Vietnam: all the lies and dishonesty

'The Vietnam War' is a 10-episode series on the history of the United States war in Vietnam. The film, available on Netflix, includes how the US first got involved in the country. 

It is a powerful but worrying account of the realities of war.

I am a child of the Vietnam generation.

On the day in 1975 that the war ended and Vietnam was liberated from US aggression I took part in a celebratory demonstration in Rome.

The film tells many stories, among them how far removed the political and military hierarchy were out of touch with what was happening on the ground. And both the White House and the Pentagon refused to believe what soldiers in the field were telling them.

As early as 1966 they knew the war was unwinnable. Both politicians and military kept the full story from the people, in other words, they told them lies.

One of the strongest advocates of the war, Secretary of Defence, Robert McNamara eventually realised his folly and retired from politics.

Interesting how three future US presidents never saw service in Vietnam. Clinton, Bush and Trump were all age-eligible to have been sent. That tells its own story. 

And Trump, who is constantly roaring about his patriotism, respect for the flag and his devotion to the military, was and is a draft dodger.

War never makes anything better, it makes it worse.