Our rifles failed under sustained battlefield conditions until they were refitted. The AK-47s seemed to trundle along no matter what. I'm not qualified to critique strategy, but determination to be the victor is essential. We didn't have that.
My buddy <<sounds preposterous.... what kind of weapons was he talking about?>> was talking about M-16s.
I am not sure we should have been there, <<Why, in your view, should we have been there? >> but since we were there we should have gone to win. The real reason that we were there, which is almost never mentioned as far as I know, is that Vietnam is strategically located between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. If we ever have to fight another major war there, a strategic base would make it a lot easier.
The Kerrey thing is very perplexing, but the debate about whether he should be punished, rewarded, forgiven, or just forgotten about is ridiculous. He's doing all of that to himself and we have no business in it. It's a little strange that he accepted the bronze star for that action, but even stranger that it should have been offered to him. I expect that was probably part of some cover up.
I think our guys should be trained not to commit atrocities, but what's done is done. War is utterly awful. Punishing those who participated on our behalf is dishonorable. |
