Released in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the escalation of the Vietnam War, this fifth volume in the Real Historyseries draws parallels between contemporary international conflicts and what occurred in Vietnam half a century ago. Events since 2001 suggest that the agonizing lessons Vietnam should have taught us about armed enterprises in remote lands have gone unlearned. In examining questions about that tumultuous era--including the complex political manipulations that led to our entanglement in Vietnam and the intensification of hostilities--Alan Axelrod also enhances our understanding of why we went into both Iraq and Afghanistan. Fascinating sidebars explore pop culture influences, forgotten faces, reality checks, alternate realities, and other amazing details. The high-impact contemporary design includes contemporary photography and maps.