When reading about the US role in the Vietnam war I often see it painted as a 'mistake', a 'tragedy' or an action taken because of false assumptions. To me this looks like incredibly even handed and generous terminology to use when talking about what the US did in Vietnam. Am I missing something or has orthodoxy mellowed somewhat since the anti-war movement in the 60s and 70s?
It's important to place the orthodox school of Vietnam War studies within a larger historiographical context. I've written more in-depth about it here.