- Reaction score
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- Points
- 210
Daftandbarmy,there are some parallels, however there are major differences.In Vietnam
the Johnson/McNamara regime decided on a policy of gradual increasing military
pressure which at some point the enemy would realise it could not win and throw in the
towel.This did not work, and had the added disadvantage of telegraphing the next
move to the North Vietnamese,and the US never reached the towel throwing point,
they had badly underestimated the resolve of the Viets.
Iraq strategy however was a result of lessons learned from the mistakes made in Vietnam.
Massive firepower right from the opening whistle,and it worked in both Gulf Wars, it was
the aftermath that went wrong.
I feel the Americans like wars with clear cut aims and battles that have an obvious winners
and losers and wars that are as complicated as Iraq or Vietnam leave them confused and
they quickly lose interest.The British,because of their colonial past seem to be used to the
idea that their Army was mucking about in the world and were less liable to demand
instant results.
Thats my take on the differences.
Regards
the Johnson/McNamara regime decided on a policy of gradual increasing military
pressure which at some point the enemy would realise it could not win and throw in the
towel.This did not work, and had the added disadvantage of telegraphing the next
move to the North Vietnamese,and the US never reached the towel throwing point,
they had badly underestimated the resolve of the Viets.
Iraq strategy however was a result of lessons learned from the mistakes made in Vietnam.
Massive firepower right from the opening whistle,and it worked in both Gulf Wars, it was
the aftermath that went wrong.
I feel the Americans like wars with clear cut aims and battles that have an obvious winners
and losers and wars that are as complicated as Iraq or Vietnam leave them confused and
they quickly lose interest.The British,because of their colonial past seem to be used to the
idea that their Army was mucking about in the world and were less liable to demand
instant results.
Thats my take on the differences.
Regards