Changes To US Involvement Under Nixon Flashcards
Nixon’s presidential run
He used people’s anger over the war to get elected by promising to leave it.
Official peace talks
Five days from becoming president, Nixon sent delegates to Paris to negotiate with North V and South V representitives and VC. Talks were long and difficult.
Secret peace talks
August 1969, Henry Kissinger of USA began secret talks with Le Duc Tho of North Vietnam. Nixon didn’t tell US people or South Vietnam.
Troop withdrawals
June 1969, Nixon lowered the max number of US troops in Vietnam by 25,000. US began to withdraw troops on 14 July 1969.
ARVN training
Vietnamese military, led by General Abrams, told to focus on training ARVN officers and troops
Secret bombing of Cambodia
15 March 1969 Nixon ordered secret bombing of parts of Ho Chi Minh trail in Cambodia. Military reports and orders lied because Nixon knew it’d be unpopular (he was expanding the war).
Nixon Doctrine
25 July 1969 Nixon gave a speech on the future role of the USA in SEAsian politics
Features of the Nixon Doctrine
USA would honour any treaty commitments it’d made
USA would help any ally against nuclear threats
USA would provide TRAINING against non-nuclear threats but NEVER TROOPS; countries must use their own troops
Vietnamisation
The word used for the application of the Nixon Doctrine. USA to withdraw troops without appearing defeated and without the south falling to communism
What Vietnamisation meant
Shifted responsibility of fighting, and therefore casualties to ARVN
Similar to policy before Johnson: send money and advice, not troops
Key features of Vietnamisation
US troops to withdraw
ARVN to provide it’s own officers
US still to provide training and equipment
US withdrawal would be done ‘with honour’- not leaving the South at the mercy of the North and VC
South would remain independent
US reactions to Vietnamistation
US citizens happy troops were coming home
Some US military adivisors thought they were withdrawing too soon and could win by sending in more troops to fight the enemy which had been weakened by the Tet Offensive.
South Vietnamese reaction to Vietnamisation
Felt it was too soon
ARVN felt vulnerable
Opposition to the war’s reaction to Vietnamisation
Felt withdrawal was too slow
Cambodia, events of March 1970
Pro American General Lon Nol took over Cambodia and told the North Vietnamese to leave. North Vietnamese joins forces with Cambodian communist guerillas (Khmer Rouge) and supported Sihanouk by attacking Nol Government.
Nixon’s reaction to events in Cambodia
He was urged by generals to invade and 50,000 ARVN and 30,000 US troops did. He knew bombing Cambodia would create US oublic outrage and kept bombing secret.
How did Nixon justify invading Cambodia
Said US troops could only go 19 miles across the border and had to be out by the 30th of June. Explained on TV and said that invading would limit the casualties of troops still in Vietnam and would end the war sooner.
Details of the Bombing and Invasion of Cambodia
1970- US had been secretly bombing Ho Chi Minh trail in cambodia since 1969
US and ARVN invaded to save Cambodia from Khmer Rouge communist Guerillas
Effect of the bombing and invasion of Cambodia
Damage done to Ho Chi Minh trail (11,000 communists killed)
Communists used parts of trail in laos and pulled back further into Cambodia where US couldn’t go
Huge public outcry in US- congress cancelled gulf of Tonkin resolution and called for less funding and faster withdrawal
Details of the Invasion of Laos
1971- US provided air support for ARVN invasion of 21,000 troops to defeat communist groups in Laos and destroy the trail
North Vietnamese raised 36,000 troops to fight a battle
Effects of the invasion of Laos
Battle of Tchepone was bloody and resulted in ARVN retreating
Invasion raised doubts about Vietnamisation
The trail and NV bases in Laos remained secure
Details of Easter Offensive and Operation Linebacker
1972- NV launched the Easter offensive on the South in March 1972- initially successful but ARVN with US support pushed them back.
In response, Operation Linebacker was the heavy bombardment of NV with no restrictions
Effects of the Easter Offensive and Operation Linebacker
Line Backer severely damaged industry, suplies and communication in the North and China and USSR urged NV to reach a peace settlement
The unrestricted bombing campaign was very controversial and there were protests back in the US
(Events before US withdrawal) June 1972
Pressure from NV’s communist allies and American public to end the war
(Events before US withdrawal) October 1972
Feeling abandoned by the US (and being left out of negotiations), SV refused to sign a peace treaty. Nixon brought them military equipment and supplies and promised continued support.
(Events before US withdrawal) 27 January 1973
Paris agreement signed by US, NV, SV and the Provisional Revolutionary Government (communists in SV). Set up ceasefire and a time-table for peaceful reunification of Vietnam. Widely believed it was to allow the US to leave without it appearing that they’d abandoned SV.
Following this, SV government didn’t negotiate with the communists.
(Events before US withdrawal) March 1975
NV army swept through SV. Congress refused to aid the South further. The last Americans in Saigon fled hastily, contradicting the desire to ‘honourably withdraw’ and Vietnam became a united communist country in April 1975.
(Why did Vietnamisation fail) the actions/attitudes of US troops
Lost motivation to fight as they knew they’d go home soon. Fragging became more common as did drug use
(Why did Vietnamisation fail) problems with ARVN
not enough soldiers, desertion was common, troop numbers unclear, corruption, supplies often stolen and sold off
(Why did Vietnamisation fail) training and equipment problems
Congress restricted funding, training for ARVN officers was often hurried so they lacked experience and US equipment mannuals were in English
(Why did Vietnamisation fail) economic and political reasons in SV
US withdrawal set off economic crisis, leading to unemployment rising and $bns of US aid stopped. SV government was corrupt, weak and unpopular
