a new and glowing crater or a whole series of 9-11 strikes but I expect a Democrat to suddenly make a spastic response like Clinton did with cruise missiles but this time with ICBMs or SLBMs that will be far broader than necessary and probably not touch the heart of the enemy the first time.
The American media played a major role in losing the war for us in Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh exploited this splendidly. Terrorist organizations and nations learned well from history. They are relying on the U.S. and worldwide MSM in doing an effective job of it today. So far their hopes have been realized.
According to the Bible, this is going to make Vietnam look like a tea party, if the West doesn't wake up to this threat soon, and start acting like we are really in an all-out war for survival.
Matthew 24 (Amplified Bible)
21 For then there will be great tribulation (affliction, distress, and oppression) such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now--no, and never will be again.
22 And if those days had not been shortened, no human being would endure and survive, but for the sake of the elect (God's chosen ones) those days will be shortened.
Ping!