Is Iraq Another Vietnam?

Abstract

Vietnam, our nation's longest war, and only major military defeat left many strategic leaders to adopt the slogan "never again" with respect to U.S. strategy and politics during the Vietnam conflict. Many are comparing the protracted, insurgent, and proxy nature of the current conflict in Iraq with Vietnam. Are comparisons between the two conflicts relevant and politically applicable? Are there still valuable lessons learned from Vietnam that are applicable to Iraq? This project focuses on comparing the two conflicts across insurgent, globalization lines of operation, civilian military relations, cost (national treasure), strategy, and U.S. forces in terms of effects. This strategic research project reveals the two conflicts are comparable and have more in common than not. We can learn, and in many instances, re-learn strategic lessons from Vietnam which apply to the current fight in Iraq and future conflicts.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 11, 2007
Accession Number
ADA469607

Entities

People

  • Charles B. Salvo

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Counter IED
  • Counter WMD
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Civil War
  • Community Relations
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Education
  • Explosive Devices
  • Geography
  • Governments
  • Guerrilla Warfare
  • Improvised Explosive Devices
  • Insurgency
  • Military Science
  • North Vietnam
  • Sectarian Violence
  • United States
  • Vietnam War
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Military and Counterinsurgency Studies.
  • Strategic Security Studies