In retrospect, the public was duped by another "bogus narrative." This one was that the communists were trying to take over the world and we had to stop them in the nation of Vietnam. I guess the thought was that if we didn't wage a war (that ended up lasting more than a decade), the communists would invade and conquer America?
The sad irony is that much of the totalitarian socialist/communist dogma has been largely implemented via other means.
The real threat to freedom and liberties was, of course, our own government. I know, even today, It's not popular to make such an observation, but I think it's true.
We also fought a war against "terrorism" in Iraq and Afghanistan even though the terrorists had no possibility of conquering America and, certainly, Iraq and Afghanistan were never going to invade America.
All this said, the troops were doing what they were ordered to do (by civilians who would never risk their lives) and we should always remember their sacrifices and service.
I keep thinking we need a greater "watchdog" press that is skeptical enough to challenge some of these dubious narratives before they become iron-clad "truths."
All these narratives have the same goal - to control the masses by producing irrational or non-sensical fears.
Excellent thoughts Bill, and I think the "Watchdog Press" you are referring to is emerging (or has emerged on Substack or a Podcast). The Domino Effect has certainly been proven wrong. What I could never understand was why the U.S. was fighting a Communist regime in Vietnam while there was a Communist government 90 miles away in Cuba? Taking Cuba from Castro sure makes more sense in retrospect. That would have been a fight we could have won.
In retrospect, the public was duped by another "bogus narrative." This one was that the communists were trying to take over the world and we had to stop them in the nation of Vietnam. I guess the thought was that if we didn't wage a war (that ended up lasting more than a decade), the communists would invade and conquer America?
The sad irony is that much of the totalitarian socialist/communist dogma has been largely implemented via other means.
The real threat to freedom and liberties was, of course, our own government. I know, even today, It's not popular to make such an observation, but I think it's true.
We also fought a war against "terrorism" in Iraq and Afghanistan even though the terrorists had no possibility of conquering America and, certainly, Iraq and Afghanistan were never going to invade America.
All this said, the troops were doing what they were ordered to do (by civilians who would never risk their lives) and we should always remember their sacrifices and service.
I keep thinking we need a greater "watchdog" press that is skeptical enough to challenge some of these dubious narratives before they become iron-clad "truths."
All these narratives have the same goal - to control the masses by producing irrational or non-sensical fears.
Excellent thoughts Bill, and I think the "Watchdog Press" you are referring to is emerging (or has emerged on Substack or a Podcast). The Domino Effect has certainly been proven wrong. What I could never understand was why the U.S. was fighting a Communist regime in Vietnam while there was a Communist government 90 miles away in Cuba? Taking Cuba from Castro sure makes more sense in retrospect. That would have been a fight we could have won.
Do you know anything at all about the 'Bay of Pigs" operation? Do you know anything other than government propaganda about the murder of JFK?
Are you asking me if I know about the Bay of Pigs? No, I must have missed that...LOL