[KantianBurke]

Disagree. We never should have gotten involved in that conflict. Once it became clear in 1956 that the result of a nationwide election would be an Ho Chi Minh victory that should have been the handwriting on the wall.

As for draining the Soviets of funds, I am not sure of your source of info on that but the war certainly sucked quite a bit of cash for our treasury. The late 70’s inflation was a consequence of this.

[donozark]

Elections were never held. Massive shift in population from North to South Vietnam occurred after the partition in 1954. In 1957 the International Control Commission ruled neither N. nor S. had followed the armistice agreement. In 1959 at a meeting of the communist committee (N.) it was decided to take up arms against the S.

And the rest we say, is history...