What were the events that led the US to a full-scale entrance into Vietnam compared to the events that led the US to enter Iraq?

Answer 1

The Korean War (1950-1953) was the first "hot" battle of the cold war; the cold war started in 1945. The Vietnam War was the second "hot" battle of the cold war. Both Korea & Vietnam involved infiltration of communist forces into their southern neighbor (South Korea & South Vietnam). Iraq Operations (Desert Shield 1990, Desert Storm 1991, Iraqi Freedom 2003, etc) would NOT have been conducted had the cold war still been active. Because of possible Soviet/Chinese intervention. The US did NOT get involved with the Israeli/Arab wars of 1967 & Yom Kipper war of 1973 for the same reasons, the US wanted to avoid SUPERPOWER involvement. In those wars, the Soviets/Red Chinese supplied equipment to the Arab nations against Israel, but were very careful about intervention. The Soviet Union collapsed in 1990. The cold war was over. The US was (and is) the only Superpower on earth. WE WENT TO IRAQ!