Let's see. America and some arm twisted allies invade Vietnam because the Frogs lost control of one of their colonies and it was falling to the communists. They fight a war for control of Vietnam with the purpose of installing a non-communist govt.
America and her allies don't succeed in defeating the communist forces, and have to beat a hasty retreat after 15 years of direct military involvement. The war was over when Saigon fell to the Communist North Vietnam Army with the Western allies running away with their tails between their legs.
America then proceeds to try punish Vietnam economically and are constantly trying to kill off the communist regime using Cold War tactics. But The communist regime survives to today and Vietnam is actually a growing economy (a la China) rather than a pariah state (a la North Korea).
Strange how a drawn conflict (Korea) has had a worse outcome (a nuclear armed rogue state) than a clear loss on the part of America. I guess the lesson is that wars should be won or lost. Draws (prolonged ceasefires) seem to be the worst of all possible outcomes.
“The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.” - Bertrand Russell
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."
Jimi Hendrix
