Ambassador Murdered

[tw]

Originally Posted by Cyber Wolf

So either we were actually the aggressor in that fight, as was apparently not reported, or we were still responding to a perceived aggressive act, which was reported.

One American destroyer was involved in covert actions against N Vietnam when challenged by Vietnam torpedo boats. A second destroyer joined. On the second night, Turner Joy and Maddox were fighting radar images and false reports of torpedos in the water. Crews were nervous.

Back in Washington doubt about that second night. Did not matter. The powers that be were looking for any excuse to escalate.

Later confirmed is what happened. Did not matter. Saddam had WMDs. An exact same attitude needed any excuse to escalate ever since Johnson visited Vietnam saying those were yellow skinned American boys who needed our help. Big dics in the millitary (including Gen LeMay) wanted any excuse for war.

Johnson eventually realized his mistake. Even Johnson apparently learned the war was not winnable. When Walter Cronkite said so, Johnson was looking for a way out. Even sent Vietnam a promise for massive aid if we and they only ended the conflict. But Vietnam was not interested. Vietnam knew they had won.

Nixon and Kissenger also knew Vietnam had already won. But one difference existed. Nixon could not have America's first military defeat on his watch. So Nixon massacred more American soldier than all other presidents combined to only protect his legacy. The worse and most destructive parts of that war (that also causes a recession) were what Nixon did starting 1968. The massacre of American soldiers for the greater glory of one leader.