Vietnam and Iraq: Are Soldiers Dying For Nothing Or Something?

My father died in Vietnam when I was seven in 1965. I have struggled since his death with did he die for nothing...when the last American soldier left in 1975, North Vietnam took over South Vietnam...so, in one way he did die for nothing...but he also wrote a letter than ended up being printed in newspapers around the country since he died in 1965 in one of the first big offensives. Dad wrote, ‘The reason I am fighting communism now is so my sons, George and Mike, won't have to five, ten years from now.' His words still give me a sense of peace most days that he died for something he believed in...two years after the death of JFK and three years removed from the Cuba Missile crisis...Many soldiers believed his words. I am grateful he didn't end up going and dying much later, say in 1972 when all the lies and deception were exposed about Vietnam...much like the lies and deception that surround Iraq...fighting another civil to establish a government that doesn't have the total support of the its country's people...the soldiers doing their jobs should always be supported and kept separate from the war machine politics that create war...I believe many soldiers are fighting and dying today like my dad for something they believe in...keeping America from experiencing another 9-11, preserving freedom, whatever they need to believe in...at least I want to believe that despite the ill-conceived notions of our government for invading Iraq...the mystery bullet fired at the US Maddox in the Gulf of Tonkin started the Vietnam Police action...war was never declared in Vietnam hence the War Powers Act...the weapons of mass deception and Iraq's phantom connection to 9-11 fueled the invasion of Iraq...we can and should disagree with the reasons for the Iraq War...we still have a first amendment right to address our grievances to the government...But I know the soldiers are at least dying for something they believe in, some ideal beyond a bungled war...whether they agree with the war or not they continue to fight and die...I would think most families believe their husbands, wives, sons, and daughters are fighting for something...even most of us have doubts..I have all the respect in the world for our soldiers. But I detest the politics that create war. I hope the soldiers start to return home soon before more die fighting a civil war only Bush, Chaney, and the diehard Bushworld supporters think we can win...