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Vietnam, Iraq and baby boomers

A boomer president is blamed for the war in Iraq while former boomer military men and women suffer the emotional and psychological wounds of the Viet Nam war. Many Presidents are blamed for the Viet Nam war. The stage was set for both wars before combat ever began.

The two wars have been compared by many who speak out against the Iraqi war. But in sheer numbers, Viet Nam was by far the bloodiest war with 58,000 casualties and 304,000 wounded veterans.

Three to four million Vietnamese were killed in the war and more than a million were killed or executed after the US pulled its troops from Viet Nam. U.S. involvement began at least a dozen years before we sent troops to Viet Nam.

"The Wall Street Journal (August 3, 1995) published an interview with Bui Tin who served on the General Staff of the North Vietnam Army and received the unconditional surrender of South Vietnam on April 30, 1975. During the interview Mr. Tin was asked if the American antiwar movement was important to Hanoi's victory. Mr. Tin responded 'It was essential to our strategy' referring to the war being fought on two fronts, the Vietnam battlefield and back home in America through the antiwar movement on college campuses and in the city streets. He further stated the North Vietnamese leadership listened to the American evening news broadcasts 'to follow the growth of the American antiwar movement.' "
www.vietnamwar.com/janefonda.t hm

Jane Fonda (not a boomer) was the loudest mouthpiece for anitwar protests against the Viet Nam war. She paid visits to North Vietnam, sympathized with them, and said of the U.S. prisoners, "they were well treated in prison". When POWs returned from the war and told stories of their torture and other atrocities, Fonda called them "liars and hypocrites." Senator John McCain reported that he "was tortured because he refused to meet with Fonda and her group", while he was a POW.

Even for many boomers who returned home from the war physically unscathed, severe wounds on the psyche have dealt the veterans a troubled life in U.S. society and family relationships.

Iraq War:

Of course the majority of U. S. citizens attribute this war solely to G.W. Bush. While he set the actual wheels of war in motion, the U.S. campaign to remove Saddam came before G.W. Bush's presidential term began.

In a speech to the nation in 1998, Clinton: " "If Saddam can cripple the weapons inspections system and get away with it, he would conclude the international community, led by


Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

Vietnam, Iraq and baby boomers

  • 1 of 15

    by Mona Gallagher

    A boomer president is blamed for the war in Iraq while former boomer military men and women suffer the emotional and ... read more

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    by Louisa Comfort

    I was not alive for Vietnam. But I did deploy to Iraq. Twice. Are the two wars different? Sure. Does that mean i... read more

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    Baby boomer is a term that came into use following World War II to describe the explosion of babies born during,... read more

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    by Angela S. Young

    Even though the war in Iraq has gone on for far longer than anticipated, the US is now committed to helping the Iraq ... read more

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    by Ray Fauteux

    Destiny in it's infinite wisdom deals the hands of life and all we can do is play those cards the best we can. We bl... read more

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Vietnam, Iraq and baby boomers

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