War & Foreign Policy Flashcards
Why the US Went to War in Vietnam - Foreign Policy Research Institute - 2017
The U.S. intervention in Vietnam was a gradual process rooted in Cold War tensions, fears of communism spreading, and concerns over American credibility. Starting with financial aid to the French in the 1940s and continuing with support to South Vietnam after the Geneva Accords in 1954, U.S. policymakers believed they needed to counter the communist threat in Southeast Asia. The Geneva Accords were a set of agreements reached at the Geneva Conference in 1954 that aimed to bring an end to the First Indochina War between France and the Viet Minh in Vietnam. The accords resulted in several key decisions:
- Vietnam’s division: Vietnam was temporarily divided along the 17th parallel into a communist-controlled North Vietnam under Ho Chi Minh, and a non-communist South Vietnam under Emperor Bao Dai. The division was meant to be temporary, with national elections planned for 1956 to reunify the country.
- Withdrawal of forces: France agreed to withdraw its military forces from Vietnam, while the Viet Minh forces were to regroup north of the 17th parallel.
- Non-interference pledge: Both the North and South were prohibited from joining military alliances or receiving foreign military assistance during the temporary division.
The “domino theory” articulated by Eisenhower held that if one country fell to communism, others would follow, making Vietnam critical to maintaining stability in the region. Presidents from Truman to Johnson subscribed to this belief, though their approaches varied, with Johnson escalating U.S. involvement after the Gulf of Tonkin incident.
The Vietnam War was shaped by a combination of regional concerns about communism and superpower rivalries, as the U.S., Soviet Union, and China all vied for influence in Southeast Asia. As newly independent nations emerged from European colonialism, the U.S. saw Vietnam as a test case for containing communism and proving its commitment to global democracy. Despite public rhetoric about supporting democratic nation-building, the war’s escalation faced growing domestic opposition, particularly after the Tet Offensive in 1968. The Tet Offensive, launched on January 30, 1968, by North Vietnamese forces and the Viet Cong, was a massive military campaign during the Vietnam War that coincided with the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, Tet. It involved surprise attacks on over 100 cities and military bases across South Vietnam, including a high-profile assault on the U.S. embassy in Saigon. Although the offensive resulted in significant casualties for the North Vietnamese and did not achieve its immediate military goals, it marked a pivotal shift in the war by shocking U.S. public opinion and eroding support for the conflict, ultimately influencing President Lyndon B. Johnson’s decision not to seek reelection. The offensive is widely considered a turning point in the Vietnam War, highlighting the disconnect between official government reports and the realities on the ground. Nixon, upon taking office, shifted U.S. strategy, focusing more on pragmatic alliances than ideological battles, as the strategic importance of Vietnam diminished by the end of the 1960s.
March 25, 2024: Kyiv endures a third air attack in 5 days as Russia steps up bombardment of cities
Russia intensified its aerial assault on Ukrainian cities with a third missile strike on Kyiv (Kyiv is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine - pronounced like “keev”) in five days, causing nine injuries and significant damage to residential areas and a college gym. The missiles, launched from occupied Crimea, were intercepted, but the attacks underscore the escalating violence despite a relatively static front line. Recent intense Ukrainian shelling near the Russian border prompted Russia to announce the evacuation of around 9,000 children, while Russian President Putin sought to link a deadly concert hall attack in Moscow to Ukraine, potentially using it to garner support for further military action. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy reiterated the urgent need for Western assistance, particularly air defense systems, to safeguard against ongoing attacks and protect civilian lives.
