1. Vietnam & Iraq
Is there a parallel?
A look comparing & contrasting the 2 wars
2. Causes
Vietnam Iraq
• Stop spread of communism • Stop the tyrant government
and Ho Chi Minh’s tyranny of Saddam Hussein
• U.S.S. Maddox incident • 9/11 incident used as
justification
3. How do the troop levels and
casualties compare?
Vietnam Iraq
• U.S. Involvement 1950-1975 • U.S. invasion March 20, 2003-
present.
• Started as only military advisers
being sent. By 1969, over 500,000 • Troops in Iraq – highest total Aug.
American troops were in Vietnam 2007: 162,000. As of February 28,
2010: 98,000. As of May 2011:
• Nearly 58,000 American soldiers
46,000. All other nations have
died.
withdrawn their troops.
• 153,000 wounded • U.S. Troop Casualties - 4,450
• 30% of US troops develop ptsd • Wounded - 32,075
• 15-20% of US troops develop
serious mental health problems
within 3 to 4 months of returning
home
4.
5. How Americans viewed the war
Similarities Differences
• In both conflicts public • In Vietnam conflict the
support weakened as time support of military leaders and
elapsed. soldiers weakened. Soldiers
• Both experienced a treated with indifference and
creditability gap because of even hostility when returned
images displayed on TV. home.
Media played a role in the • In Iraq, although approval of
diminishing public opinion. the war has decreased, the
public continues to support
troops and welcome them
home.
6. Public Opinion
Vietnam
• Support for the war was at
its height in 1965 when the
U.S. government pushed for
support in sending more
troops to Vietnam.
• After three years a negative
opinion of the war bypassed
the positive support
• Mostly negative opinion
after eight years of war.
7. Public Opinion
Iraq
• March 2003: 22%
Americans say U.S. led
invasion was a bad decision.
75% supported the
invasion.
• April 2007: 58% felt the
invasion was a mistake.
• Nov. 2008: 63% disprove
the war in Iraq.
9. Protest Movements
• Although both wars lost public support
as time went on, the protesting against
the Vietnam war created a lot of social
upheaval.
– Vietnam protesting divided the U.S..
There were numerous protests
across the nation, especially on
college campuses.
– Vietnam protests were on media
regularly.
• Many youth protested Vietnam because
of the draft.
– If there was a draft enacted for Iraq,
do you think there were be more
protesting?
10. Other Similarities
1) The goals for both wars led U.S. to fight in other neighboring
countries.
– Vietnam: U.S. invasion and bombing of Cambodia.
– Iraq: Involved in war in Afghanistan and attacking terrorist
outposts in Pakistan. as well, as part of war on terrorism.
2) Both wars fought primarily with U.S troops
– Vietnam: French pulled out of area quickly.
– Iraq: Coalition forces have all pulled troops out of area.
11. Other Similarities
3) Both wars fought on the Asian Continent which caused
difficulty for U.S. troops.
- Vietnam in Southeast Asia (Jungle Fighting)
- Iraq in the Middle East (Sandstorms)
- Both were far away from American soil
4) American air power and advanced weapons did not lead to
quick victory.
- Air power used to destroy supplies, buildings and troops.
- Enemy fought in a “guerilla” style.
5) Financial Cost of War
- Vietnam War $120 billion. Ended LBJ’s Great Society and
also put U.S. in debt.
-Iraq $900billion (As of Nov 2011), with a huge U.S. debt and
economic problems on the home front.
12. Other Differences
• Recruitment of soldiers
– Vietnam used a draft
– Iraq used enlisted and volunteer soldiers.
• Tours of Duty
– Vietnam: Serve one tour and you are done.
– Iraq: Multiple tours of duty without soldier’s choice.
• Improved and advanced weapons, body armor and medical
treatment for Iraq War.
– Does this play a role in there being less casualties?
– Also a reason for such a greater financial cost.
• Age of Soldier
– Vietnam 19
– Iraq 27
13. Will the Outcomes Compare?
South Vietnam fell quickly after U.S.
withdrew all troops from
Vietnam. Will Iraq?
Today, we have a diplomatic
relationship with Vietnam… will
we have good relations with Iraq
in the future?
Editor's Notes
Military advisors arrived beginning in 1950. U.S. involvement escalated in the early 1960s, with U.S. troop levels tripling in 1961 and tripling again in 1962. Vietnam: As of January 15, 2004, there are 1,875 Americans still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. Since 1975, nearly three times as many Vietnam veterans have committed suicide than were killed in the war. Fifty-eight-thousand-plus Americans died in the Vietnam War. Over 150,000 have committed suicide since the war ended. 536,000 troops (highest stat count I found)
91% of Vietnam Veterans say they are glad they served. 74% say they would serve again, even knowing the outcome.
While public opinion with respect to the rightness and progress of the war in Iraq has followed a path not unlike that charted during the Vietnam War, one important difference stands out: public attitudes toward the military.
Climate and weather are different but lead to problems for U.S. troops. Rain and flooding in Vietnam stopped many advancements. Sand storms and heat have caused problems in Iraq.
Some U.S. soldiers military time has been extended without their support to send them for another tour in Iraq.
