[Tom]

Originally Posted by truckster

On a related note, I feel the same futility and frustration about the buddies I lost in Iraq. We weren't treated like the Vietnam vets (which is still a horrible national disgrace), but the end result was still lives sacrificed with no apparent benefit to our nation. Maybe we haven't learned a whole lot in 50 years.

We try, and sometimes we fail. That doesn't always mean we shouldn't try.
As for South Vietnam, well....we propped them up for too long. They had all the resources and training they needed to make things happen. We lost far too many people saving them from themselves. At least we got out eventually. It was either that or fully commit to war and stop holding back, which they would never do. A sad story any way you read it.