VIETNAM: WIN OR LOSE?

The usual consensus is that we lost in Vietnam, but, if you consider the avowed reason we went into the war, it looks like we may have lost the battle but won the war. We were told that the reason we had to go to war in Vietnam was the Domino Effect, .i.e. If south Vietnam fell to Communism, Laos and Cambodia would soon follow, then Thailand, and finally the Big Kahuna - Indonesia, one of the world's most populous nations. Well, south Vietnam did fall, but they seem to be Communism lite. Laos is Communist, but they are one of the poorest, if not the poorest, countries in the world and certainly are no threat to us. Though things looked bad for Cambodia for some years, they now seem to have righted themselves. Their biggest money maker is tourism (Incidentally, Laos is trying to increase their tourism as well.). Thailand has flirted with Democracy, though it is currently under military rule, but is not Communist. Indonesia is a Democracy. Some Indonesians even say they are a better Democracy than the U.S.

Vietnam is an increasingly important trading power, and we have had an ambassador there since 1995 (currently Michael W. Michalak). President George W. Bush (Bush-43), visited Vietnam twice and tried to sign a trade agreement with them, but the Senate wouldn't approve it. But if you believe the Domino Effect was the real fear that drove to war in Vietnam, it surely looks like we won. The important point is that Vietnam is well accepted by the U.S. government and has been for some years.