The conflicts -- Vietnam, Korea -- were absolutely part of the Cold War. The only reason we got involved at all was because the Russians would be supporting the `other' side and our politicians would get nervous about being tagged as the people who `lost' (fill in the blank.)
Or, the Russians and/or Chinese would seek to liberate exploit stir up trouble free overturn right a wrong
(pick your version of events) and the U.S. would respond.
The phrase `Cold War' does not mean there was no shooting. It just means that the U.S. and the Russians didn't shoot at each other directly, since that would quickly escalate into our Mutually Assured Destruction. (the policy of MAD).
It would more accurate to call that time the `Decades of War by Proxy.'
And before you tag the Dems as the warmonger party, remember that the Gulf of Tonkin resolution, which became the thin reed of authorization for prosecuting the conflict, says in part ...
``Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Congress approves and supports the determination of the President, as Commander in Chief, to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression.''
Surely there were one or two Republicans that voted for the measure. would love to find the actual vote breakdown, but it escapes me for the moment.
"Bob" wrote:
Larry Levinson Talking up to the vocal ... LLevinson*Bloomberg.net (remove the star etc ....)