The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Vietnam War

By: Phillip Jennings

Narrated by: Tom Weiner

The mainstream media and history books would have you believe that the Vietnam War was tragic and a dismal failure. But Phillip Jennings is here to set the record straight, about one of the bright spots in U.S. military history. In this latest Politically Incorrect Guide, Jennings shatters culturally accepted myths and busts politically incorrect lies that liberal pundits and leftist professors have been telling you for years.

The Vietnam War was the most important—and successful—campaign to defeat Communism. Without the sacrifices made and the courage displayed by our military, the world might be a different place. The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Vietnam War reveals the truth about the battles, players, and policies of one of the most controversial wars in U.S. history.

Listen to more Politically Incorrect Guides.©2010 Phillip Jennings (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Captain Jennings walks us through this tragic struggle, the war America never lost, but wasn’t allowed to win, either.” (L. Brent Bozell III, President, Media Research Center)

A must read

This book really helps tie together the debauchery occurring behind the scenes and what lead to the ultimate outcome of the war in Vietnam.

Outstanding!!!

This book did an excellent job of giving factual details of the politics of the Vietnam War. The author cites numerous examples of how the Leftist politicians, entertainers, journalists and citizens did everything in their delusional power to start the war, politicize the war, and end the war without allowing our troops to defeat the communists from the safety of the U.S.while disparaging, disrespecting and demoralizing the troops who were brave enough to serve their country and fight in Vietnam. The Left actually empowered the communists by attacking the very troops who were fighting on their behalf. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants the true story of how the radical liberals in this country ensured a communist victory over South Vietnam. It's more relevant now than ever.

Finally, someone gets it right.

Would you consider the audio edition of The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Vietnam War to be better than the print version?

Both are fine.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

As a veteran from that era, I am acutely aware of the lies and political spin surrounding the war. Few authors would have tackled the topic, understanding the culture of disinformation surrounding it. From what I personally knew, the data presented was far more accurate than the standard fare now available.

What does Tom Weiner bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Understanding and emotion.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The Tet offensive.

Two sides to every story, even Vietnam

It was refreshing to hear this account, by someone who not only researched the war and met some of its people, but was there fighting it. Our military had the VC beat, but were kept on a leash by an over-cautious government bent on a "limited" war. Still, Nixon had them beat after the Christmas Bombings, when he made them accept the Paris Peace accords and then brought the remaining troops home.

It might have ended like there...except North Vietnam, who could never leave their Southern neighbors alone, invaded (according to the author, our press refused to call it an "invasion") and the Democratic Congress held back air and naval support. The North Vietnamese were still getting help from Russia and China. Case closed.

Jennings also dispels the common image of the Vietnam vet--most have actually done quite well.

(BTW, I read once of a North Vietnamese vet who came to visit US vets. He said the war was a living hell for "Charlie," too. They suffered PTSD etc., but when they went to their government for help, they were told they'd won the war and therefore had to be OK.)

Jennings also reminds us it wasn't a civil war; the South simply minded its own business, but the North wanted to conquer the whole country for their ideology.

The author doesn't flinch from telling what America did wrong, but also shows what America did right. And there's a whole appendix on the Pentagon Papers and how they were presented to the public, that I found very interesting.

After listening to this, I got the idea that our whole memory of that time has been twisted out of shape. My image of it was, the US government were doofuses, we got bogged down in an unwinnable quagmire, the North Vietnamese weren't so bad, it was the US who had everything to be ashamed of. I never seemed to hear about how oppressive the North Vietnamese government was or how they refused to stop attacking the South. When they finally took over, thousands of boat people fled out to sea to escape. All I heard, read, or saw in movies over the years was shame on us, shame on us, shame on us!

Well it's good to be reminded there are two sides to every story, even this.

Thank You Brother

A book that discusses and dispels some of the myths of the Vietnam War. A more reasonable discussion about the strangest and least understood war of our nations history. Not a revisionist rehash of the war like Ken Burns documentary.