Lyle - I am not an expert, but I don't think that the French were in Vietnam at all. I thought they were in Cambodia, fighting an entirely different war?

Yes, communism was seen as a threat at the time (but so was Saddam and his magical disappearing weapons of mass destruction). IN hindsight, I think most people agree that Vietnam was not the best move that the US ever made.

Still - I would not disagree with your views on the Nation of Islam