The Reasons of the US Becoming so Deeply Involved in Vietnam during 1954-68 - Assignment Example

Why the US Become Deeply Involved in Vietnam during 1954-68 There are very many reasons that have been given in support of the war in Viet-Nam during 1954-1968. The first reason was to keep the promise to offer support to the South Viet-Nam people. According to Woolley and Peters(online), the American presidents pledged to support the South Viet-Nam people since1954. President Eisenhower, President Kennedy and President Johnson pledged their support to free and rebuild South Vietnam. Therefore, they wanted to keep their commitment and honour their word. The three presidents could not let down the small and valiant nation that trusted the US to terror gangs that murdered government officials, disrupted traffic in the countryside and raided isolated villages. It became the norm for every new president to keep the promise by helping the South Viet-Nam people to build and defend their independence and interests. United States of America believes that when independent countries are left to shape their destiny, everyone would be secured because the free world interests are protected. In a peaceful world, modern medicine could be spread to all parts of the world to treat the sick, schools are built to train people in skills necessary for development and advancement, and farms are made to produce adequate food. This is an American hope for the world. The second reason why the United State of America got involved in the Viet-Nam war between 1954-1968 is to preserve and maintain the world order. The simple rural folk and farmers were assassinated and kidnapped Vietnam. Furthermore, women and children were strangled at night because their husbands were loyal to the government. Young girls and older women were raped and murdered in cold blood. United States of America wanted to stop assassination, kidnappings and uncontrolled violence directed to the South Vietnamese In addition, it provided military help to stop the infiltration of enemy soldiers, supplies and arms from North Viet-Nam to South Viet-Nam (Melanson 2005:58).United States of America believes that unjust war in any given part of the world may spread to other parts of the global and shake the existing peace and order. This is because overtime, it has been discovered that the crave of aggression is never satisfied. Furthermore, United States of America claimed that they have the responsibility to assist countries stabilize to help build confidence in their ability to help countries in need (Carland 2000: 9). The third reason why United States of America engaged itself in the Viet-Nam war is to help independent countries preserve their sovereignty. South Viet-Nam was an independent country and deserved to be free from internal and external constant aggression of the North Viet-Nam. United States of America supported the South Viet-Nam to distract the aggressors from their actions and motivate the people of South Viet-Nam to continue with the struggle for sovereignty, even though they had suffered heavily from brutal battle since the war began. As a result, United States of America believed that they will win the Vietnam War and defeat the communists to enable Vietnamese enjoy their independence, peace, prosperity and development they had sought for so long. As a result, the Vietnamese people will start rebuilding their country that have been shattered and weakened by illegal military gangs. The fourth reason why United States of America got involved in the Viet-Nam war is to keep their world supremacy. United States of America believes that they are the world super powers. Therefore, they were ready to defend their military might. United States of America believes that their military might is their power. Giving up the Vietnam War could reduce the confidence in American to offer protection. As a result, America was not going to allow the Chinese to defeat the American military might in Vietnam and extend Asiatic dominion to non-communists nations in Asia. There was need to stop the spread of communism. The world learned from Hitler at Munich that success of irresponsible nations feeds the aggression appetite. There is evidence that war or battle would be renewed in many countries id communism is left to prosper. Therefore, United States of America wanted to convince the communists that force of arms or superior power could not defeat them. The fifth reason why the Americans engaged themselves in war was to provide humanitarian, technical, economical and military help to the South Vietnamese people who were suffering (Life, 1971:4). The different types of aid were aimed at improving the welfare of the Vietnamese government and people. The South Vietnam governments were indecisive and lacked proper direction because they were new and lacked experience. The country team lacked proper leadership, was poorly informed and did not have a common action plan. Furthermore, their military operation were lacking because the generals was too preoccupied with political affairs of Vietnam instead of dealing with the insurgencies. Proper administrative coordination was lacking also. The Vietnam government needed help from the US to develop realistic pacification plan and allocate time to secure government controlled areas and build stronger military bases. South Vietnam was weak and needed US intelligent program to help them protect and develop their country. Communist Russia and China assisted North Vietnam with aid and military accessories. Therefore, it became natural for the United States of America military troops to assist Vietnam government to relocate and strengthen the might of its military. In addition, US expertise was needed to sabotage the tactics of the North Vietnam. The Sixth reason why United States of America got involved in the Viet-Nam war was to stop Communist China from trying to impose communist ideologies to other parts of the world. Peking urged the Hanoi leaders to make South Viet-Nam a socialist state. It was believed that the ideologies of communism destroyed the freedom of the Tibet. In addition, communism ideologies caused attack to India and Korea. Communism ideologies were perceived as arsenal of violent aggression in nearly every continent. Therefore, United States of America could not stand and watch as the communism ideologies destroy and stop peaceful development in South Viet-Nam. How US become deeply involved in Vietnam during 1954-68 United States of America got involved in the Vietnam War to protect and stabilize the South Vietnamese from the invasion of the North Vietnamese Army and Viet-Cong that were supported by the Russian communists. Three presidents (President Eisenhower, President Kennedy and President Johnson) of the United States of America pledged their undying support to the people of South Vietnamese. United States of America provided troops and arsenal of war; technical advice and training, pushed for political reforms, spread propaganda and humanitarian aid in Vietnam. First, the United States of America got deeply involved in the Vietnam War during 1954-68 by providing military troops and arsenal of war. According to Diane (248) and Haley (1982:108), United States of America spend about two hundred billion dollars ($200,000,000,000) and sent three million (3,000,000) military troops and other American personnel to Vietnam. However, about fifty eight thousand (58,000) Americans died, three hundred thousand (300,000) were wounded and more than five hundred and nineteen thousand (519,000) were injured in the war. Further two thousand five hundred (2,500) Americans were reported missing in action and were presumed dead. United States of America send thousands of troops to Vietnam to assist the Vietnamese troops maintain law and order by fighting back the People’s Army of Vietnam who wanted to destabilize Vietnam. Bragg (2005:52) revealed that by the end of 1967, four hundred and eighty five thousand (485,000) American troops were already in Vietnam to support the South Viet-Nam people. The American troops were used to carry out intensive and offensive bombing campaign between1965 and 1967 at the strongholds of People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN) to weaken them. According to Bakse and Turne (1995:28), United States of America sent four C-47s, to Bien Hou Air base on November 16, 1961. The air force was to support farm gate flights, Vietnamese paratroops airdrops and nightflare ship operations. Dumbrell and Barrett (1997:61) claimed that United States of America troops were engaged to fight and destabilize North Vietnamese soldiers and Viet Cong guerrillas. The troops attacked Viet Cong bases and supply lines used by the enemies in North Vietnam (Burke et al 1991:148). In March 2, 1965, President Johnson approved the bombing campaign (Rolling Thunder) that lasted for about three and half years. The bombings were intended to undermine the activities of the Viet Cong in the south. First American combat soldiers arrived and stormed ashore at the Red Beach Two in South Vietnam. Over 385,000 troops were in Vietnam by end of 1966. Unfortunately, 1369 American soldiers died and 5,300 were wounded in 1965 while 5,009 were killed and 30,093 were wounded in 1966. According to Asprey (2002:795), USA and South Vietnamese planes struck ammunition depot and naval base of the North Vietnamese Army in March 1965. In the same month, USA Marine expeditionary force was sent to defend Da Nang airfield against reprisal attacks from Viet Cong guerrillas and North Vietnamese soldiers. Gibbons (1995:43) revealed that United States of America wanted to use military pressure to compel communist accept a settlement. Furthermore, the American troops were used to remove abandoned war accessories in Vietnam. The war accessories removed included war engines and tanks, small arms and ammunition, grenades as well as aircrafts that had been abandoned during war. The second way in which United States of America got involved in the Vietnam War was through the provision of technical advice and training. Alterman (2005:163) reveled that President Eisenhower increased the number of military advisors (beyond 11,000) to help Vietnamese government to fight the communist rebels. This was in a bid to avoid the mistakes that the French made. In addition, President Eisenhower helped loosen the regulations to allow the US military troops engage in hostile combat with the enemy. The military advisory group was doubled in 1960 to help stop or limit the increasing number and activities of the gorillas who assassinated government officials, harass vehicle traffic in the countryside and attack isolated villages (Diane 248). According to Westheider (2008:20), United States of America supported South Vietnam by providing financial and military support to Vietnam president Ngo Dinh Diem. In addition, it provided military advisors to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. When President Johnson took over following the assassination of President Kennedy, he increased military advisors serving in Vietnam. The increasing disruptions by the Viet Cong gorillas that killed officials, raided villages and interrupted traffic in the South Vietnam countryside led to the need for increased military training and advisory services from the US. As a result, US Special Army forces were increased to train Army of Vietnam (ARVN) who patrolled border areas and routes of infiltration into South Vietnam. The third way USA got involved in the Vietnam was through political reforms. The United States of America always supported political groups that were willing to commit themselves to the development of peace and infrastructure. In addition, it was ready to offer economic and military assistance to new government regime capable of fortifying its military might and effectiveness with the ability to improve working relations with the United States of America. According to Westheider (2008:20), President Kennedy’s administration had lost faith in the administration of Vietnam president Ngo Dinh Diem and political reforms became necessary. The coup was planned to improve the leadership activities and strategies of the South Vietnam. As a result, his administration through the help of the coup leaders, the Central Intelligence Agents (CIA) and other American government officials planned a military coup (Verrone and Calkins 2005:280). President Ngo Dinh Diem and his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu were assassinated in Saigon in military coup by the rebellious generals in November 1, 1963. The fourth way of US involvement in the Vietnam War was to assist political leaders spread propaganda. Gettleman (1995: 206) claimed that United States of America helped Ngo Dinh Diem to design and mount a massive propaganda against the north and north-central Vietnam. In 1954, Catholic minority of the north and north-central Vietnam were told that Holy Virgin Marty was leaving for Saigon and should be followed. Ngo Dinh Diem administration told the Catholic minority that those who fail to follow her would be ruthlessly exterminated by the victorious Viet-Minh. The propaganda somehow worked. The fifth way USA involved itself in the Vietnam War during 1954-68 was through provision of humanitarian and economic aid. Carter (2008:84) revealed that United States of America offered Aid through the American Aid Program. It provided emergency relief United States of America government offered technical support in Vietnam. The technical assistance was in form of trainings, improved police network and import substitution to weaken the might of Ngo Dinh Diem. The sixth way to which USA involved itself in war was by raising morale and restoring confidence of the current government and people of South Vietnam. This was done by increasing covert operations against the Northern part of Vietnam via sea and air as well as anti-infiltration attacks within the Laotian corridor. USA also engaged in reprisal bombings because it wanted the enemies to suffer for their outrageous acts in South Viet-Nam especially when enemies attacked Bien Hoa. It attacked training facilities, communication centers and staging areas of North Viet-Nam to reduce infiltration of war accessories ( heavy and light weaponry, ammunitions and supplies) and men from the northern part of Vietnam using Laos, Cambodia, sea and delta tip into the South. References Harvard Alterman, E 2005, When Presidents Lie: A History of Official Deception and Its Consequences, Penguin, New York. Asprey, B R 2002, War in the Shadows: The Guerrilla in History, Volume 2, iUniverse, USA. Bakse, C and Turner 1995, Airlift tanker: history of U.S. airlift and tanker forces, Turner Publishing Company, USA. 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Woolley, T J and Peters, G The American Presidency Project [online]. Santa Barbara, CA. accessed on 16. August 2010. Available from www: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=10104 Read More