It took about 4 years for public sentiment to turn decidedly against the Vietnam war. Of course by 1968, Vietnam encompass more people than Iraq and was far more costly. However it took the Tet Offensive to make people start believing it was a war we were never going to win. Once that was realized mainstream opinion turned against the War, and LBJ, with a vengence. So much so that Johnson entered 1968 still fairly popular, but within 3 months gave up all hopes of running for reelection. At this point a majority of the people are wary of the Iraq war ranging from them not being sure we will get out soon to ouright believe that we should get out now. Perhaps the upcoming elections (if they happen) will provide the catalyst, like the Tet Offensive did in 1968, when the American public has had enough.

While I was only born in late 1961, I remember 1968 and Vietnam quite well.  On June 6th of that year, my brother David was killed at Binh Duong.  Although I was only 6, I remember coming home with my Aunt and my brother to see the military cars in our driveway.

Does anyone have any statistics to show how many deaths per year there was in Vietnam in the early years?

Paul
Bring Ohio Home

1961-65.......1,864
1966..........5,008
1967..........9,378
1968.........14,594
1969..........9,414
1970..........4,221
1971..........1,380
1972............300

...until the pleasure we derive as a nation from killing brown people who worship the wrong God exceeds the pain we experience from the loss of our own sons and daughters.

Given the frankly racist administration that the American people just renewed, and its nakedly theocratic approach to the world, I think it far more likely that Bush's SS 'reform', gutting the tax code,  stuffing the courts, etc. will be sacrificed to maintain the war, rather than vice versa.

I dont' think the people running this show, and the people who re-elected them, will ever get the sort of satisfaction that they can derive from a Fallujah merely from overhauling the inheritance tax, or installing prayer in the schools for example.

These are profoundly evil times.

The real tipping point of Vietnam was the draft.  At this point it is still an all Volentay military.  With the extsion of service of people alerady there, they won't need to burden the average american.

The real problem become what happen is the futre, when the umber of reservist goes down, because they feel betrayed, by their long extend deployments.  In the longrun the number of reservestist will go donwn and theyn when where will they gethe numbers they need. They might have no choice but to initiate a draft.

Face it folks, we are stuck with another guerilla war until 2008.  Unlike Nixon, Dippy has no political motivation to bring the troops home.  Right now we are psychologically at 1965 when LBJ began committing more troops to the chaos because "we can't afford to loose".  But even the demoralized legionaires are beginning to see the light--some are pulicly resisting their extended tours.  I too blame JFK for no clear anti-war stance, but strategically he may have been correct--Joe Sixpack is not yet war weary.

Dominos anyone?