The Failed Tet Offensive

[Lisa_N]

wabrams:

What do you mean by that?

It was rather like your local high school basketball team playing against the Chicago Bulls. I don’t think that made our military look like they could necessarily stay the course against a strong and determined enemy.

Lisa N

 

[Richardols]

Kevin Walker:

After the South Vietnamese Army failed to defend South Vietnam from Communism, which the U.S. Army kept at bay for over ten years.

We were not just keeping them at bay. As the Administrations told us, we were defending South Vietnam from Communism. We failed at that.

They (the North Vietnamese) said, hey look, thank God the Americans are handing over the country to the ARVN, now we have a chance of winning.

The ARVN was certainly no match for the NVA. Once we left, the end to the RVN was assured. But, the NVA didn’t have to wait that long for victory. Most Americans had already decided that we had no business there.

When the Americans voluntarily withdraw, we will use our famous Communist Propaganda and declare we chased out the Americans.

That’s right. We certainly weren’t chased out, and their propaganda did what they knew how to do.

In reality: “The U.S. won the battles, and the ARVN lost the war.”

I think the US and the RVN together lost the war, but to put it all in a more positive light, I’d just say “The U.S. won the battles, the North Vietnamese won the war.”

 

[wabrams]

Lisa N:

It was rather like your local high school basketball team playing against the Chicago Bulls. I don’t think that made our military look like they could necessarily stay the course against a strong and determined enemy.

Lisa N

Grenada was a success. It was a first on many levels. We practically shut down the entire gov’t with just over a hundred special forces soldiers, quelled the resistance, deployed airborne forces quickly, etc.

 

[gilliam]

Two years now and “they” still wonder
And “they” still ask Was it worth it?
Was it right?
Two years and it seems to me Like it was yesterday
Two years and “they” keep trying
To silence the voice inside us
Yet it only grows louder

I was once free When I was a kid
But when I grew up
I couldn’t be the man I am
I couldn’t be the kid I was
And I couldn’t flee

Two years since I finally became
The man in me, and the kid in me.
And “they” want to take this away?
“They” would have to kill them both first
The man and the kid
And turn the clock back around
And still “they” can’t change me back

Two years since I stopped weeping
Inside of me, day and night
Two years since the widow
Found her husband’s body
In a feast of death for the human death lord.
Two years since the orphan
knew Where his father lied
And now they finally have peace
And they have a future
No matter how painful it is to go on
And their dreams still go on

Two years since I started dreaming
Dreams that have a chance
And are becoming true
Two years since I regained my heart
And then I found her…
And she found me…
And the world looked beautiful!
And “they” think they can separate us?!
Think again, or keep wishing.

“They” say we are being slaughtered
“They” say we are being abused
Am I blind or are “they” the ones who are sightless?!
As why can’t I see what “they” see?
And the best “they” can offer of their view is Maybe I’m a CIA?
Or maybe the other “they”, that of their accusations is paying me?
But who is their accused and rumored “they”?
Oh, the accusers have so many names for this other “they”.
Sometimes they’re the CIA
Sometimes they’re the NSA
Sometimes they’re Bush and the gang
I say, yes they exist and they “pay” me, and I’m seduced.

I see with my own eyes this other “they”
And I call them simply, Americans.
What are they paying me?
Oh, you couldn’t afford that!
Saddam couldn’t afford it.
Sadr cannot afford it.
“They” think any of these can?
Could their “they” even try!?

Two years and some are still
Trapped in the past
And some cannot withstand the moment
And want to arrive without struggle to a better future
While others just enjoy what is already better now
And work to meet the future, bettered with them.
Two years and they ask Should I be grateful?
Am I?
Do I even need to answer that!?
YES, and to the last breath!

afreeiraqi.blogspot.com/2005/04/i-wrote-this-piece-on-2nd-anniversary.html

 

[gilliam]

Related thread:

From a Liberal: Left on the wrong side of history

 

[Kevin_Walker]

Richardols:

I think the US and the RVN together lost the war, but to put it all in a more positive light, I’d just say “The U.S. won the battles, the North Vietnamese won the war.”

Actually Communist North Vietnam didn’t win the war, they just filled in the void created by the voluntary American absence.

Evil is the result of the absence of America.