30 years since the Fall of Saigon

[cavemanmoron]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/04/30/vietnam.anniversary/index.html

The American exit three decades ago -- when U.S. troops scrambled aboard helicopters from the roof of the Saigon embassy -- became one of the most dramatic images of the 20th century.

The country on Saturday celebrated with a parade of soldiers, government workers and performers waving flags on the grand boulevard where communist tanks once rolled.

Hundreds of aging veterans, their chests decked with medals, watched from the sidelines, The Associated Press reported.

The fall of Saigon marked the end of the 10-year involvement of the United States in southeast Asia.

Two million Vietnamese died in the war, while more than 58,000 Americans were killed.

Vietnam baked a four-ton cake for more than 1,000 Liberation Day babies and breaking with the military ceremonies of the past, the nation staged a parade without a real tank in sight.

 

[dym]

so?

 

[OulOat]

Capitalism still kicked their ass, so America still won at the end.

 

[HappyPuppy]

The lesson to be learned from the Viet Nam war is that we shouldn't get involved in places where we have no hope of winning.

Damn, I guess our politicians didn't learn a thing. :disgust:

 

[everman]

Vietnam is now the world's biggest exporter of the instant coffee the world drinks

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
The lesson to be learned from the Viet Nam war is that we shouldn't get involved in places where we have no hope of winning.

Damn, I guess our politicians didn't learn a thing. :disgust:

No, the lesson is to let the generals run the war not the politicians. If the Air Force had been allowed to bomb deep into North VIetnam things woulod have turned out far different. The military was being hamstringed by fvcking liberals in the government.

 

[K1052]

I read an article the other day about how much Vietnam wants to develop. People starting businesses, buying things, and seeking expanded international trade now that the government has loosened restrictions.

Interestingly enough the people interviewed (mostly younger people from the sound of it)for the article really wanted Vietnam to have a strong relationship with the US. They see it a hedge against Chinese influence.

 

[HappyPuppy]

Originally posted by: Jumpem

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
The lesson to be learned from the Viet Nam war is that we shouldn't get involved in places where we have no hope of winning.

Damn, I guess our politicians didn't learn a thing. :disgust:

No, the lesson is to let the generals run the war not the politicians. If the Air Force had been allowed to bomb deep into North VIetnam things woulod have turned out far different. The military was being hamstringed by fvcking liberals in the government.

I am intimately familiar with what happened in VN from a very personal perspective. Yes, if politics had been taken out of it the generals could have secured the South. We would, however, have to had maintained a substantial military presence there forever just like we do in S. Korea.

The bottom line is that there was absolutely no reason for us to have become involved.

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
I am intimately familiar with what happened in VN from a very personal perspective. Yes, if politics had been taken out of it the generals could have secured the South. We would, however, have to had maintained a substantial military presence there forever just like we do in S. Korea.

The bottom line is that there was absolutely no reason for us to have become involved.

I'm admittedly unfamiliar with how we became involved exactly. But I am informed on how the Presidents of that era didn't know how to conduct a proper war.