What type of war was the Vietnam war?

Answer 1

Well, the definition of the word "war" is "A state of open, armed, often prolonged conflict carried on between nation, states, or parties.", so by that definition Vietnam was in fact a war. However, officially in the eyes of the United States government, it was a conflict, because Congress never declared war on Vietnam. In fact, Congress hasn't declared war since 1941, so whenever you hear someone talking of the "war" in Iraq, you should correct them, and if they bring up the definition of "war", note the fact that there is no "nation, state, or party" to be at war with.

Answer 2

The Vietnam War was not technically a war (though many would disagree) because Congress did not officially declare war. However, it was perceived by the rest of the world as a war and as a consequence America lost much of its political pull. For the grunts in the field it was a war. WWII was the US's last "declared war." WWII also brought the world into the "atomic age", when the nuclear weapons were dropped on Hiroshima & Nagasaki in August 6 & 9, 1945, ending WWII. Because of the "Nuclear age" (same as "atomic age") all out wars like WWII can no longer be fought...without risking "mutual destruction." This brought about the "cold war." A cold war is a non-shooting war. The cold war invented the "limited wars." Limited wars have more restrictive rules than all out declared wars (WWII was limited on the use of biological & chemical weapons, by treaty). Limited wars have restrictions on where they can fight, and what weapons they can use: Example; the Vietnam War was supposed to remain confined to Vietnam (not any other country), and was NOT to use atomic weapons. Therefore, Vietnam was a limited war. The Korean War nearly turned into a bigger war, because Red China entered it after the US/Allies invaded North Korea. We corrected that situation in Vietnam by NOT invading North Vietnam. We wanted Vietnam to remain a "limited war." Involving no other country. Both the Korean War (1950-1953) & the Vietnam War (1961-1975) were "Limited Wars" fought against the spread of communism. Both wars were fought against armies & air forces of that particular country. If NO country is being fought, if No leadership (President, Dictator, King, Premier, Chairman, etc) is available for negotitions, No standing regular army is being fought, and NO air force or navy is being fought; and only violence within the country is being fought, with the intent of returning order and stabilization to that country, with arrests and trials and executions, then it is a "police action." Stop splitting hairs. Just ask someone who was there if it was a war.

Answer 3

The Vietnam War was a "limited war"; limited to conventional weapons only (nukes not allowed). It was fought as both a guerrilla war in South Vietnam and as a conventional war against North Vietnam. Like the US Civil War of the 1860s, the Vietnam War of the 1960s was an un-declared war.

Answer 4

Yes, and one the most painful and deadliest one's. So many died and you if asked them ; many of the soldiers that went there to battle lost the meaning and the purpose of what and why they were there and fighting for? They spent many years there not knowing there faith...It was and it is Sad!

Answer 5

Yes; the nation of North Vietnam against the United States.

Answer 6

jungle fighting.