The Vietnam War myth

[low_bidder]

"But that is insufficient grounds for fighting a decade long war that cost 60,000 US lives and 3 million Vietnamese. This is not a right / left issue."

That is an opinion, not a fact. And which side of the opinion you are on is one of the things that defines left/right.

IMHO, The Domino theory was proven in Greece in the '46-'48 period when the USA help the Greek nationalists fight off the Communist takeover of Greece. If we hadn't it could be argued that Italy and Spain were the next Domino's.
You need to read your Marx. Socialism advances by what ever means available to it, under what ever title works.
That is why one day they are progressives, the next Liberals, then after that, in no particular order; Socialists, Marxists, Maoists, Communists, What ever label works at that moment.
I call them all 4th worlders, since they obviously live on a different world then the rest of us and 3rd worlder was already taken.
By Labeling them 4th worlders I prevent them from escaping responsibility for their actions by changing their name. Sinking the goalposts in concrete is a good way to make them harder to move.

Anyway, the Domino Theory is better then any theory the 4th World has produced. Imperial America? Explain why the USA has returned conquered land to it's inhabitants more often then not. Explain why the USA hasn't taken Canada or Mexico, why the PR is allowed to live in limbo as a none sovereign state yet not the 51st state although that might change soon. Congress added a do or die amendment to the Health care bill that requires PR to either become a state or a sovereign nation. Not sure it's constitutional for Congress to do that, it being a treaty of sorts.
It is a valid argument that Vietnam kept Australia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and several former English colonies from going communist.
Or do you think it a co-ink-see-dink that when the west resorted to force of arms to halt 4th world expansion, it was stopped?