Do the freepers think Vietnam was a good idea?

[KarenInMA]

I was born in 1978, so I don't actually remember Vietnam, but I've never met anyone who thought it was anything but a terrible mistake, and a bloody mess. From what I can tell, in the past few weeks we've seen the birth of a mainsteam peace movement that is IDENTICAL to the Vietnam war era, just with out the cool soundtrack.

When they compare us to "hippies" and bring up the Vietnam war, that's EXACTLY what we want!!

So, go ahead. Compare Iraq to Vietnam kitten. Please, make that comparison....you moran.

[proud patriot]

1. yes they also think it was winnable and the hippies caused the loss

:crazy:

[KarenInMA]

3. whhh...how did hippies cause us to lose the vietnam war?

anyone with a 6th grade education, and a basic understanding of geography would be able to tell that people protesting in the US does not effect what happens in Vietnam. Please explain.

[FloridaPat]

17. The protest got the voters thinking and kept getting bigger and bigger

thereby scaring the politicans.

[marbuc]

7. I see great parallels

both on the ground and on the streets. The RWers did support until the end, as they are supporting the War n Iraq, and for many of the same reasons. I was thinking about this today, and I don't think the country has really healed that divide.

I protested the Inaugaration by watching Easy Rider on Bravo, and was struck by the similarities between then and now.

[proud patriot]

24. You are correct

the divide never did heal after it only festered
then starting in the 80s enflamed by hate radio .

[FloridaPat]

18. You would think that if a war isn't won after 20 some years, that maybe

it's a bad idea. I remember some idiot said that if * was pres during Vientman we would have been in and out in a week. I would certainly like to find out what repub said that one.

[ThoughtCriminal]

2. Many do, and even those who don't

think that we " wooda wun it if it wurn't fur thim goll-danged hippie traiters".

[KarenInMA]

4. I'll ask you to explain that as well.

I've never heard anyone blame the "hippies" on the loss. Because, well.. that's stupid.

[johnaries]

15. It's true. We hippies lost the war because we didn't support the troops.

Sound familiar, now?

And you're right - it IS stupid.

[johnaries]

23. Here's an example

"It should be pointed out that, militarily we would have won the vietnam war, and that the peace hippies and media elite (Walter Kronkite in particular) underminded the war effort with their usual anti-war, anti-american slogans, their attacks on our service men, etc."
http://www.thebluesite.com/mt/archives/2004/12/usa_today_found.html

And another:
"The hawks' version holds that the war was both nobly motivated and winnable, but that antiwar hippies, the press, and micro-managing civilian game-theorists in the Pentagon lost it."
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0365/is_n4_v39/ai_17473108

[eleny]

5. And that Nixon didn't deserve what he got

[uppityperson]

6. Good point. Don't defend, use the name with pride!

hell yes, I'm an aging hippy. Helped get us out of VietNam, helping again with Iraq. So are a whoooooolllllllllllllle bunch of other elderly, middle aged, moms, dad, young adults, kids, PEOPLE! Just like them hippies did.

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. Sure they do

They have resurrected their America Love it or Leave It bumper stickers. They are excited beyond belief. They think they have a mandate so they are screaming it from the rooftops.

[B Calm]

9. Many republicans claim the Vietnam War was started by

democrats. That said, many republicans think it was a mistake. But, history shows our involvement with Vietnam started in the 50s under Eisenhower's leadership.

[KarenInMA]

12. The Vietnam war was started by Democrats.

Our "involvement" was not boots on the ground hostilites.

That pooch was screwed by Kennedy.

[B Calm]

14. The first US casualties were under Eisenhower....

[KarenInMA]

16. You don't really think Eisenhower started the

Vietnam war, do you?

until Diem was assassinated, all we had was "advisors". It was Kennedy who started the CIA missions and the "training" of Vietnam soldiers, and LBJ who got the Tonkin Gulf Resolution on a shadier premises than "Iraq has noocular weapons".

[B Calm]

19. It was Eisenhower who got us involved. I also blame Bush

for leaving a mess for President Clinton in Somalia.

[KarenInMA]

21. But Kennedy didn't have to escalate the situation

Eisenhower went in there at the behest of the French. In the 50's we were at best an independent observer. That was actually smart of Eishenhower, as DC SHOULD have seen that this was a fight we didn't need any part of. Kennedy (and later Johnson) should have seen that the French had been fighting w/ the Vietcong for decades, and it wasn't getting them anywhere. The French eventually gave up, and Kennedy should have realized we would have to do the same thing.

[B Calm]

22. If that is what you want to believe..... I really don't feel like

arguing with you.. I'll always believe Vietnam War was started when Eisenhower stuck his nose in..

[still_one]

10. They believe it was a winable war

they also believe that Kennedy should have done a first strike against Russia during the Cuban missle crisis

[fishnfla]

11. They love to blame the Dems for starting the war

Kennedy and LBJ.

There are alot of people comparing Iraq to Vietnam (even Kissinger in the 8/12 Washington post)

We're into the 3rd year of the war and there is no end. The comparison is apt.

[KG]

13. you don't have to leave DU to find people that think VN was good idea.

[fishnfla]

20. Yes but now it works our way

see, everywhere folks is saying; 'we cant pull out of Iraq-oh lordy lord whats gonna happen?'

self determination is what

so based on that, you'll find plenty of DUers who'll say; 'leaving Iraq is a good idea-look what happend when we pulled out of VN'