Thread for the old timers: Does Iraq remind you of Vietnam yet?

[Alexander's Horse]

I'm not suggesting the war is going the way of Vietnam - its only a week old and Vietnam went on for a decade

But watching the coverage of Iraq is starting to dredge up vague memories of the Vietnam war, which occurred in the background of my childhood. Things like the "victory is just around the corner" line from the military. Every night it was the same story at the infamous "Five O'clock follies" the US military held in Saigon.

Also the casualty figures. Vietnam was also a very one sided war in terms of casualties, like 500 communists killed to say 10 Americans in every battle report, endless reports like that. In the end Vietnam lost about a million troops to America's 50,000.

This looks like another war without a frontline. Vietnam was like that. You'd hear reports of an area being taken, "pacified" was the word used for this in Vietnam, and then suddenly fighting would break out there again. In this war we're getting the same phenomenon. It is impossible to tell what areas are under control.

Anyone else getting that chill Vietnam ghost on their shoulder?

[spiritof1202]

Vietnam limited action in massive ways. Couldn't bomb Saigon, or push too far north for fear of a nuclear conflict with China.

There were also no front lines in Vietnam, and easy ways for VC to move about. Iraq is significantly different terrain, and allows us to see troop movements pretty darn easy. Unmanned Predator drones allow us to fly in, and shoot in cities without risking troops too.

Casualty rates in Vietnam were very high; they just aren't happening for the Coalition that way in Iraq.

We are using more a siege mentality and bringing to bear tech to get much of this battle done, rather than bloody engagements. Its a little more time consuming than some would like but it does minimize the casualities on our side and put increasing pressure on them, which is showing in suicidal mistakes like the Basrah rout.

[uh Clem]

For anyone of a certain age, it's impossible not to think of Vietnam, but I think that's premature. A few years from now, when the US is trying to prop up whatever 'pro-American' government it's installed, the parallels might be closer.

[chequita guevara]

Let's see . . . US government lying, US government clueless, US government cracking down on civil liberties, US government opposed by the people they are supposedly liberating, US government saying it will be a short war . . .

Just like the good old days.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by spiritof1202
There were also no front lines in Vietnam, and easy ways for VC to move about. Iraq is significantly different terrain, and allows us to see troop movements pretty darn easy. Unmanned Predator drones allow us to fly in, and shoot in cities without risking troops too.

The Iraqis have been using the sandstorms to cover their movement.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Like I said some time ago, somebody somewhere will tell Captain Picard not to engage the Ferengi, because "it'll become another Vietnam"

[Zylka]

The scary thing about the Vietnam war was that Brad Pitt was a sniper in it, and as the movie progressed well into the 90s he didn't age at all

[Willem]

The protests certainly bring back some memories. That's about it though; it's a totally different situation otherwise.

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat


Like I said some time ago, somebody somewhere will tell Captain Picard not to engage the Ferengi, because "it'll become another Vietnam"

I wish I kept that in my sig.

[uh Clem]

Sorry, Zylka, but that pales before the prospect of another movie with Brando looking about the size of Koko the gorilla but without the expressive range.

The horror, the horror...

[Rex Little]

If this is Vietnam, it's Vietnam on steroids. It took years of fighting before the level of protest against the war in Vietnam reached the level it did for this war before the first shot was fired.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat


Like I said some time ago, somebody somewhere will tell Captain Picard not to engage the Ferengi, because "it'll become another Vietnam"

I can't remember the Federation propping up a corrupt regime or launching a "preventive war."

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
I can't remember the Federation propping up a corrupt regime or launching a "preventive war."

He's merely commenting on the tendency among some Poly posters to label any conflict the US wages as Vietnam Redux.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
He's merely commenting on the tendency among some Poly posters to label any conflict the US wages as Vietnam Redux.

The thing is though, comparing the Federation with the US is a poor analogy.

At any rate, most see this Gulf War II as unjust, just like Vietnam.

[chequita guevara]

True. The Federation will be enlightened and socialist.