bulldogg said:In war there are NO winners, everyone loses.
bulldogg said:I also took your statement that way Dean. It makes perfect sense as long as people realise that Vietnam is playing the US for its own benefit in an effort to increase its overall economy and also the US is being played against China by Vietnam as they have a longer list of grievances with the Big Red Chicken than Uncle Sam. The hatred between these two bastions of Asian communism is something to behold when you get one of them wound up on bai jiu and then begin spewing forth.
Yet another case where the NVA played a very big part in the Vietnam War. The ridiculous and silly thing of it all was that the USA was not allowed to respond with a full counterattack against North Vietnam. The machine that drove the Vietnam War against us was sitting in Hanoi and we kept ourselves well clear of it (cept boming it of course). We were a giant and powerful military machine with its arms tied behind its back, but kickin butt regardless. But you can't win a war that way.DTop said:That wasn't exactly how it happened. Khe San was an attempt by the NVA (not the VC) to do to the US what they did to France at Dien Bien Phu. The siege of the firebase started in January 1968 and lasted until April of the same year. 5 regiments (~5,000) of US Marines repelled repeated attempts to overrun the base by 20,000 to 40,000 NVA.
Once the weather cleared, US air power was brought to bear and in April 6th, the base was reinforced by US Army (2nd Cav). Two days later the 2/7 Cav linked up with the 26th Marines to officially relieve the base. The NVA was forced to withdraw and give up the notion of taking the base.
The base was indeed abandoned but it was in June of '68 and because the base had no further military value to the US and there was nobody left to "march in unopposed". It's amazing how the facts can get twisted and tweaked over time.
It's also interesting to note that nearly a quarter of all television news was devoted to covering the battle, and was even higher for some. For example, CBS devoted half of their news shows to the siege. The intensely televised coverage was one of the hallmarks of Vietnam conflict in general.
Just thought I'd interject some facts about Khe Sahn at this point in the discussion.
Whispering Death said:Yeah, look, you can try and dance around it however you want. And if you are a Vietnam veteran I can definately see how you wouldn't want to admit it.
bulldogg said:That ^^^ is one ballsy statement and a clear testament to the sense of security and authority sitting behind a monitor with a keyboard can bestow upon a person.
I daresay it is a statement I would love to see you make to any Vietnam Vet face to face. Just let me know when and where you do it so I can get a good seat.
zander_0633 said:Well, How come the US had to retreat, I thought the Vietcons forced the US troops into street battles?
bulldogg said:But like I said, by all means say that to a Vietnam vet, just let me know when and where I always enjoy watching someone being "educated".
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