How ignorant the host is! He asked how General Giap can be compared to Napoleon if he is so "ruthless" as though Napoleon was some kind of angel from heaven. Napoleon was himself a ruthless military strategist and dictator. He should have asked how General Giap can be compared to Napoleon when Giap was not as ruthless as Napoleon was.
Typical racist imperialist angloid. "why was he so ruthless in sacrificing his lives" as americans bomb places like Korea, Laos, and Cambodia into oblivion it's easy to see why they were willing to sacrifice their lives.
Well Napoleon did lose a lot of men, but I think Napoleon was probably on a similar, or less 'ruthless' man. He tended to never waste lives if he could help it and generally fought battles with limited casualities. His major losses of manpower came more from partisan action and logistics issues than from battles specifically.
Napoleon won the most battles in history and is generally considered to be the greatest military commander of all times (or at least on the podium). So put some respect on his name (not to mention, he fought other great commanders, such as Wellington, Blucher, Kutuzov, who are considered to be amongst the best as well, whereas Giap never fought generals of such a caliber). Then, if you look at the casualties (with all due respect to Nguyen Giap), the Vietnamese general took huge casualties compared to the ones he inflicted. Look at Napoleon's campaigns: he is often outnumbered yet wins in crushing fashion (ex: Austerlitz: he had 65k men against 85k opponents, he had 7k casualties yet inflicted 36k casualties on his opponents. Similar stats can be seen at Jena, Friedland, Marengo, Lodi...). Conclusion? You can't compare both men: completely different contexts and eras. By the way, there's something called WAR (Wins Above Ranking), which compares generals across eras: Napoleon comes first by far. By the 18th century's standards, not only was Napoleon not ruthless, he was very generous, close to his soldiers and had a lot of empathy for the defeated and civilians. Refrain yourself from posting about Napoleon when you clearly don't know the man.
Why are we calling him Red Napoleon when Giap was in the business or defending his country and independence from French colonial rule and Napoleon was for colonial conquest? There is no comparison. Again, we fall into the mistake of seeing success in war as who killed the most. We have lost our humanity ever since WW2.
Can you imagine CNN having a conversation about the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and blaming the Jewish rebel leaders for their "callousness" in "throwing bodies" at the Germans?
One of the US’s mistakes was quantifying the war’s success with death counts. Sure the US had 58k killed in the Vietnam war vs 4m+ Vietnamese but each villager they killed whether intentionally or unintentionally just created more willing to house and join the VC and NVA to avenge their family.
Also, General Giap is the one who first started the guerilla war tactics that saved his soldiers' lives by using small and mobile forces against large and unwieldy ones. Whatever people say, General Giap is ultimately the undefeated military commander in the world. He won every single war he either directly or indirectly involved with, not to mention his outliving all of his enemies.
Sacrificing a bunch of men for the country to then fall into the hands of a corrupt, authoritarian regime for nearly half a century deserves little respect.
The biggest loss for not only Vietnamese but worldwide. I, you and We. Deeply appreciate what he has done for the country, for the Republic!!! I am a Vietnamese. Can't control my tears for him! Rest In Peace!!! THE GREATEST GENERAL!!!!
Giap and his soldiers defeated 3 global powers with next to no industrial base to work from and a significant portion of his country working as collaborators. The number of military commanders who fought and won against such long odds could literally be counted on one hand. Caesar, Hannibal, Yi Sun Shin. That’s the level he was on.
How the interviewer gave questions already showed that he would never ever understand why General Giap is a legend. Even if the Americans had a chance to throw 10 times more people into the war but without the determination, they would still never win. It's the DETERMINATION OF THE PEOPLE THAT WINS.
General Giap didn't sacrify millions of Vietnamese for conquering the super powers of the world, we the Vietnamese United to fight against any foreign Invaders. It's in our ancestor's blood, had passed down to us. I wish that the host read the Vietnamese history before the broadcast. Peace!
I'm from Vietnam, we just want to live in peace, a world we hope is a world where people of all languages can love each other. I don't like gunshots, it will take many unwanted lives
Exactly 👍 Vietnamese people don't have any hostility towards America . Once they left Vietnam , everything was forgotten . Today Vietnam and America have good relations
"We can put the past behind. But we cannot completely forget it" Vo Nguyen Giap. As a son of a NVA's soldier, also a grandson of one, I understand your lost and pain of losing friends. I heard it and felt that pain from my family since I was young. We are at the difference sides of a table in the past. Now, let choose somewhere else more comfort to sit shall we?
Did they literally just say it was mindless and callous for Giap to defend against French colonial slavery and US genocidal invasion? Did they literally blame the invaded country who "threw bodies" at the US and French, as if Giap was killing Vietnamese people and not the Imperialist French and US? The US imperialist is as depraved as any in Nazi Germany.
What kind of questions when he said "threw bodies" or "bloody mind"? It was the own willing of the soldiers leaving their home for the battle. Looking back, what do we Vietnamese have? We had nothing but resources from people. If we hadn't sacrificed ourselves, who on earth would have saved us from the force of France and US?
Let me know a military or political genius who ISN'T ruthless. It wasn't that he 'just threw bodies'; it was that he was able to train peasants...it wasn't just 'getting them on his side' ; he had to train peasants in short order to operate as disciplined soldiers--men AND women; to defeat three empires (the brief border skirmish vs. the Chinese in '79). Limited resources, and as someone else commented, no industrial base, or real weaponry. His genius is in the fact that he did NOT come from a military background--he was a lawyer and political scientist, a lecturer at the uni. So not only did he build a military that defeated these empires, he truly built it from scratch and defeated military leaders who had a lifetime of experience and almost endless resources.
Giap was a historic teacher and he would be a normal teacher if the French an American had never came to Vietnam and messed up everything. A president boomed a country with no reason couldn’t be call ruthless so why the host could ask that such a stupid question? That is how the US being more ridiculous, day by day, they get into a new level of it.
Yeah, a lot of people are still swayed by the deep propaganda of the 1960-80s. But considering we now have the internet and global platforms like RU-vid that grant us access to information like never before, the realities of the Vietnam war will eventually supersede the narratives of the propaganda stained media and mindset of the West.
Why is he a 20th century military genius? Simple. He traded bloody stones for territory. He traded the present for his country's future. He used the only means he had against highly "superior" forces. While a protracted and bloody war is the least strategic option, it is the lesser evil when the alternative is the end of the existence of his state is at risk. He and his people knew that is the price they had to pay while their enemies know that a mere setback would not really threaten the lives of their family or people. It is ruthless but it was a fact that he had to face at the time.
There is no doubt Giap was the most outstanding General of modern age.Its wrong to pick up holes in his superiority There was no comparison between Giaps peasant army and fun loving Anericsns and French used to taking soldiering as frivockingky
Dù cuộc sống của chúng tôi nghèo khổ về vật chất nhưng trong con người chúng tôi luôn tồn tại tình yêu Quê Hương, Đất Nước, Con Người Việt Nam. TÔI YÊU VIỆT NAM
American always said that the Gen won because he threw millions of his men into battle field to be slaughtered. But totaling all of the American soldiers in all wars which the US took part in, what is the number of dead? Then, what did US government do to their men?
This is why CNN is fake news - completely dumb and ignorant reporters who have no idea that they are talking about, but feeling smug as if they were experts on he issue...
General Vo Nguyen Giap who is the last hero left after liberation and unification in Vietnam still be shining example for future generations of Vietnamese.
There were many groups fighting the colonist included Can Vuong(Aid to the King), National Party of VN(VNQDD),the Army For National Restoration (Phuc Quoc Quan),Indochine Communist Party (ICP) and many additional groups from the South Hoa Hao, Cao Dai.. and some of these groups later merged to form Viet Minh, and why did ICP try to purge all other group leaders out of Viet Minh in 1947 under auspices of the French Union? The question should be "Why did HCM accept the Geneva Accord conditions?"
I don't know what your profession is but there'r lots of things you don't know. This is our history. Never being said publicly but we VNese have informally but widely agreed with each other that Tet Offensive was not commanded by our General Giap who even opposed to this attack idea. Why...? Dont ask! Tet Offensive might be considered a lose in strategy, MIGHT BE. But paradoxically, it raised vast political activities in US and all over the world which played important role in the final victory.
Our General Giap set all battles to break will of enemies, not aim killing their bodies and it called art of combat. There was other talent commander Nguyen Chi Thanh, but Le Duan was very bad as he was so impatient for victory caused massive death. Therefore, someone must study before call Vo Nguyen Giap ruthless commander. We all love him deep down inside, not only like Hero, but also like family member.
Whatever people say or think about Bác. I really dont care and can not bother me, the representative of young generation of Vietnam, who will always love & give highest respect to you, Bác Võ Nguyên Giáp.
People respect the man as the greatest army talent who led Vietnam army win both strongest invaders, then learn him how to live over 100 years old, and how to live simple life as he was not greedy like others in this country nowadays caused full of chaos
Name of Vo Nguyen Giap shakes the world again. Some hundred thousand people queuing to pay respect to him recent days. Bad leaders have been accusing by popularity.
@Ning Shan Forget about Cici Le's comment. Before accusing General Giap of committing atrocities against civilians (by the way which civilians you are talking about? My Lai civilian?), what do you know about General Giap and Vietnam?
CNN anchor man should learn the definition of the word "strategy" first to stand there discussing about one of the greatest was strategist of all times later.
What reliable sources do I have? Here they are: the battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954, the Saigon Battle in 1975 and the undefeated military commander, General Giap. This page you and I are currently on, is one of my sources. Get it.
America and France (also the host) are overly proud of their firepower, that they can destroy Vietnam easily. But when it comes to war, the smarter is the one with little resource at their disposal, and can use their Mind and Strategies to defeat their enemies. For those who think that America didn't lose, they just withdrew their troop from Vietnam, when you couldn't fulfill your agenda when you invaded another country and have to withdraw, which means you lost.
Vietnamese history is intriguing. If foreign invaders had carefully studied it, they wouldn’t have invaded Vietnam. The Mongol Conquest!The Mongol Empire conquered most of Asia & Eastern Europe by 14th century. Mongol raids & invasions were some of the deadliest conflicts in human history spreading terror & panic everywhere on a scale never seen before. They totally conquered China and Persia, but the undefeated Mongols met defeat in Vietnam under Hung Dao, a Vietnamese military genius like Giap
I see. But you should know Vietnam during 1945 - 1979. It's at peak glory and almost no corruption. I agree Vietnam today is full of corruption. That also why people mourning for General Giap. An glory period just end for Vietnam.
The plodding American careerists who passed as military officers back then, more concerned about promotions and pensions than victory, were no match for Giap. He knew that a war was not a step on a career ladder, but a desperate struggle for life and death.
Sacrificing one generation for the future generations is the right thing to do. That was exactly what the American did in 1930s, and the Japanese did in 1950s. When it comes to our independence and freedom, nothing is granted for free.
It was not a stupid question made by cnn representative, it was just a silly question from a person have never been in Vietnam war, and not a historical expert, that's why he asked and learned from someone who really did some researches.
Why don't you check what kind of freedom which HCM promised to give in his 1945 Proclamation of Independence? And it is hard to deny that freedom is proportional to the GDP, Education, Health and environment compared between other ASEAN countries with Vietnam. Don't you agree?
@@bacho1404 yes, Bac Ho, Laos was dragged into onfliction as well during those day. hwevever, Gen. Vo was great hero ever! He has led his army to win twice, but not one.he quoted that " War won't solve any thing " : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-v4ngg7LgONQ.html
Do you know the immense network of connecting underground Cu Chi tunnels is about 156 miles (250 kilometers) long, all done by hand for about 20 years? Confront your own Claustrophobia in the Cu Chi Tunnels, Vietnam Do you know Ho Chi Minh Trail, over 1,800 miles (2,900 kilometers) long, is considered one of the great achievements of military engineering of the 20th century by the US National Security Agency's official history of the war? Come to Vietnam and experience its intriguing history.
I saw him more of a Vietnamese Ulysses S. Grant. They both were brilliant tacticians, could fight a total war no matter what the cost and knew how to wear down their enemies even if it did mean a horrifying war of attrition that saw many losses
Vietnam has experienced a long time war. The time for its development is still short: Trade embargo removed in1994, entered WTO in 2006. I do not mean the current regime & party are very good, but they must change, the sooner the better. It takes some generations of both people & leadership to develop. All isms are only grey theory, while the life is still green; green like tree, every society is growing, changing all the time. “Put your heart on the line if you want to get it right”.
Hey guys. I'm VNmese and living in VN now (not foreigner or any VN young ppl living in or out of the country who love blaming VN ppl, even their parents 8-}). Honestly enough, though I have never "actually suffered" anything from it, I dont like our country regime. I dont like it, BUT I respect Mr. Giap. Conflicting?! Nope. He deserves it. An oldman with huge knowledge (sure, who deny?), with achievements (yep), and more important, he had his ideal to attribute his life to (what's wrong?).
oh yes, another thing why we're suffering comparing to Canada, Vietnam's population is 3 times greater but out land is 30 times smaller than Canada's. imagine living like that, would u be able to live??? classes are tiny and there are like 60 kids in there (at least pre high school); traffic jam everyday, every hour since the roads and streets and everything our TINY comparing to the population
I am like your mirror image. If you are mean, I can be very mean, very mean and I mean that. You talk nonsense and crazy not even comprehending what you are talking. Get it.
Did you forget the U.S. pull out in 1973? by 1975, the South had limited support, U.S. Congress refused to vote for funding and aid, while the North still had support from the Soviet. Do you seriously think the NVA could have succeed without the help of the Soviet?
Besides a sharp increase in numbers of people suffering cancers; many young people in Vietnam are discovered to suffer osteoarthritis, which normally occurs at the old age destroying their cartilages and render them disable and have to consume large amount of pain killers. This disease is chiefly brought about by the abuse of using growth hormones in food processing - You may again ask for the proof, then you may find it out from the Vietnamese Official media on the internet
As the general, command in chief of the army why didn't Vo Nguyen Giap do anything about Le Duan's impatience, and so, as a "presumed" genius commander he should also have not underestimated the mighty of the US military that induced a massive death, as a "presumed" brilliant strategist he should have known that relying on China support would render Vietnam become a vassal of China as Vietnam had experienced in the past
It's not very realistic to assume you can win against a vastly technologically superior military without taking massive casualties even if you are a brilliant general.
@vinhtvp Tôi nghĩ bạn biết tiếng Việt. Xin lỗi nhưng điều tôi thấy " bạn thật sự ngu ngốc và thất bại ", Mĩ rất tốt nhưng tôi rất tiếc nếu được lựa chọn nơi chôn cất hãy nhớ rằng " tôi sẽ chết ở Việt Nam và là quê hương tôi ". Bạn có chê trách như thế nào thì điều đó chẳng bao giờ thay đổi. Tôi cũng biết đất nước có nhiều điều chưa tốt nhưng tôi hiểu vì sao, thay vì chê trách tôi hy vọng mình có thể góp một phần nhỏ để thay đổi. Một phần nào đó như Bác Hồ,Cụ Giap những anh hùng dân tộc vì TỰ DO.
Well, do you understand what you just wrote? George Bernard Shaw, a playwright is not a politician, but Lenin is. In short, Socialism is different from Communism. They are not the same. That's what I meant.
OMG! Wikipedia? You must be kidding. Everybody can log in wiki and edit everything. Also, I did mention the full name of Vietnam is the Socialist Republic of Vietnam NOT the Communist Vietnam. Probably, you might have eye problems. Need some eyeglasses? By now, we all know Communism an Socialism are totally different. Vietnam is still Socialist as defined by its full name; it's not a Communist country yet. It might be on its way, but there's been no signs of it becoming one. This makes sense?
Just let the people choose, let them vote for their government, let them protest without getting arrest, let them criticized the party without getting arrest, arrest all the corrupt officials who stole money from the people.
"WE don't eat poison from China", tell that to the people who are among those of not 10 times but hundred of times increase in the number of people suffering cancers in the cancer wards spread across the various hospitals in the country "Happiness is something that most of us Vietnamese have", tell that to the general secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, whose close speech of the last meeting of Party Central Committee stated that the chasm of rich and poor is threatening to the survival of the regime
@GDTQ nice one, so you have nothing better to say than to criticizing my English? I can write in whatever language I want. I'm a proud American, I do not live in Vietnam so why should I write in Vietnamese? Why are you people even responding to my comment in the first place? I commented on the video at first, if you want to comment on the video then comment, just leave me out of it.
Actually most people in the states are pretty nice. You would find Mr. Smith, khan, Gonzales in the states and they would all be proud Americans too. Of course there will always be some racists, but you can find those everywhere. I know what this country stands for and our values are strong, so I'm not ashamed of being an American. We're not perfect but I do the best we can to help people. that is all.
