Iraq will only become a second Vietnam if we want it to be, Vietnam was lost in the streets of Los Angeles, New York, Dallas, etc. not the Jungles of Vietnam. Iraq will be the same way, if we continue to dwell strictly on the negatives of Iraq and if we place our priorities on pulling out rather than stabilization we will definetly turn this into another, but shorter, Vietnam.

You have one group of politicians saying the other failed. You have The other group saying we're making progress and that the other group is the reason for the problems. One side wants us to fail for political reasons, and vice versa. With all this, the soldiers and Iraqi civilians are caught in the middle. Do you seriously think we'd have these problems if politicians could pull their heads out of their fourth point of contact and work together? That should be the question. Another Vietnam? Not a chance. This time the soldiers have the support of the people of America. The death toll, substantially lower due to better gear. Vietnam was a drafted army, not a volunteer force.

Originally Posted by soldierzhonor

Vietnam was a drafted army, not a volunteer force.

2/3 of the servicemen in Vietnam were volunteers.

Source: http://www.vhfcn.org/stat.html

That 1/3 could make a huge impact. 1/3 would be 40 people out of a 120 man company. 40 people could easily destroy the morale of a company. The last thing you want to hear is "aww ****! I dont want to be here!" when you are getting shot at.

I don't care if you're drafted or if you've volunteered, if you're in the crap and getting shot at you're gonna hear that a lot Big_Z. Mostly from your own inner voice though, trust me

I believe you Top, but I would make sure not to say it out loud. I know once that first bullet goes by me I am going to be scared to death but I chose to do this and I will suck it up and drive on.

You won't have a choice.
In any event, back to the topic at hand, Iraq is not Vietnam and I hope it won't turn into one. At this point I think the pols need to crap or get off the pot. Either give the military what they need to complete the job over there or concede to the left and turn tail and get out before the country is stabilized and the Iraqi government can handle its own affairs.

^^^ What he said.

I agree with you Top. the problem is that polititians only know how to bicker, not really get anything done. If they just gave the troops on the ground what they ask for, things could be wrapped up quicker.

Originally Posted by bigcanada813

I agree with you Top. the problem is that polititians only know how to bicker, not really get anything done. If they just gave the troops on the ground what they ask for, things could be wrapped up quicker.

As I remember, this was an often heard lament from the troops and military leaders during the Vietnam War.