by JHLApril 30, 2010

Dailygut.com

This week marks the 35th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.

On PBS, Jeffrey Brown interviewed Tim O'Brien, a vietnam veteran and author of The Things They Carried(a popular book that tells stories about an American platoon and the affects Nam had on them-part fiction, part autobiographical ) .

The interview wasn't very satisfying to me. No comments would have been more comforting. O'Brien gave some innocuous answers about war. The interview was mostly about his book. I thought he would have made more comments about the mistakes we made in Nam and how it affected Vietvets.

My opinion isn't criticism of him although it sounds like it. He actually is going to schools and talking about war which is a good thing.

The sour grapes are mostly my fault. I want someone to raise hell by saying what war is all about including how governments make stupid decisions and then try to justify them.

It is not that war in Afghanistan or Iraq is not a noble effort, at least in theory, but it is stupid. Without going into a rant, let us lament the fact that we lost 58,000 plus Americans in Vietnam and accomplished nothing but the scars we still carry, both physical and emotional.

Let me hear the argument that we have accomplished something in Iraq. There's almost as much chaos as when we invaded. American deaths are way down as we have moved out of the cities; but, with great regularity, the people are still being killed. They are struggling with the government after no clear cut winner in the recent election. I'm still skeptical that we'll be able to get out clean.

In Afghanistan, we are operating with the best strategy to be successful I think. The only caveat is that it will be at least 10 years in Afghanistan for it to possibly work. Have we learned anything since Nam? No way! So, this ex-soldier ain't celebrating the anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.

Looking Back at the Vietnam War with Author, Veteran Tim O'Brien

The 30th Anniversary of The Fall of Saigon

The Things They Carried

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