Reply #58: I agree with all of that

[markses]

The point was to draw a parallel mainly at the level of dire predictions v. actual consequences rather than to compare the situations, about which you quite rightly draw out the differences. (I would hesitate only on this point: that there were nothing but political differences between southern and northern Vietnamese; I also did point out the problem for the ethnic minorities by mentioning the ethnic Chinese in southern urban areas, who traditionally served as a merchant class within Vietnamese society).

Well, almost all. This non sequitur was slipped in mid-paragraph, and kinda hangs there:

"Only the US can establish the kind of federal state that is absolutely necessary to prevent a bloodbath."

Whether or not this position can be justified is one of the questions; iyt certainly isn't justified in your post, but rather presents itself as an axiom. And I believe you meant the "Coalition," rather than the US, yes? ;-)