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The Cold War - Vietnam. March 2009. M.A.D.?. What is Indochina?. Vietnam: Background. France had ruled Indochina (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos) as a colony before WWII WWII: Japan takes over Important in leading to Japan v. US in WWII
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The Cold War - Vietnam March 2009
Vietnam: Background • France had ruled Indochina (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos) as a colony before WWII • WWII: Japan takes over • Important in leading to Japan v. US in WWII • After WWII (1945): Fr. tries to regain control but each country gains independence by 1954
Just for fun • Go to www.google.com and type in “French Military Victories” and hit the button that says “I’m feeling lucky.”
Vietnam: Division • 1954: Geneva Conference: V. divided into: • (1) Communist-controlled North V. under HoChi Minh • (2) Pro-western South Vietnam • Division supposed to end with national elections in 1956. Elections did not take place b/c S.V. knew Communists would win. • Communist Viet Cong guerillas will gain control of much of S.V. over several yrs.
Vietnam: Domino Theory • U.S. belief that if one SE Asian country fell to Communism, the rest would soon follow.
Vietnam: US Involvement • “Domino Theory” led to gradual US involvement supporting S.V. • 1964: Tonkin Gulf Resolution: Congress authorizes military action in SE Asia. • US Presidents: • Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969) • Richard M. Nixon (1969-1974) • Prior to Vietnam, what was the U.S.’ record in wars?
Vietnam: US soldiers http://www.sss.gov/lotter1.htm • Pre-1969, draft according to age • 1969: Lottery for draft by b’day • Combat soldiers avg. age • WWII: 26 • Vietnam: 22 • “Tour of Duty:” Those enlisted &/or drafted required to serve just one year & then come home. Potential Problems?
Vietnam: Fighting • Superpower vs. Small “Third World” nation • Communist expansion or independence? • Viet Cong used “unconventional warfare” • Avoid direct fighting, prolong war to demoralize enemy, etc. • Turning Point: Tet Offensive (Jan. 1968) • Tet: Vietnamese New Year • N.V. launched major attack but did not capture any major cities • ***US public now perceived US as losing & began to question US objectives in V.***
Vietnam: Anti-War • This photo shows a SV executing what appears to be a defenseless Viet Cong prisoner. In fact, the prisoner had just killed 8 SV. Photo by Eddie Adams, 1968
Eddie Adams • The general killed the Viet Cong; I killed the general with my camera. Still photographs are the most powerful weapon in the world. People believe them; but photographs do lie, even without manipulation. They are only half-truths. ... What the photograph didn't say was, 'What would you do if you were the general at that time and place on that hot day, and you caught the so-called bad guy after he blew away one, two or three American people?
Eddie Adams • "I would have rather been known more for the series of photographs I shot of 48 Vietnamese refugees who managed to sail to Thailand in a 30-foot boat, only to be towed back to the open seas by Thai marines.”
My Lai http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/vietnam/trenches/my_lai.html
Vietnam: US gets out • After Tet, US protests led to gradual removal of troops in area w/ policy of “de-escalation” (later “Vietnamization”) • Bombings intensified w/ Nixon • 1973: All sides agree to ceasefire but fighting continued • 1975: Viet Cong defeats SV • 1976: Vietnam unified as one Communist country, Saigon becomes Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam: Results • 400,000+ SV died • 900,000+ NV & VC died • 58,000 Americans died • 10 million (about ½ of pop.) became refugees • http://www.archives.gov/research/vietnam-war/casualty-statistics.html#age
Agent Orange • http://flickr.com/search/?q=agent+orange+victim
Agent Orange: Not Just in Vietnam http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4649452.stm ROK $62 million
Vietnam: Some effects in US • 2 Things US will try to avoid in future: • Fighting w/o a clear EXIT STRATEGY*** • US casualties*** *** = “Let me explain!”
