History Of The Vietnam War
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Reasons for the Vietnam War
Was not the first time America lost Ð- Korean War & War of 1812
We listen too much to the military in a so called civilian Democracy Ð- military officials predicted victory and an end to the war so many times when it never happened; Also predicted troop withdrawal before further escalation Ð- ha ha ha
We were replacing the British Empire! We would support anyone who would further our military objectives; we even supported military dictators just because they were anti-communist (sound a little familiar? Like anti-terrorist, perhaps?)
We believe too much in the body counts Ð- they were exaggerated anyway, and the government lied pretty often; plus who was taking them? Many of those in combat come out with pretty faulty memories of it
We believed that our superior weapons and technology would eventually secure victory, how could we lose with our weapons and numbers?
Domino Theory: founded in the Truman Doctrine, Eisenhower first uses the term, allies must be protected in a certain area or else the whole area will fall! Well that may work on land, but we were silly to think that it work across the ocean
The Racial War: we fought w/ a racially desegregated army but still segregated by class; poor classes, which were mostly minorities Ð- had disproportionate enlistments; plus bombs were dropped on people of color Ð- perhaps why we worried about the Phillipines
“A war for Democracy” Ð- a war to allow people to choose their own government, but we didnt even vote at home
We also claimed we were just living up to the Geneva Accord Ð- which we didnt sign, and SEACA, we had a right to be there
Clash of Wills: instead of sitting down and analyzing