Lou Loc: Florida

I was in Pleiku during TET , it all depends how you look at it . I don't think Ho Chi Minh thought it would win the war or lose it , but it showed THREE glaring facts :
1) In spite of heavy bombing of the Ho Chi Minh trail , we were unable to shut it down .
2) Although we were not "losing " the war , we CERTAINLY were not winning .
3) Gen.Westmoreland and the CIA were lying to the President AND the American people regarding the progress and success of the Vietnam War .

The VC did not gain any ground , they were repelled in Saigon after attacking and almost overrunning the US Embassy . The counter attacks elsewhere in several cities were successful in that the VC did not hold any cities or territory they had attacked .
It became evident to Johnson , and he knew he was running headlong into what Pres.Eisenhower warned about , The Military Industrial Complex , and rather than fight them , he would drop out of any attempt to get re-elected . He could not end the war if he wanted to . All this came into the public domain through The Pentagon Papers and Ellsberg . At the time of TET , no one knew those things . Cronkite got a glimmer of reality from talking to the GI's themselves who were beginning to see it all along . Tet accentuated the reality . Nixon thought he could bomb his way to a stalemate at the border and a truce . The reality was , there would be no victory unless we were willing to take on the Chinese . So we got Nixon's" Peace with Honor " as it were .

Cronkite's two perspectives were not surprising . The impressions one would have at the time of Tet would change after Tet . One had to absorb what had really happened .Cronkite merely reflected what the GIs AND the American people were thinking as they reassessed the situation before and after TET . It was becoming clear , winning the war was an illusion perpetrated by Westmoreland and the CIA . Too bad Nixon refused to see it . But neither Johnson nor Nixon wanted to go don in history as the President who lost a war .

VladimirPee

No he blamed it all on a back problem. But who expected you to have accurate facts. CNN

The radio talk show host said he first became addicted to paink**lers "some years ago," following spinal surgery. However, he added, "the surgery was unsuccessful and I continued to have severe pain in my lower back and also in my neck due to herniated discs. I am still experiencing that pain

Lou Loc: Florida

Sorry dennis , you got the wrong info . Rush lives about 12 miles from here and it was big news in the local papers .In fact Rush reported that this hearing problem with his ear was affecting his work . I heard no mention about a back problem as Rush put up his defense and excuses . You most likely heard Rush's " REVISED VERSION " .

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Thank you, Lou.

JohnDeere, if I sounded a little defensive with my reply, it was because I am, and will remain so. Regardless of any 'Nam Vet's perspective, they have earned the right. Many were not afforded the dignity and honor from the public that came to so many from other conflicts.

My fellow Vets from that War are, to a great degree, a brotherhood. I will defend any of them from undue criticism or ridicule. Whenever I think of the sacrifice so many I knew/know made, it angers me that some were/are often besmirched for not falling into a preconceived "mold" or idea of who or what they should be. They are Proud Americans, and I am especially proud to be one of them.

Pardon my rant....I feel strongly about this.

I will not interrupt this forum again by getting off topic.

VladimirPee

Lou His hearing problem was another issue. He has had chronic back pain for decades. I posted his statement directly from CNN. All the information is out there for you. Take advantage of it and stop wandering through life clueless.

Here is CBS

Prosecutors began investigating Limbaugh in 2003 after the National Enquirer reported his housekeeper's allegations that he had abused OxyContin and other paink**lers. He soon took a five-week leave from his radio show to enter a rehabilitation program and acknowledged he had become addicted to pain medication. He blamed it on severe back pain.

Lou Loc: Florida

Just going by what Rush himself claimed on his radio show as the cause of his addiction .

VladimirPee

Rush never once said his pain came from his loss of hearing. That was a totally different issue. He said on his show it was back pain.

Lou Loc: Florida

Believe what you wish Dennis , I used to listen to Rush, and I know what I heard , and I know what I read .

Lou Loc: Florida

Believe what you wish Dennis , I used to listen to Rush, and I know what I heard , and I know what I read .

VladimirPee

Ok I will ignore all the known facts and transcripts of his show. I will ignore all the newspaper reports and rely on what Lou thinks he heard. I will even ignore the tape of his show from the day he admitted he had a drug problem due to chronic back pain. I will toss out all the evidence and stick to my story just like a liberal would do.

John Deere

For once I can agree with most of what Lou has said. I still stand by the way I feel about Walter and what he and the democrat party did to L.B.J. I also remember in the early 80's Mike Wallace did an interview with Westmorland and it was more like an attack against the retired general. Ironic it was the same network as Walter's. Westmorland did sue CBS and won. If you and I were to debate the war, we'd both find it wouldn't be much of a debate because there would be a lot of agreement between us. Even though I didn't go into the Army until after Tet happened and Westmorland was gone from Viet Nam. And I didn't v**e in the 1968 e******n, 1 month too young.

John Deere

That's OK. But I came from a family that served the U.S. military in both WW's and Korea and Viet Nam. No one was a LIFER but it was a sense of duty. I don't like Algore or Kerry, but at least they did go, unlike Clinton. Even though I came from a republican v****g family, and democrats were presidents during all these wars, politics were thrown aside to support the country. Now I see this division of the late 60s, early 70s, coming back. I thought this was all behind us.

MPLSMAN Loc: Bloomington, MN

I think it's worse.
As a liberal, I would be willing to discuss intelligently any of the many problems facing our country with any one. That's why I got on this forum to begin with.
However, unfortunately, I find little of that. No attempt to discuss, face facts, or be rational, just hatred and name calling.

A little aside, here. At one of my previous jobs, we had a little lunch group. Myself, a Christian; John, a Jehovah's Witness; and another man (I forget his name), a Socialist. Wow, did we have some discussions, all friendly.

OldSchool Loc: Moving to the Red State of Utah soon!

Most, if not all, of us conservatives, and I'm sure some moderates too, came into this forum with the same intent, and expectations as you. But, after getting some real nasty responses, from liberals like BoJester, Lou, Don Overton, Inyourface, Bluejacket, just to name a few, it doesn't take long to start returning the favor. One can not get into any discussions with these individuals without receiving a barrage of expletives, name calling, and trash talking. Am I guilty of some of it, yes I h**e to say I am, but I didn't start it first - I only responded to one of their trash talking replies. When I get lambasted by one of these jerks, my crusty old sailor years just seem to rise to the surface and wants to fire back. Too be honest, I always thought liberals were the "why can't we all get along" crowd? This has been an eye opener for me. I have some friends (retired military and police officers) who would like to join the forum, but after showing them a couple of posts by Bo jester and Lou, they declined, and I don't think I need to explain why.

Tell these people to tone it down, and I will do the same.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

I salute you and your family.

My grandfather was a Marine in WWI, along with his brother, my great-uncle. My dad, 2 uncles, and my stepmom served in WWII, with my dad and uncles also in the Corps. My dad and one uncle came back to serve, again, in Korea. My older brother and I served in Viet Nam, along with several cousins, and with brothers who served in that time period, but not in 'Nam, itself. My son served in the Air Force, and I have had nephews serve in Desert Storm, Iraqui Freedom and Afghanistan. I understand and applaud your p***e in family and country. I also understand your concerns.

I'm sure you'll understand my p***e and concerns.

SEMPER FI