The answer is quite simple - the war for the unification of Vietnam did not threaten the security of the U.S. or the Western world in any way. The same reason a lot oppose the current war in Iraq. Viet Nam was a civil war situation. The major factor keeping one side fighting was Americans had invaded. We made it worse by being there and it was costing American lives and it was an unwinnable war. In Iraq, it is fairly easy for foreign insurgents to recruit young people by fanning their hatred of the other side and of Americans. When we leave, there will be civil war or there will be peace. While we are there, only war. And it is costing American lives.Even though some soldiers might have been a feckless youth, they eventually matured into hard-working and responsible men. The movement against the involvement of the United States in the Vietnam War began in the U.S. with demonstrations in 1964 and grew in strength in later years. The U.S. became polarized between those who advocated continued involvement in Vietnam, and those who wanted peace. North Vietnam (and their allies), led by Ho Chi Minh. North Vietnam was a communist state which was something the USA opposed. When the North made sttempts to take over the South the USA felt it was their responsibility to move in and stop these moves. Ended up an unpopular and eventually faltering goal for the USA. According to international agreement, Vietnam was to be temporarily divided into north and south, with free elections to take place nationwide in 1956. Even before the French were out, the U.S. was moving in. Prior to Dien Bien Phu, the U.S. set up MAAG (Military Assistance and Advisory Group) consisting of 350 U.S. personnel operating in Saigon in support of the French. Between 1950 and 1954, the U.S. contributed over $3 billion to their French allies in the fight for Vietnam. By 1954, the U.S. contributions were providing 80% of the cost of the war. MAAG began to train a "nationalistic" Vietnamese force of a quarter of a million men. This force was largely made up of Vietnamese who had fought for the French.In result, it became ubiquitously known througout the world and not just those literally involved in battle.
"War is conducted for the benefit of the very few at the expense of the masses. Out of war a few people make huge fortunes...How many millionaires ever shoulder a rifle?
"For a great many years as a soldier, I had the suspicion that war was a racket. Not until I retired did I fully realize it.
"I was," said Butler of his own role in Central American intervention, "nothing more than a gangster for Wall Street."
