Posted on Apr 28, 2015
Do you think our final exit from Vietnam was a "breach of faith?"
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What do you remember about our final exit from Vietnam?
In 1975 I was 13, but I remember Vietnam was a daily headline on the news (then ABC, CBS, and NBC). I have studied Vietnam extensively, in effort to try and figure out the most powerful nation and military on earth ultimately failed to meet our war aims. I have read Stuart Herrington's books, and I kinda understand his perspective, as we too left Iraqis who we promised we would protect....
Clearly, COL(R) Herrington is speaking from a personal perspective, but on a national level their were/are many emotions as well.
What are your thoughts on his belief that our exit was a "breach of faith?"
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/apr/27/vietnam-saigon-40years-war-colonel/
In 1975 I was 13, but I remember Vietnam was a daily headline on the news (then ABC, CBS, and NBC). I have studied Vietnam extensively, in effort to try and figure out the most powerful nation and military on earth ultimately failed to meet our war aims. I have read Stuart Herrington's books, and I kinda understand his perspective, as we too left Iraqis who we promised we would protect....
Clearly, COL(R) Herrington is speaking from a personal perspective, but on a national level their were/are many emotions as well.
What are your thoughts on his belief that our exit was a "breach of faith?"
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/apr/27/vietnam-saigon-40years-war-colonel/
Posted in these groups: Strategic Leadership
Vietnam War
Vietnam War
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 12
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Personally I believe that America's soldiers were sold down the river right from the first day of "The Vietnam Affair".
It is rather difficult to justify supporting the re-imposition of an European, Catholic, colonial regime on an Asiatic, non-Catholic, country and to do so in the names of "Freedom", "Democracy" and "Liberty" - but the US government did it.
It is rather difficult to claim that cancelling an election which you had already agreed to - simply because you were well aware that the people you wanted to win were going to get their clocks cleaned is "Upholding International Law" - but the US government did it.
It is rather difficult to say that supporting a bunch of venal, corrupt, murderous, thugs is "Fighting For The Rights Of The People" - but the US government did it.
Of course, lying about being attacked and ignoring the findings of your own intelligence apparatus simply because telling the truth and taking the findings of the people you are paying to tell you the real facts wouldn't let you do what you wanted to do isn't likely to win you any friends either - but the US government did that too.
If the US government had accepted what its own experts were telling it back in 1945 there would never have been a Vietnam War and the Vietnamese (even though under a "Communist" government) would be conducting a thriving trading relationship with the United States of America right now. As it is, there was a Vietnam War and the Vietnamese (even though under a "Communist" government) is conducting a thriving trading relationship with the United States of America right now.
The difference - about 282,000 "Allied" military deaths, about 444,000 "Communist" military deaths, and about 587,000 "civilian" deaths.
It is rather difficult to justify supporting the re-imposition of an European, Catholic, colonial regime on an Asiatic, non-Catholic, country and to do so in the names of "Freedom", "Democracy" and "Liberty" - but the US government did it.
It is rather difficult to claim that cancelling an election which you had already agreed to - simply because you were well aware that the people you wanted to win were going to get their clocks cleaned is "Upholding International Law" - but the US government did it.
It is rather difficult to say that supporting a bunch of venal, corrupt, murderous, thugs is "Fighting For The Rights Of The People" - but the US government did it.
Of course, lying about being attacked and ignoring the findings of your own intelligence apparatus simply because telling the truth and taking the findings of the people you are paying to tell you the real facts wouldn't let you do what you wanted to do isn't likely to win you any friends either - but the US government did that too.
If the US government had accepted what its own experts were telling it back in 1945 there would never have been a Vietnam War and the Vietnamese (even though under a "Communist" government) would be conducting a thriving trading relationship with the United States of America right now. As it is, there was a Vietnam War and the Vietnamese (even though under a "Communist" government) is conducting a thriving trading relationship with the United States of America right now.
The difference - about 282,000 "Allied" military deaths, about 444,000 "Communist" military deaths, and about 587,000 "civilian" deaths.
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COL Charles Williams, The breach of faith with Vietnam demonstrated America's 'lack of will" as evidenced by Congress failing to appropriate additional funding.
Allowing peace protests created that 'lack of will'.
The current situation in Baltimore is another demonstrated lack of will!
The military requires that someone be in charge! Our Nation and all of our Nation's government agencies need someone to be in charge. Until leaders across the Nation accept the responsibilities of protecting citizens rights, life, liberty and property we have a problem.
I personally feel that while peoples 'rights' are mandatory; respect for the rights of others should be sacrosanct and that; any and all who demand "their rights" should forcibly be compelled to observe the rights of others.
Allowing peace protests created that 'lack of will'.
The current situation in Baltimore is another demonstrated lack of will!
The military requires that someone be in charge! Our Nation and all of our Nation's government agencies need someone to be in charge. Until leaders across the Nation accept the responsibilities of protecting citizens rights, life, liberty and property we have a problem.
I personally feel that while peoples 'rights' are mandatory; respect for the rights of others should be sacrosanct and that; any and all who demand "their rights" should forcibly be compelled to observe the rights of others.
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CSM Charles Hayden
SGT Daley, Any Vietnam discussion recalls memories of my little Sp4 brother's short (26) day tour there.
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Not only did we leave the Iraqi people we promised to help, and now they are being butchered. The Government wasted the lives, health and youth of so many of us the day we pulled out of Iraq. And POTUS gave us our second lost war. Then when you hear someone say we went for oil (which the US never got a drop) or (no WMDs) which there were. Now we have troops back there, its to little to late anyone who has been there knows Muslims do not respect any sign weakness and the US has just been screwing up by the numbers. We are a Joke
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