A long ago war-still relevant today Misunderstanding remains, and a lot is still unknown, of the Vietnam War. The Complete Idiot's Guide® to the Vietnam War, Second Edition provides an updated and revised guide giving readers the facts. It assesses policies and the reasons for them, shedding light on the controversies regarding the Vietnam War, what has been called the most complicated armed conflict of the 20th century. It offers: • A big-picture look at the politics, public figures, and history of the war in Southeast Asia • Present-tense relevance of Vietnam to the current wars in which the United States, and the rest of the world, is involved • Clarification of details for those who lived through it and an explanation for younger generations