Most Unnecesary Proxy War?

Jack Sheehan

We all know that they never actually fought, but what was the worst proxy war?

My vote goes to Vietnam, worst casualty rate and nothing was actually achieved.

The only really neccesary one was Korea, for proof look at the two Koreas today.

R0ot

Yeah think i'll go with the Vietnam war also. Although it did push for the peace and diplomacy avenue a bit after all was said and done, apart from that the only thing that came out of it was racial prejudice and some military technological advancement neither really a good thing. :pac:

Pride Fighter

Jack Sheehan wrote: »

We all know that they never actually fought, but what was the worst proxy war?

My vote goes to Vietnam, worst casualty rate and nothing was actually achieved.

The only really neccesary one was Korea, for proof look at the two Koreas today.

I'm nearly certain marginally more died in Korea than in Vietnam, it was far bloodier too as it was 3 years long whereas Vietnam was over 10 years of combat. It just has'nt been romanticised like the Vietnam war has been.

jmayo

Can I ask who came up with the voting list becuase it seems a bit weird.
I didn't know the Cuban missile crisis, the Iranian Hostages or the invasion of Grenada were classed as wars. Well maybe the last one was by Clint Esatwood and Hollywood since the US actually fought for the day or so it lasted.
The US attack on Libya has more right to be there than these.

In relation to Ethiopia, why only the Ogaden War and not the ones waged by Tigray and Eritrea in 1980s.
Why not include conflicts in Namibia or Mozambique ?

As regards most unnecessary I would give it to one of the African civil wars that sprung up after some of the countries got independence.

Jack Sheehan

jmayo wrote: »

Can I ask who came up with the voting list becuase it seems a bit weird.
I didn't know the Cuban missile crisis, the Iranian Hostages or the invasion of Grenada were classed as wars. Well maybe the last one was by Clint Esatwood and Hollywood since the US actually fought for the day or so it lasted.
The US attack on Libya has more right to be there than these.

In relation to Ethiopia, why only the Ogaden War and not the ones waged by Tigray and Eritrea in 1980s.
Why not include conflicts in Namibia or Mozambique ?

As regards most unnecessary I would give it to one of the African civil wars that sprung up after some of the countries got independence.

Take it up with wikipedia.

Earthhorse

Can I vote in this pole by proxy?

R0ot wrote: »

...apart from that the only thing that came out of it was racial prejudice and some military technological advancement neither really a good thing. :pac:

Pfft, I think you're forgetting about all the excellent movies and music that was made as a result of that war.

R0ot

Earthhorse wrote: »

Pfft, I think you're forgetting about all the excellent movies and music that was made as a result of that war.

Indeed.

Sod'o swords

Going to go with Korea.
Close enough to resulting in China getting nuked.

Jack Sheehan

Sod'o swords wrote: »

Going to go with Korea.
Close enough to resulting in China getting nuked.

In fairness though that was mostly Douglas Mac Arthur's fault. Eisenhower got rid of him fairly fast.

Morlar

Afghanistan gets my vote. Russia tried to do positive things like land re-distribution to kick start its economy into a positive direction, building colleges and educating women to be free of islamist oppression. It was that last point that brought the islamists out in opposition and when that happened america sided with the islamists to spite russian ambitions in the region.

IF it werent for american short sightedness that country/region could be in better shape right now and the world today would not be dealing with expansionsit islamists and terrorists all over the shop.

jmayo

Jack Sheehan wrote: »

Take it up with wikipedia.

Wikipedia appears to be the new bible of the 21st century
Are we now slaves to wikipedia :eek:

jhegarty

Korean War, 1950-1953

Last time I checked it was Korean War, 1950-2008

Dudess

Earthhorse wrote: »

I think you're forgetting about all the excellent movies and music that was made as a result of that war.

What music? Besides Frankie Goes To Hollywood's Two Tribes... Oh and Dancing With Tears In My Eyes by Ultravox.

Morlar

Dudess wrote: »

What music? Besides Frankie Goes To Hollywood's Two Tribes... Oh and Dancing With Tears In My Eyes by Ultravox.

Sting hoping the russians loved their children too,
99 luftbaloons,
kids in america (ok maybe not).

Daivd Bowie Heroes/Helden (Im Rücken war kalt (so kalt)
Schüsse reissen die Luft (reissen die Luft) also the berlin trilogy 'owed more than a passing nod' specially what was recorded at hansa potsdammer place.

Dominion mother/russia 'rain down down down' post chernbobyl - sisters of mercy.

Lou reed and iggypop in berlin in the mid 70's.
Radio free europe! - rem. Billy joel not starting the fire.

Ones I had forgot till I found this site here ;

http://www.inthe80s.com/coldwar.shtml

Nikita Elton john.
The beatles 'back in the ussr', Also the real reason the berlin wall fell ; "Looking for Freedom," by David Hasselhoff.

Earthhorse

Dudess wrote: »

What music? Besides Frankie Goes To Hollywood's Two Tribes... Oh and Dancing With Tears In My Eyes by Ultravox.

Morlar wrote: »

Sting hoping the russians loved their children too

You people are confusing me. I was quoting R0ot, who was talking about the Vietnam War, a war which I claimed produced a lot of good movies and music. Then you start talking about songs that are clearly not about Vietnam but about Cold.

So distressed am I by these yella-bellied, red-menace, u-turning tactics that I have forgotten the music I was thinking of.

Off the top of my head Paul Hardcastle's "19" and Alice in Chains "Rooster".

But if you're going to list Cold War songs don't forget Safety Dance.

Morlar

Ah - it looked like cold war music not vietnam-only which would be far more limited.

thusspakeblixa

The Bay of Pigs.
Unnecessary as well as riddled with ineptitude

Flamed Diving

Afghan-Soviet War, 1979-1989

Why vote for this, it effectively toppled the Soviet Union.

dresden8

Flamed Diving wrote: »

Afghan-Soviet War, 1979-1989

Why vote for this, it effectively toppled the Soviet Union.

It also gave a much needed boost to Islamic fundamentalists and created the heroic mujahideen which morphed into the cowardly taliban. The collapse of the Soviet Union has led to widespread instability in Europe and Asia.

In 10 or 20 years we might look fondly back on the days when the soviets kept a lid on things.

Dudess

Flamed Diving wrote: »

Afghan-Soviet War, 1979-1989

Why vote for this, it effectively toppled the Soviet Union.

It also resulted in Afghanistan being the utter tragedy it is today. Up to as recently as the 70s, that country was one of Asia's jewels.