Iraq and Vietnam? Like wars?

Yes, they are alike in the sense of the American involvement. In both cases, the purpose of the American involvement was/is to allow the people to form their own government. In both cases, there are/were people who do not want that at all. Rather they want/wanted to install their own views--and their ways of doing things that were/are the same: kill anyone who disagrees with them.
Bombs or ballot boxes? What will win in Iraq?
Only the Iraqis can really decide that, but it will probably take a lot more killings---all to the cry "God is Great"--before they ever get to that. All the current wave of hate and killing will really decide is who is left.