We didn’t lose Vietnam because we lost the US citizenry. We lost Vietnam because we never gained the Vietnamese citizen support. The US failed to distinguish the parties in Vietnam.

If you expect to win the hearts and minds, you must know the hearts and minds. This begins with our being able to distinguish between the groupings and goals of the “indigenous population” as we call all the citizens we are saving. Ask the next Vietnam Vet you meet how much Vietnamese he knew. Why not ask the next Iraqi Freedom Hero how to ask “Is there anything I can do to help?” How many tours before he has a chance of knowing what a mother or son are saying as we put on restraints?