Kenndey in Vietnam Flashcards
why did Kennedy view Vietnam as important to the USA?
ensured Vietnam remains a democracy important to the democratic future of South-East Asia, Kennedy was committed to containment and the notion of the Domino Theory, Vietnam was a classic example of the need for containment
why could insurgency not be dealt with through Eisenhower’s policy of massive retaliation?
it was based on the threat of using nuclear weapons, Kennedy feared the threat of China and the USSR, it would lead to mutually assured destruction
what kind of tactics did Kennedy back to deal with insurgency?
counter-insurgency, intelligence gathering, targeting individual leaders, infiltration/spy networks, use of conventional ground forces
give one example of a recommendation for US involvement in Vietnam given in 1961 by General Taylor’s report
increase helicopter force to facilitate counter-insurgency actions, greater training support for South Vietnamese Army, an increase in the numbers of US combat forces, strategic bombing of North Vietnam, 10,000 US ground troops
when was the Strategic Hamlet Program introduced?
March 1962
what were the aims of the Strategic Hamlet Program?
create armed stockades and house South Vietnamese rural peasants, isolate rural peasants from the VC/NLF, spread the influence of Diem’s regime
how many rural peasants did Diem’s regime claim lived in the hamlets by 1962?
over 4 million
give one example of why the Strategic Hamlet Program was a failure
led to recruitment into the VC/NLF, resentment (travel for work/digging and construction of hamlets fell to the peasants), NLF weren’t the people’s enemy but the governments were, corrupt officials alienated the people (fraudulent activities), impossible to prevent the NLF from infiltrating the hamlets (you couldn’t tell who was NLF and who wasn’t)
what religious denomination was Diem?
Catholic
give one example of suppression against Buddhists in May 1963
banned from flying their flag on Buddha’s birthday, military used to prevent Buddhists attending a speech by their leader Tri Quang, 9 people were killed (clashes escalated in the following weeks with multiple Buddhist protests across South Vietnam)
give one example of Buddhist protests
hunger strikes, mass rallies, self-immolation of Quang Duc June 1963, contact with foreign press (mainly US) and contacted US officials
what did Madam Nhu say about the Buddhist protests?
‘let them burn and we shall clap our hands’
what did Roger Hilsman suggest to the US Ambassador in August 1963?
explore alternative leadership in South Vietnam, start planning for a replacement for Diem
what was the outcome of General Taylor and Robert McNamara’s visit to Vietnam in September 1963?
Diem wasn’t willing to reduce the repression of his people or bring Nhu under control, reinforced the view that the war couldn’t be won under Diem, Taylor and McNamara recommended significant reductions in US support to put pressure on Diem to cooperate, encourage the dissident generals in South Vietnam to plan a coup against Diem (Kennedy’s involvement is unclear)
when did the South Vietnamese rebel general activate a military coup and what happened the following day?
1st November 1963, Diem and Nhu were assassinated
