(14) President Nixon’s Policies in Vietnam Flashcards
How was relations between the USA and China?
Nixon was a prime mover in changing US policy towards China and wanted to seek opportunities to talk with China and make changes.
He removed some trade controls and relaxed travel restrictions.
Mao saw the Soviet Union as the greater and more immediate threat therefore it made sense to him to form an alliance with the USA to address the immediate threat from the Soviet Union.
Unfortunately, in the end Kissinger failed to persuade China to pressurise North Vietnam into engaging in a peace process.
What was Vietnamisation?
It meant that the USA was beginning the process of withdrawing their troops from Vietnam, while strengthening the South Vietnamese army so that they could fight communism on their own.
Nixon poured resources into the South Vietnam’s forces. This led to troops being paid more, their career structure improving and benefits increasing.
Why was this significant?
Hoped this would negate growing domestic opposition towards America’s involvement in the Vietnamese War.
The ARVN increased in size from 82,000 in 1968 to 1,000,000 by 1970.
What were positive impacts of Vietnamisation?
How could this be countered however?
Transformed the ARVN into a formidable fighting force, able to resist aggression from North Vietnam.
For example, North Vietnam launched its Spring Offensive and ARVN was able to resist this offensive. While they suffered about 8000 casualties, the North suffered almost five times that number.
But despite this the ARVN did not stand up well to the communist threat as seen in their surrender in 1975.
What were negative impacts of Vietnamisation?
Despite this apparent success, the chronic problems facing South Vietnam continued:
- Vietnamisation did not increase a sense of patriotism amongst the ARVN which meant that the morale of the ARVN remained low, with relatively high causality rates, paling in comparison to the committed communist mentality of the Vietcong.
- Vietnamisation made the ARVN dependent on the USA, reinforced by continued corruption which meant officers were chosen based on loyalty rather than ability.
How did the War extend into Cambodia?
In March 1969, Nixon initiated a bombing offensive called Operation Menu designed to target parts of Cambodia regarded as safe by the North Vietnamese army and Vietcong hoping to:
Sever the supply routes in the Ho Chi Minh Trail
Pressure North Vietnam to agreeing to an acceptable peace settlement for South Vietnam
What happened in Pol Pot?
In 1970 Cambodia lost their Head of State to a communist takeover led by Pol Pot.
Nixon feared that Cambodia would fall under communist control and became involved again in Cambodia.
South Vietnamese troops, with air support from the USA, carried out cross-border raids in Cambodia.
Why had this been significant?
> Likewise North Vietnam increased its presence in Cambodia backing the anti-Nol communist movement, the Khmer Rouge and this caused tensions as Nixon feared the possibility of a communist regime being established in Cambodia
> This resulted in South Vietnamese forces, with US air support, carrying out cross-border raids into Cambodia. In April 1970, the USA committed 20,000 ground troops to Cambodia.
While there had been positive consequences…
While the ability of the Vietcong to operate in Cambodia was seriously undermined as large areas of jungle were destroyed and large amounts of Vietcong supplies and equipment were either captured or destroyed…
It was apparent that increased involvement in Cambodia led to…
The invasion of Cambodia increased the USA’s commitment which had a psychological impact on the US public as it led to an increase in opposition to the war at home.
For example, in May 1970, widespread student protests erupted. Four students were shot dead by US national guards at the Kent State Shootings.
In the long term, the shootings have symbolised and perfectly epitomised the deep political and social divisions that had sharply divided the country during the Vietnam War era.
How did it further increase tensions?
USA, made no strategic gains, they increased their commitment to a war in Asia just as they were meant to be withdrawing.
The US Congress banned US ground troops from entering any country apart from Vietnam.
Why had the decision to enter Laos caused even more opposition?
Nixon was determined not to lose the war and to fulfil his mission to withdraw from Vietnam ‘with honour’.
Despite heavy bombing on the Ho Chi Minh trail, it was still operating in Laos so Nixon extended the war into Laos in 1972.
Why had this been a bad decision?
Congress had blocked sending US ground troops into any country apart from Vietnam so Nixon had to send in South Vietnamese troops to Laos.
The North Vietnamese outmatched the 30,000 US-backed South Vietnamese troops even though they had aerial support. - The South Vietnamese President ordered his forces to retreat once they had reached 3,000 casualties.
