Were the assumptions flawed? If the US had stepped back, let France pull

out, and let the communist North quickly take the South then it is very likely that Laos, Cambodia and Thailand and down into the islands would have all quickly been consumed by communism in a matter of years. In the 1960s that would have been a bad thing.

In response to this post by banishedtothelounge

Posted: 09/19/2017 at 4:47PM

Watched ep1 of the vietnam series on PBS -- vt_mughal 09/19/2017 12:02PM

"Hue 1968" is a nice dovetail into it ** -- typed by ben 09/19/2017 7:31PM

Actually, we were on HIS side, until we weren't ** -- 133743Hokie 09/19/2017 4:39PM

Enh, Burns blows it after the first episode -- WestyHokie 09/19/2017 3:38PM

Disagree. France tried to come back in and restore their colony -- 133743Hokie 09/19/2017 4:44PM

We're going to disagree here; it wasn't about communism -- WestyHokie 09/19/2017 5:21PM

BTW anyone hear the story that Luther Brice invented napalm -- LaneRat 09/20/2017 2:47PM

Here's a better article -- LaneRat 09/20/2017 2:40PM

I wouldn't call it better; it's parallel -- WestyHokie 09/20/2017 3:40PM

The US didn't prevent the nationwide election in the 50s! -- 133743Hokie 09/19/2017 8:25PM

That's the public line; you might check out some historical links -- WestyHokie 09/20/2017 08:53AM

I've read a significant amount about the war, and disagree with your take -- 133743Hokie 09/20/2017 4:08PM

Watched the 1st 2 episodes, really didn't know much about the history... -- banishedtothelounge 09/19/2017 1:17PM

I didnt know how deeply rooted that conflict was myself. -- vt_mughal 09/19/2017 2:59PM

IMHO: It came down to how overwhelming 'Red' Euro-Asia was... -- banishedtothelounge 09/19/2017 3:39PM

Were the assumptions flawed? If the US had stepped back, let France pull -- 133743Hokie 09/19/2017 4:47PM

I feel the definition of 'communist regime,' has changed over time... -- banishedtothelounge 09/20/2017 09:22AM

I thought the episode was ok.....The jumping back and forth in time... -- CrystalCoveHokie 09/19/2017 12:51PM

Haven't watched it yet, but Ken Burns is the man. ** -- Chris Coleman

09/19/2017 12:03PM

Tell that to Dr Robertson (post Civil War Series) -- NW Raleigh Hokie 09/19/2017 12:07PM

Was Dr Robertson head of the history dept at Tech during 1999-2003? -- okiehokie1 09/19/2017 4:58PM

What was his issue with it? -- Chris Coleman

09/19/2017 12:09PM

Nope.....He was concerned with the accuracy of Ken Burns facts... -- NW Raleigh Hokie 09/19/2017 12:16PM

I remember talking to him after class one date about Gettysburg -- psychobilly 09/19/2017 12:33PM

I didn't think Sheen did a bad job, but he just didn't look like him. ** -- Chris Coleman

09/19/2017 12:38PM

That historian compared Lee to Hitler at the end -- TomTurkey 09/19/2017 5:10PM

I was taking his class when it first aired, yes accuracy was his beef ** -- HokieDan95 09/19/2017 12:23PM

Yep, I've heard him go off about Gettysburg. ** -- Chris Coleman

09/19/2017 12:19PM

Don't get me wrong, Ken Burns tells a great story in his documentaries... -- NW Raleigh Hokie 09/19/2017 12:21PM

Yeah, that's probably right. ** -- Chris Coleman

09/19/2017 12:24PM

You can see the red get in his eyes!! "Burns is a hack"! ** -- UTPr0sim 09/19/2017 12:08PM

Were the assumptions flawed? If the US had stepped back, let France pull

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