Posted on 02/23/2015 5:48:12 AM PST by 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?
(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...
As far as Vietnam went, America had withdrawn by 1972 and the North tried a conventional attack to conquer South Vietnam.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.
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.
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.
“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?
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.
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.
Sounds good to me.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
Gaip’s book he said they were real close to surrendering and then the B-52’s stopped coming.
I’m a Vietnam vet. A movie like this is long overdue.
The day when Jane Fonda croaks is also long overdue.
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.
Instead we got the McNamara Line. Which dead ended at Khe Sanh. Not especially bright...
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.
Could almost say the same thing for California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.............
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