American Intervention In Vietnam War
During the Cold War, the United States of America was determined to act as the superior nation in the world. They believed that every country was inferior to them in regards to military power, economic stability and moral beliefs. After the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy, the Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson took over in Washington. He was pressured to follow through on the late President's programs and policies on Vietnam which involved the demonstration of America's strength and responsibility. It is believed that American intervention in Vietnam was caused by structural weakness in the National Security Council and not enough attention to long- range policy planning. In addition, Johnson's inexperience and naivety regarding foreign policy and the positive belief of creating a perfect world. A main cause of American involvement was the weakness of the mechanism for determining the framework of foreign policy. The establishment of the National Security Council came about in 1947. It was to bridge the gulf between considerations of foreign policy and considerations of the military force which was to conduct external relations.1 Apparently, th
The Pentagon Papers., Boston: Beacon Press, vol.3&vol.4. Advisors in the U.S. were convinced that the situation prevailing in Vietnam was not to be taken lightly since it resembled World War I & II. Dean Rusk's thesis stated that Communist China was promoting aggression in Vietnam, Asia seemed to be Europe and China seemed to be either Hitler Germany or Stalinist Russia.19 Johnson's response to this theory was, "if we don't stop the Reds in South Vietnam tomorrow, they will be in Hawaii, next week they will be in San Francisco."20 According to Secretary McNamara, "the U.S. role in South Vietnam is...to prove in the Vietnamese test case that the free-world can cope with communist `wars of liberation' as we have coped successfully with communist aggression at other levels."21 Due to the situation in South Vietnam the U.S. decided to improve their military force and eventually provide the President with better responses for any level of warfare. The purpose of this new military capability was to arrest or restore those nations deteriorating situations in the world where U.S. interests were judged. McNamara felt that it was logical for U.S. to enter a military conflict against anyone who was spreading erosion in Vietnam. With a promising note he said, "in the end all will be well".22 In his speech in late March 1964 he stated: When the day comes that we can safely withdraw, we expect to leave an independent and stable South Vietnam, rich with resources and bright with prospects for contributing to the peace and prosperity of Southeast Asia and of the world.23 This led to the bombing in North Vietnam and the increase of combat strength from 75,000 to 125,000 and that additional U.S. forces would be sent when requested.24 This would hopefully force Hanoi to pay for cruelties in the South. President Johnson responded, "We will stay because in Asia-and around the world-are countries whose independence rests, in large measure, on confidence in America's word and in America's protection. To yield to force in Viet-Nam would weaken that confidence, would undermine the independence of many lands, and would whet the appetite of aggression. We would have to fight in one land, and then we would have to fight in another-or abandon much of Asia to the domination of Communists."25 It appeared that the United States were determined to defeat any force attacking South Vietnam and use their own forces in order to prevent Communist victory in poor countries. Our large-scale military entry into the Vietnam War in early 1965 reflected the gradual consideration of interrelated issues, and that this was the natural consequence of a fragmented NSC and a general inattention to long-range policy planning. Consultation, even knowledge of the basic facts, was confined to a tight circle of presidential advisors, and there appears to have been little systematic debate outside that group.5 Johnson failed to win the favor of Americans since he did not portray a man of intense determination and alertness. Still in 1965, the United States was concerned with communist invasion all over the world. It seemed that the Russians and Chinese were still in full pursuit of warlike, expansionist policies across the globe and were quite able to manipulate weaker governments.1
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2223
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)
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