US involvement in the Vietnam War escalated in 1964 when President Lyndon B Johnson ordered combat troops to South Vietnam. US forces stayed in the country until 1975. When the US left South Vietnam fell to the Vietcong and the North Vietnamese Army (NVA). The populace was purged of those who spoke French or English and anyone who opposed or was believed to oppose Communism. Many fled the nation by an means available including by boat (Vietnamese Boat People). The Vietcong then assisted Pol Pot in his revolution that led to mass purges in Kampuchea (Cambodia). Why did the US go to war with a restrictive policy and then back out. It would have been better if the US hadn’t sent troops in the first place.
US involvement in Vietnam cost the lives of 58,220 American soldiers and wounded 153,303 more. The Vietnam War cost the US $168 billion, or $1 trillion in today’s dollars. (The Balance)
The US invasion of Afghanistan was also ill advised. The giant Phil (former god of the Neo Cons now pretends to be anti deep state) stumped for it while others encouraged a more limited role by assisting the Northern Alliance fighters. Air support, advisors and operatives to hunt down Osama Bin Laden where enough was the argument. The plan was working to some degree; the Northern Alliance was able to oust the Taliban. Bin Laden escaped over Khyber Pass into an unadministered territory of Pakistan. George Bush Jr and his administration went full gonzo into Afghanistan. After 21 years the US pulled out under a peace agreement made by Donald Trump and forced into the lap of President Biden. The generals in Afghanistan botched the pullout and the Taliban have been enforcing a strict form of Islamic Law on the people ever since. It would have been better if the US hadn’t sent troops in the first place.
the United States invasion of Afghanistan cost the lives of 6,500 US servicemen and contractors and $2.313 trillion, which includes operations in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. (Forbes)
The United States invasion of Iraq (2nd Gulf War) was denounced by myself and others as a waste of effort as the War in Afghanistan was ongoing. Again the giant Phil (says he went to Vietnam but didn’t) stumped for an invasion. Iraq was not involved in the 9/11 attacks. It is true that Saddam Hussein was a murdering tyrant who had gassed Kurds (Halabja Massacre), but the no fly zone imposed by the US since the First Gulf War had been sufficient to prevent a repeat performance. The elimination of the Iraqi power structure and the inevitable US pull out would, we argued, leave a vacuum to be filled by Iran. To some degree this argument turned out to be correct (CFR). It would have been better if the US hadn’t have sent troops in the first place.
The US involvement in Iraq saw 4,431 US military and contractor lives lost and cost close to $2 trillion (The National News).
At the end of these three conflicts people from the nations involved that saw the US as a force protecting democracy and economic freedom had their hopes dashed. Many were slaughtered in retaliatory or purging actions. These military escapades diminished the diplomatic clout and international credibility of the US.
The US has sent $111 billion to Ukraine and has a authorized $75 billion more. This $75 billion is now tied up in a Republican political ploy to rewrite the budget based on a dispute about enforcement on the Mexican border. The giant Phil wants to stop US aid to Ukraine’s opposition to Vladimir Putin‘s invasion.
Notice the difference in the Ukraine Support policy of the Biden administration to the other three conflicts. $185 billion is a far cry from the collective $5 trillion of the first three conflicts listed.
There are no US troops fighting in Ukraine.
Ukraine forces have retaken more than half the territory gained by Russia (BBC)
The former three US military escapades were backed by the Republican party. Are the Republicans trying to sabotage the United States and democracies around the world? We finally do it right and some Republicans want to balk. Are we going to fail yet another democracy fighting tyranny? It’s time to pass the Ukraine aid package.
Related; Ukraine Invasion Simplified