...was the first campaign that the [civilian] news media was allowed to go over and take pictures,” James Sikes, a member of 100th Frist Advance Infantry, recalled his first moments back on American soil after being medical evaluated from Vietnam. James Sikes was born in the early cool February of 1954 to a family of sharecroppers. Growing up, the Sikes Family was considering “poor white trash.” And James could never have understood why people treated him like that. Growing up, he grew to hate the world and everything...
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...The Vietnam War was one of the most divisive events in American History. While half the country believed that the United States had a right to defend capitalism and contain communism by fighting in Vietnam, the other half felt that since the concern was far away and the United States had not been directly attacked, there was no reason for 500,000 Americans to be over there fighting and dying. The divisions deepened in November 1969 when news broke that American soldiers had massacred an entire village of South Vietnamese civilians near the border of North Vietnam. On 16 March 1968, Charlie Company of the United States Army invaded the Son My region of South Vietnam because, according to the commanding officer Lieutenant William Calley, and...
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...United States did more damage going into the Vietnam War than just staying away and letting them handle it. The Vietnam War was a long and confusion war, it had many causes, a huge cost, and difficulty on the home front. The Gulf of Tonkin Incident was a big cause in the US joining the Vietnam War because this pushed the president to join and send American troops to fight. The Gulf of Tonkin Incident occurred when the US destroyer Maddox had gotten attacked by a Vietnamese torpedo boat. Two days later another destroyer reported the exact same thing. Later proved by historians that the second attack never actually happened, it was just to help push the US into the war (). President Lyndon B. Johnson had later ordered an air strike and by...
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...International Humanitarian Law – jus in bello 1. Geneva Conventions The law in this area is covered by the four Geneva Conventions, signed in 1949 after the atrocities of WW2 and two additional protocols signed in 1977. 1. Geneva Convention on the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field (GC I) 2. Geneva Convention on the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea (GC II) 3. Geneva Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners of War (GC III) 4. Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War (GC IV) Protocols of 1977 – in response to the conflict in Vietnam 1. Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Additional Protocol I) 2. Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts (Additional Protocol II) 2. International Armed Conflict – application of the GC’s • International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) states that an armed conflict within the meaning of the Geneva Conventions is any difference of opinion between two states that leads to intervention or action by the members of their armed forces • Common Article 2 of GC (ie in all of them) states that it will apply: o To all cases of war, and armed conflict between two or more parties to the treaty (even if “the state of war” is not recognised by one of them) o To all cases of partial or total occupation of the territory...
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...Specifically, in times of war, emergencies, and the overall influence of the media have historically contributed to the expansion of presidential power in America. One example of the expansion of presidential power is when Grover Cleveland deployed federal troops to put down a strike among Pullman train workers. This action was exceeding his power because he had not received congressional authorization to do so. Franklin D. Roosevelt was another president who expanded his power when he transferred United States’ destroyers to Great Britain in 1940, a year before the United States officially entered World War II. President Truman also expanded presidential power when he ordered the secretary of commerce to operate the nation’s steel mills during a strike to ensure an adequate supply of steel during the Korean War. An important instance where presidential power was expanded was during the Vietnam War. With public support lacking for the war, Congress debated going against the president’s focus in Vietnam and withdrawing war funding. A more recent example of an instance where a president furthered his power was during the Bush administration. President Bush violated the Geneva Convention and the Congress’ Uniform Code of Military Justice when he created special military commissions to try alleged terrorists. A similarity in most of these instances...
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...The Vietnam Conflict Introduction It is difficult to pinpoint the exact reasons why the U.S. became involved in the Vietnam Conflict. Perhaps one of the more convincing reasons can be attributed to the strong disdain most Americans had for Communism. The U.S. government feared that Communism, if not prevented, would spread throughout the nations. The federal government used President Eisenhower’s “domino theory,” which stated, “if one country in Southeast Asia collapsed to Communism then surrounding countries would soon fall” to rally support for their intentions to save Vietnam from Communism (Davidson, 2011, p. 839). The true reasons for U.S. involvement in the Vietnam Conflict is debatable, however one thing is clear, the war caused further division in a country already suffering from its own social issues. There had been conflict in the Vietnam long before the U.S. became involved in the conflict. Vietnam had been occupied by foreign countries for many years, and by 1940, Vietnam was under both French and Japanese rule. Ho Chi Minh, a Communist Vietnamese revolutionary leader, vowed to create a Vietnam that was independent of foreign rule (Davidson, 2011, p. 839). Ho Chi Minh established the Viet Minh whose main purpose was to liberate Vietnam from French and Japanese control. Northern Vietnam supported the Viet Minh efforts to create an independent Vietnam and joined forces with southern communist Vietcong to overthrow South Vietnam and unite Vietnam under one...
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...The Legacy of Ho Chi Minh Vietnam is a country which has suffered a lot of turmoil, both political and regional, over the years. After gaining independence from the Chinese in 938 AD, successive Vietnamese dynasties ruled the nation while expanding geographically and politically into Southeast Asia, until the French colonized the nation into of a federation of states called Indochina, which consisted of North, Central and South Vietnam, along with Cambodia in the 19th century. During such turmoil, Ho Chi Minh was born in Hoang Tru village of French Indochina on May 19, 1890. His birth name was Nguyen Sinh Cung, but he was more popular with other names. After completing his primary education, Ho travelled to the city of Hue and attended the Franco – Vietnamese academy. Post-graduation, at the age of 21, Ho obtained a job as a cook aboard a French steam ship, and travelled to France. He later travelled through various parts of Europe, US and other countries. While in France, he was introduced to Communism, and became involved in leftist and anticolonial activism. Influenced by the communism ideas, he started the Association for Annamite Patriots, an organization composed of Vietnamese nationals living in France who opposed the French colonial occupation, and later became part of the French Communist party in 1920. He also started a journal to serve as a platform for anti-colonial activists to express and disseminate their views about the French colonial regime. Later...
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...Rudimentary forms of chemical and biological weapons have existed for thousands of years, and in the last century there has been an explosion of chemical and biological weapon technology and development. World War I was the infancy of modern chemical weapons and since then they have become an even more deadly and systematic form of killing. Many nations, including the United States, still have thousands of tons of chemical agents that lie in storage. In the hands of the wrong person, they could wreak absolute havoc on the environment and population. The United States, along with all other nations should not continue to stockpile and produce biological and chemical weapons because the use of them is immoral, and totally inconsistent with the policies of a country that is a leader. The destruction and loss of innocent lives...
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...amongst the generation itself, and the Vietnam War could be considered the hottest issue. The personal interviews presented in Discovering the American Past conducted on baby boomers, asking about their experiences revolving the Vietnam War, effectively displays the variety of reasons young individuals at the time believed the war was being fought for; some individuals shared similar reasons and others had differing reasons. In...
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...Terrorism: Does It Justify the Use of Torture Eric M. Skogen SOC 120 Introduction to Ethics & Social Responsibility Prof. Linda Atkinson January 23, 2012 Terrorism: Does It Justify the Use of Torture Torture is used by governments throughout the world to include the United States as way to extract information from a person or persons. By inflicting severe pain the torturer forces the captive to do or say something that could lead to information of a supposed terrorist attack or pertinent details of upcoming events. The act of torture has been used against prisoners of war, possible insurgents, religious sympathizers and political prisoners since Christ was crucified at the cross. In the early 1970’s, certain governments begin to see a form of violence start to evolve called “terrorism” and with that came prisoners who were called “terrorists.” Although many countries employ torture techniques against those that are dubbed “political prisoners” not all countries label them as terrorists or even face potential threats of terrorism to the extent other countries do. Over the next several pages I will discuss events that have taken place since the 1970’s leading up to the current terrorist acts we face today and how the use of torture has played a role in these events. I will also discuss how the use of torture brings up a great ethical debate of what is right and wrong and how governments attempt to justify the use of torture. I will state how one of the classical...
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...program. While attending the academy, he joined the football team for three years, but in his final year he quit the team in order to focus on his studies. He graduated in 1965 earning a second lieutenant’s commission and commenced pilot training. Following that he was assigned to the 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 366th Fighter Wing, which is stationed at Da Nang Air Base in South Vietnam. He flew as an aircraft commander and a combat systems officer in an F-4C Phantom, a 20 ton, two seat fighter bomber. Sijan’s 52nd...
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...The Vietnam War also known as “The Second Indochina War” occurred between 1954 and 1975. It erupted from the conflict between France and Vietnam. In July 1954, France was forced to evacuate Vietnam after being defeated. This battle persuaded the French to no longer sustain their Indochinese colonies and Paris sued for peace. Worldwide events shaped the future of Vietnam's modern revolution as the two countries came together. The Geneva Peace Accords were signed by France and Vietnam in the summer of 1954 and reflected the strains of the global cold war. The Communist’s feared that this peace would anger the United States and its western European allies. Vietnam held national elections in 1956 to reunify the country. The United States supported...
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...INTRODUCTION The following research paper has been compiled to provide an insight into Chemical Weapons (CW). It deals with the description and the usage of various chemical reagents used by various countries and their negative effects. The following also shows the policies of countries towards chemical weapons, their stockpiles and their lethality and disposal. The following report also shows the history of chemical warfare, their demilitarisation, proliferation and the various councils set up to reduce their use. It also includes a news release by the sunshine project on the use of chemical weapons by the US military. All in all it tells you everything about chemical weapons and explosives. Chemical Warfare Chemical warfare (CW) involves using the toxic properties of chemical substances as weapons. This type of warfare is distinct from Nuclear warfare and Biological warfare, which together make up NBC, the military acronym for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (warfare or weapons). None of these fall under the term conventional weapons which are primarily effective due to their destructive potential. Chemical warfare does not depend upon explosive force to achieve an objective. Rather it depends upon the unique properties of the chemical agent weaponized. A lethal agent is designed to injure or incapacitate the enemy, or deny unhindered use of a particular area of terrain. Defoliants are used to quickly kill vegetation and deny its use for cover and concealment. It...
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...ICTR's Akayesu Verdict SYNOPSIS The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) heard Jean-Paul Akayesu accused of vicious gang rapes and genocide that took the lives of 2,000 Tutsis. The trial court chamber of three judges, two men and one woman, had an unprecedented opportunity to clarify whether rape during internal armed conflict constitutes genocide as well as a crime against humanity. Nongovernmental organizations worked to "engender" the Tribunal while holding accountable the Hutu leaders who orchestrated genocide. The critical 1998 verdict influenced states negotiating improved standards for the prosecution of sexual violence and the creation of a permanent International Criminal Court. "Rape and Genocide in Rwanda" addresses current issues of international law, human rights, women in politics, African Studies, judicial procedure, legal and moral reasoning. RAPE and Genocide IN RWANDA: The ICTR’s Akayesu Verdict CASE OUTLINE I. An Unprecedented Opportunity Glossary and Map II. Prior Responses to Sexual Violence in War A. From “Time Immemorial” to 1948 B. From the 1949 Geneva Conventions to an International Criminal Court III. Genocide In Rwanda A. A Colonial Legacy of Ethnic Division B. Mass Killing, Rape and the 1994 U.N. Withdrawal IV. The U.N. Creates a Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda V. The Trial of Jean-Paul Akayesu Trial Chronology and Key Individuals VI. Issues for Judgment ...
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...Modern America (1890’s) >Civil war (1861-1865) Fredrick Jackson Turner >Speech at the Chicago world’s tour fair (1893) “And new, four centuries from the discovery of America, at the end of a hundred years of life under the constitution, the frontier has gone, and with its going has closed the first period of American history.” Modern Corporation (Began in 1850’s) Charter from a state Capital- Sale of stocks Limited personal liability Civil war Swift Meats Borden Dairy and groceries Carnegie – R.R’s and Steel Andrew Carnegie wrote in 1886 “if I asked what important law I should change, I would say none the laws are perfect” 1860 | 1900 Number of Americans 31 mill | 70 Mill Manufactured Goods 2 bill | 11 bill Miles of Rail Roads 30,000 | 200,00 Iron and Steel Production 0 | World’s largest Number of Industrial workers2.7Mill (40% of entire U.S. Population )|13 mill (65% of U.S. Population) America As A world Power ( the 1890’s) >European “imperialism” v American Imperialism (trade economic advantage) >from 1870-1900 America’s New Empire {18 Million square miles (1/5 of the earth’s land)~ 150 million people} >The 1875 Economic Depression Overseas markets for American goods (unemployment) >Need to sell a broad 70 % U.S. cotton / 40% U.S. wheat /50% U.S. copper /15% U.S. iron steel / 16% U.S. agricultural equipment to find overseas buyers – U.S. State...
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