Vietnam and Cuban Missle Crisis Flashcards
Who coined the term “Mutually Assured Destruction?”
Bernard Brodie. He believed you could stop other military spending now that US had them. Herman Kahn said no, you need flexible response because Russia could just take Berlin knowing you wouldn’t use nukes
What was the the early warning radar system against nuclear weapons?
NORAD 1958
Outline Cuban Missile Crisis
A US spy plane had photographed nuclear missile launch sites at San Christobal in Oct. 1962 that could have reached most of the US and parts of Canada.
President Kennedy initiated an embargo against Cuba that started a standoff between Soviet Navy.
Kennedy promised no Cuban invasion and US would take missiles out of Turkey.
Explain Domino Theory
The theory that if one country goes communist, neighboring countries will soon follow suit.
Why didn’t planned elections in Vietnam go ahead?
US knew the whole place would go communist
When were the Vietcong founded?
1960, and included 10,000 former Viet Minh. They carried out 11,000 abductions in 1964 and 95,000 assassinations or murders 1957-71
What was the excuse for America to escalate with ground troops in Vietnam?
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident in Aug 1964, which may have been faked or never actually happened. LBJ used it as an excuse for congressional approval to escalate the war.
Dr. Tom Dooley
His book deliver us from evil influenced American opinion as it recounted fleeing north Vietnamese who were starving, diseased, and tortured.
Why did Diem, President in South Vietnam, suck so badly?
He was corrupt as fuck. Appointed family to high positions. His wife passed a law against buddhist monks ( Madame Nhu). The US knew he was going to get assassinated and let it happen 1963. Though no leader emerged afterward.
How many NVA were in the South in 64 and then 67?
28k and 208k
Outline Ia Drang Valley
US 1st Air Cavalry Div. activated June 1965 Use artillery and tactical air support
By Nov the NVA suffered heavy losses and went underground
Outline Hi Chi Minh Trail
One single track in Laos in 1964, by 1971 8,000 miles of roads, 25,000 troops, 50k labourers.
US bombing destroyed 20-35 percent of supplies. Use TURDSIDS - mines that look like cow shit.
Operation Rolling Thunder dropped 643,000 tons of bombs on North, 2.2 million tons in South
Outline Tet Offensive
Jan 30 1968 (Vietnamese New Year). Viet Cong launch massives attacks on over 100 towns and cities 36/44 provincial capitals.
While initially taking control of several cities, the Viet Cong were quickly repulsed and suffered massive casualties.
Though the offensive had huge implications in the US. The embassy had been attacked in Saigon. There was chaos, and just before the offensive the American people were told that they were winning the war handily. It certainly didn’t seem that way on TV, and people couldn’t be convinced they were being told the truth by the government. Johnson administration suffered from “credibility gap.” He didn’t seek reelection
Vietnam morale at the end
No soldier wanted to put their life on the line for a war they were pulling out of. 700 fraggings occurred, where men killed officers who were putting them in dangerous situations.
Drug use was high among soldiers: 20% on heroin, 50-75% smoking weed.
What was Vietnamization?
Nixon’s handing over of control of Vietnam to the South Vietnamese.
