Sep 18 2007
Similarities and Differences between Vietnam and Iraq
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By Horace Coleman
9 Sep 07
Reason for conflict
Vietnam
∙ Did not want communism to spread in S.E. Asia. Proxy war between U.S. and Soviet Union; extension of Cold War. China has common border with N. Vietnam; did not want expanded Western involvement in S.E. Asia (their “backyard”). U.S. imperialistic ambitions; disregard for welfare of non Caucasians / non Christians.
Iraq / Afghanistan
∙ Revenge for 9/11 (although Iraq had nothing to do with 9 / 11, we emphasized subduing Iraq over stabilizing Afghanistan).
∙ Didn’t like Saddam Hussein (his Kuwait invasion threat to U.S. oil supplies).
∙ Reduce Iraq’s influence in region. Hussein claimed Kuwait was slant drilling into Iraqi oil fields. Afghanistan critical transportation route for oil.
∙ Depose Hussein.
∙ U.S. imperialistic ambitions (expand bases and presence in the Middle East.
∙ Disregard for welfare of non Caucasians / non Christians.
Length of conflict
Vietnam
∙ Approximately 10 years (1959-75 some say).
Iraq / Afghanistan
∙ TBD. Fifth year of conflict began in 2007.
Nature of war
Vietnam
∙ Combination of rural guerilla war fare and small to medium sized engagements in countryside. Ended with large unit engagements after U.S. had withdrawn its forces. Interrupted civil war to unify Vietnam.
Iraq / Afghanistan
∙ Primarily urban guerilla warfare (Baghdad and major cities). Rural, small unit engagements in Afghanistan.
Basic Strategy
Vietnam
∙ Massive bombing and shelling. Isolating village / hamlet dwellers from Viet Cong influence. Mostly small to medium sized units involved.
∙ Heavy use of fixed wing air craft and helicopter for close air support, transport.
Iraq / Afghanistan
∙ “Clear & Hold” or “Clear & Leave” aimed at eventual turn over to new Iraqi forces and government. In Afghanistan, basically ignored Islamic fundamentalists. Warlords and Taliban still a factor. Almost exclusively small unit operations.
∙ Outsourcing torture and housing detainees from battlefield and
∙ “Extraordinary rendition.”
“Players”
Vietnam
∙ “Free world” forces: U.S., Australia, S. Korea, Republic of Vietnam (undemocratic, corrupt, authoritarian and brutal), Montagnards, Hmong.
∙ Communist bloc forces: North Vietnam, China, Soviet Union (mostly gave material aid but had pilots involved in early stages of U.S. involvement; supposedly a small number of Russian “advisors;” some Chinese ground forces involved).
Iraq / Afghanistan
∙ Western Forces: U.S., Australia, Britain, Canada, Italy (other “coalition” members extremely small or have withdrawn).
∙ Opposition (or forces with their own agenda): Iraqi Shiite and Sunnis sectarians, private militias, al Qaeda, Taliban, war lords, miscellaneous “foreign fighters (Moslem fundamentalists / extremists), criminals. Kurds looking for as much autonomy as possible.
Outcome
Vietnam
∙ Helped destabilize Cambodia and Laos. Settlement of many South Vietnamese, evacuated before N. Vietnam unified country, in U.S. More “boat people” and refugees from other countries eventually admitted.
∙ General American civilian contempt for, and shunning of, Vietnam veterans.
∙ Aversion to doing military service. Led to All Volunteer military, lowered standards for military recruits.
∙ Loss of global prestige.
∙ Easy wars and adventures like Grenada, Panama invasion; Iran / Contra affair, backing Contras in Nicaragua to rebuild U.S. confidence.
∙ Development and use of more devastating weapons to compensate for lack of troops (e.g., bunker buster bombs, white phosphorous, Predator drones).
∙ Increase in subversion, deceit and evasion (for domestic / international consumption to achieve military and political goals—along with the usual covert actions.
Iraq / Afghanistan
Assisted Taliban (arms, training) in civil war against Marxist government as pay back for Russian aid to North Vietnam which indirectly led to al Qaeda’s presence in Afghanistan and the 9/11 attack.
∙ To Date: Inconclusive. In Iraq, Kurds may still desire autonomy (and a future sovereign Kurdistan?). Shiites want political / economic dominance, revenge. Sunnis want political power and share of oil money.
∙ “Foreign fighters” opposed to U.S. interests attracted to conflict. Iran’s regional importance growing. Israel upset about Iran’s actual / potential nuclear capabilities. Pakistan unbalanced. Quantity, availability and purity of Afghani heroin increased. U.S. populace “supports the troops” while doing little for them that’s practical.
∙ Currently, few Iraqis who worked for the U.S. in Iraq allowed into U.S.
∙ Bellicose U.S. politicians who evaded Vietnam, or any subsequence military service, set policy.
∙ Shortage of personnel caused over use of National Guard and Reserves, lowered standards for military recruits, increased expenses for recruiting and re enlistment bonuses.
∙ Bush administration ignored Clinton administration’s findings on terrorism. Under estimated terrorist threat, ignored—or did not respond adequately to—CIA input and information. Did not consolidate operations and data sharing among and within agencies (e.g., CIA, FBI, Pentagon, etc.).
∙ U.S. trained Taliban let al Qaeda operate in Afghanistan and do 9/11 attack.
General American public “supports the troops,” are dissatisfied with its progress, tolerate (so far) its continuance. Vocal minority of public and politicians` insist on “victory” and “winning.” Public think of Hussein as the reason 9/11 happened.
Tour of duty for troops in war zone
Vietnam
∙ 12 months (13 months for Marines); no involuntary extensions or Stop Loss. Minimal use of Reserves and National Guard. Troops could voluntarily extend tour to shorten time spent in military or for other personal reasons.
∙ Iraq / Afghanistan
∙ Length of Army tour recently extended (summer 2007) from 12 to 15 months. Multiple tours being spent in war zone.
Source of troops
Vietnam
∙ Standing military heavily reinforced with draftees.
Iraq / Afghanistan
∙ All volunteer army; no draft. Extensive use of multiple deployments. Heavy use of National Guard and Reservists, mercenaries and contractors. Stop Loss (involuntary extension of military service after contacted enlistment has been served).
Outcome
Vietnam
∙ Drain on economy.
∙ 58, 209 killed; 153,303 wounded (from the web site Wikipedia, accessed 6 Sep 07).
∙ After the U.S. left, Vietnam invaded Cambodia to stop ethnic Vietnamese there from being abused; fought short border war with China.
∙ U.S. has re opened diplomatic and economic ties with Vietnam.
Helped destabilize S.E. Asia.
Iraq / Afghanistan
∙ TBD.
∙ Drain on economy.
∙ Relatively small number of KIA / wounded—so far. Approximately 3,743 KIA and 19,116 wounded (from the web site Iraq Coalition Causalities, accessed 6 Sep 07).
∙ Currently, loss in global prestige / approval. PTSD in troops often ignored, as are effects of Gulf War Syndrome, Depleted Uranium exposure and Military Sex Trauma.
Primary U.S. errors
Vietnam
∙ Inadequate planning and strategizing throughout war.
∙ Not knowing the culture and history of the country and conflict. U.S. prepared for conventional, high tech warfare.
∙ Troop tours too short; inefficient use of them. Basic contempt for citizens of war zone. ∙ Not prepared for opponent blending into civilian population.
∙ Not building up / retraining ARVN sufficiently.
∙ Bad intelligence or misuse / suppression of good intelligence for political reasons.
∙ Tolerating corrupt and inept officials in government. Assuming that the country at war wants US style “democracy”.
Iraq / Afghanistan
∙ To date, inadequate planning and strategizing for war.
∙ Misused money spent on the war effort. Too many contractors in war zone. Not knowing the culture and history of the country and conflict. U.S. prepared for conventional, high tech warfare.
∙ Bad intelligence or misuse / suppression of good intelligence for political reasons.
∙ Basic services in Iraq not yet equal to, or better than, those provided by Saddam Hussein’s regime.
∙ Firing Ba’ath party civil servants even though it was all but impossible to get an Iraqi government job without belonging to that party.
∙ Never fielding enough troops.
∙ Inventing new “rules of the game” to justify own actions.
∙ Antagonizing large segments of Moslem / Arab countries by our presence and actions.
∙ Contemptuous of the citizens of war zone.
∙ Troops deployed too often. Not prepared for opponent blending into civilian population.
∙ Emphasizing Iraq over Afghanistan.
∙ Disbanding the entire Iraqi army.
∙ Preparing to disband the Iraqi national police.
∙ Vetting corrupt, factionalized and inept officials into the new government. Assuming the country we’re warring in and for wants US style “democracy”
∙ Spending too much money inefficiently on war effort.
∙ Looking for WMDS while leaving countless ammo dumps full of artillery and mortar shells intact to be turned into IEDs.
∙ Initially fielding troops with insufficient body armor, inadequately armored vehicles.
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