Ken Burns' new documentary: The Vietnam War

And I've been unable to catch the series (will probably pick it up on Blu-ray). Has the Cardinal Spellman / Diem connection been mentioned?

 

It's important to note that millions starved before Mao as well.

 

The John Musgrave interviews are compelling. I had to rewind & watch the "Three day in-country R&R for a live NVA prisoner" part several times. His pain at the telling of it & trying to explain the mindset...

 

LBJ describing the war protesters as mentally deranged during his call with Ike and his apparently genuine belief that the war protest was led by communist operatives really indicates how detached HE had become from reality. Our leaders inability to place any value on the life of the Vietnamese was also pretty chilling. The argument about how suspending bombing raids in North Vietnam would only lead to resumed offensive action and cost American lives was telling. Also, how Congress gave up it's authority to declare war has got to be the biggest executive power grab in US history. The notion of Congress declaring war is now a quaint concept from early last century (both parties are equally guilty here).

 

Bones were set without any anesthesia or even an aspirin. That was enough for my wife, she left the room.

 

LBJ seemed to have also a surprisingly big-minded, thoughtful side. I think the war drove him mad. The way he was talking in that particular scene ("mentally deranged protesters") was so at odds with some of his earlier calmer reflections. Different person almost. And he realized it, or Lady Bird did. And that is part of the reason he did not run in '68. He realized how totally he'd lost perspective. On the other hand, maybe that dichotomy of personalities had been with him all his life and wasn't a factor in his '68 decision! Who knows. But I am often surprised at how big-minded LBJ could often be.

 

I forget. At the time LBJ announced he would not run in '68 was Nixon already the apparent GOP nominee? Or was that still an open race? Could this have had something to do with his decision not to run?

 

Yes as to Nixon. History usually presents it as LBJ saw how very unexpectedly close McCarthy came in the NH primary, and that rattled LBJ.

 

There's a former Viet Cong speaking throughout the episodes with obvious relish about how his army deceived, ambushed and killed many Americans.

I'd hate to have to fight an army of him in his own jungle.

 

Watching on my local PBS channel. They showed Part 5 last night, which I felt - from a movie point of view - wasn't as engaging as the previous three episodes (even though plenty of ground was covered). Also, are we as the viewers to assume that when battle footage is being shown on screen that it's from the battle being talked about by the narrator/interviewees?

 

I wouldn't assume that at all with the footage.

 

Thanks. If so, it would be nice if it was noted onscreen.

 

My feeling is that a lot of that footage isn't documented.
However, I could be wrong...

 

I think you are probably right. This was also an issue with other war-related documentaries, like The World At War.

 

Even though I knew from the tone of the interviews that Denton Crocker Jr. wasn't going to come home from Vietnam, Moogey's death was very hard to take none the less.

 

This series should be mandatory viewing for high school students. Hopefully by doing so a few lives could be saved down the road.

 

Unfortunately that is unlikely. The Powell Doctrine was based on several lessons from Vietnam and it was dropped about as fast as it was adopted by people who knew better (again, in both parties) -who knew our history in Vietnam..

 

I just wish someone could have gotten to him and convinced him of how irrational his hyper-eagerness to fight in this war was. Pity.

 

"If you got the dough you don't have to go"...

 

Impossible. His parents tried.

Even now, when kids should know better, they continue to sign up in droves. Madness(and, unfortunately, desperation).

 

They haven't got to 1968 yet, maybe tonight unless they spend the whole episode on the Tet Offensive.

 

At least in my market, the next 'new' episode - episode 6 - airs this Sunday.

 

On Robert McNamara, a must-watch documentary is Errol Morris' The Fog of War: The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara

IIRC, McNamara doesn't express any remorse for his role in the escalation of the Vietnam war. In that sense, I think it provides a different perspective than that of the Burns' documentary. Morris' documentary is hypnotizing . . . it really is a fine piece of work.

 

"....I don't know how to explain it, that it would make sense."

The Vietnam war in one sentence.

 

Oh, that's right, this is Friday. I've been on staycation all week and forgot.