...War, Casualties, and Public Support In the forum of international politics, war is—for the most part—an acceptable instrument in settling disputes. For democratic governments, however, citizens have the power to influence their politicians, and it is necessary for those politicians to garner the support of their public by making the case of why it is necessary to engage in an international conflict. Once the decision to go to war has been made, it is important to maintain public support. Currently, the United States has been engaged in two lengthy wars with Afghanistan and Iraq. The war in Afghanistan is presently in its tenth year, and the war in Iraq has been going on for nearly eight years. At the start of both wars, public support for them was extremely high with 80 percent to 90 percent of people supporting military action in Afghanistan according to a Gallup poll taken in November 2001, and a Pew Research Center poll conducted in April 2003 showed around 74 percent of people favored the invasion of Iraq. However, as these wars have dragged on, support for them has drastically diminished. The latest poll conducted by CNN/ORC in November 2011 shows that only 35 percent of the public supports the war in Afghanistan and 29 percent supports the war in Iraq. The question has been raised: how does the American public come to support or oppose the decision of its government to engage in military conflict? This question was first presented by John Mueller (1971) when he took...
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...The Undeclared War Known as Vietnam Akilah K. Berry History 105 Professor Joseph Krulder American Intercontinental University The Vietnam War is considered the longest war. It can also be known as the unnecessary war, the war we lost, and an unofficial war. This war demonstrated to the world that the United States of America will defend its beliefs by any means necessary. It unified yet divided it’s own nation while focusing on the conflict at hand. Despite the fact the US Congress never officially declare war, the most decisive (excluding the Civil War) and America’s longest war is known as The Vietnam War. Around 1950, in efforts to protect the Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia known as the French Empire in Indochina the US initiated their involvement. In addition to protecting the French Empire the prevention of Ho Chi Minh’s Nationalist-Communist Viet Minh forces gaining control of the French Empire was also a key objective. At the battle of Dien Bien Phu, the Viet Minh seemed to achieve independence and national sovereignty in addition to their victory, regardless of great assistance from the US. At the 1954 Geneva international conference, the United States (for whom a Nationalist-Communist Vietnamese government was unacceptable) divided the country in two. The southern half was the birthplace of the Republic of Vietnam (RVN). Americans spent the next twenty years defending the RVN which was an artificial country (Buzzanco, 2010). By 1960 the National Liberation...
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...the Vietnam War critically impacted the results of the conflict as well as having a decisive impact upon the implementation of policies within the United States and the Soviet Union. Qiang Zhai’s, “Beijing and the Vietnam Peace Talks, 1965-68: New Evidence from Chinese Sources,” showed how the Communist Chinese desired to continue the war in Vietnam for ideological and imperial desires, thus rebuffing any peace overture made from Western powers. Mao Lin’s, “China and the Escalation of the Vietnam War: The First Years of the Johnson Administration”, stated that there clearly was a political struggle between the Soviet Union, Communist China, and the United States in Vietnam. Lin stated that Vietnam simply was another battlefield in the Cold War struggle. Melvyn P. Leffler stated the United States in Vietnam continued to fight to save face and credibility as defender of the free world. During the 1960’s Communist China perceived itself as the defender of national liberation movement, sent aid to the North Vietnamese, and refused to allow them to discuss peace with the United States. Additionally, Communist China wanted to gain influence within Southeast Asia and stamp out any influence from the Soviet Union in addition to the United States. Ideologically driven actions taken by Communist China in Vietnam when tied with events of the Sino-Soviet split had drastic implications upon actions that were taken by the United States in Vietnam. Finally, implications of the Vietnam War touched...
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...To what extent was the growing opposition in the USA responsible for Johnsons failure to defeat communist forces in Vietnam in the years 1963-1968? Some people may believe that the growing opposition in the US was the main factor towards Johnsons failure to beat communism due to reasons such as the failure of US tactics and US morale hitting rock bottom. However there are a variety of other factors which may also have had an input, these include the extreme amount of media coverage and youth/civil rights protests. Firstly, it is obvious that the failure of US tactics, leading to opposition within the us, played a vital role towards Johnsons failure at beating the communists. This is after the US public realised that various tactics such as Operation Rolling Thunder, Search And Destroy Missions and Chemical Warfare often harmed innocent people, causing am outrage at the way the war was being fought. This is then further displayed by how between the years 63-68, 3895 US soldiers were killed in Vietnam, ending in many calls for Johnson to pull out of Vietnam, a war which many believed the USA had no place to be involved in. Johnson knew the public opinion was extremely important due to the fast approaching election, and so couldn’t push the army to its full potential due to fear of losing his place as president, thus showing how the growing opposition in the USA was responsible for Johnsons failure to defends communist forces in the years 1963-68. On the other hand, I can easily...
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...The Vietnam War was one of the main focuses of the 1960’s. It created much hype and controversy throughout the entire country and brought rise to some of the most tragic and memorable protests in the history of the United States. During the time of the Vietnam War, our country had a military draft in place. The draft entailed that every boy in the United States, once he turned 18, was thrown into a pool of eligible people to be chosen at random and sent to war. This aspect alone caused much discomfort throughout the country. Although it was a time of war, there weren’t too many willing participants who were ready to fight for what was right. Those in opposition of the draft did just about anything they could in order to avoid it. Some moved away to different countries and others rioted in major cities around the country. Some, in protest, would openly tear and burn their draft papers. One of the most well known people to do this was heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali. (Historylearningsite) For those with the money and credentials, going to college was another option. Former President George W. Bush was actually one of the men to dodge the draft by being accepted into a prestigious college. The biggest protest groups during this time period were teenagers and young adults, mostly college students. They believed that the draft was unfair and brought much stress to the country. They also firmly believed that the war was unnecessary and the fighting should cease immediately. No...
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...Part One: How was the American public’s opinion affected by events such as the Vietnam War or Watergate? Part Two: What search engine did you use? Google What words did you type into the search engine to get your results? “american public opinion on watergate scandal” “american public opinion on vietnam war” What sources did you choose? Provide the web address and title of each source. Watergate Scandal: Nixon Resigns http://ropercenter.cornell.edu/the-american-publics-attitudes-about-nixon-post-watergate/ The American Public’s Attitudes about Richard Nixon Post-Watergate http://ropercenter.cornell.edu/the-american-publics-attitudes-about-nixon-post-watergate/ Vietnam War Protests http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-protests/...
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...turning point in the United States’ involvement in Vietnam, including the war between the French and Vietnamese nationalists in Indochina. Great Britain, the Soviet Union, the United States, France, and the People’s Republic of China came together to try to resolve several problems related to Asia in April 1954. One of the most troubling concerns, under communist Ho Chi Minh and the leadership of the French, who’s intent was to continue control over Vietnam, the bloody and long battle between the Vietnamese nationalist forces. “Since 1946 the two sides had been hammering away at each other. By 1954, however, the French were tiring of the long and inclusive war that was draining both the national treasury and public patience.” (www.history.com) “The United States had been supporting the French out of concern that a victory for Ho’s forces would be first step in communist expansion throughout Southeast Asia. When America refused France’s requests for more direct intervention in the war, the French announced that they were including the Vietnam question in the agenda for the Geneva Conference.” (www.history.com) Dien Bien Phu is where and when the Vietnamese forces captured the French base and discussions on the Vietnam issue started at the conference just as the worst military defeat of war suffered was France. The Geneva Agreements were signed in July 1954 and the French agreed to withdraw their troops from northern Vietnam as part of the agreement. Pending elections within...
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...French colonial war: The French colonial war was a series was a clash associated with France and its total colonies and other surrounding nations. U.S. support of Diem and opposition of Ho Chi Minh: Ho Chi Minh, had spent his life following Vietnamese independence from France. The U.S support had been given to the French and Indochina was exchanged to a state of French colonial rule much to the disquiet of the Vietnamese people. When this occurred the French installed even more restrictive control in Vietnam, and millions died of starvation while Vietnamese rice was transported to France. In 1940 Ho Chi Minh and other Vietnamese leaders made continuously claims to Truman and other American officials to help them receive independence from french colonial rule. These rules had been ignored though. Ho tried every possible...
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...independence in what is known as the “First Vietnam War”. France was supported by the United States, who paid 80% of their war costs in hopes of containing communism. France wanted all of Vietnam to be democratic but Ho Chi Minh wanted a communist country. The eight year war ended with the signing of the Geneva Accords of 1954, stating that Vietnam would be split into a northern communist country and a southern democratic country. The new leader of South Vietnam was Ngo Dinh Diem. Nearly 600 american advisors were sent by President Dwight Eisenhower, to South Vietnam to help patrol the land and train the South vietnamese military. John F. Kennedy sent 16,500 advisors or Green Beret by 1963. He witnessed 200 of his men killed in action....
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...American Involvement in the Vietnam War Late 1940’s: America began sending aid to the French fighting in Vietnam and the rest of Indochina. France was fighting the Communist rebels led by Ho Chi Minh. 1954: Ho Chi Minh defeated the French. America became officially involved trying to stop Communists in Vietnam. Financial aid and military advisors were sent to help the South Vietnamese fight Northern Communists as they fighting in the South. The U.S. worked with Ngo Dinh Diem and other leaders to set up a separate government in the South. The U.S. worked with Ngo Dinh Diem, the South Vietnamese Premiere, to create separate governments in the South. President Dwight Eisenhower expressed concerns over Domino Theory. He believed that if Vietnam fell completely to Communism, then Communism would spread elsewhere, like how if the first domino falls, the rest follow. The Domino Theory is the central reason for America’s involvement in Vietnam. 1954-1964: U.S. involvement in Vietnam continued to increase. Eisenhower sends military advisors to South Vietnam to train South Vietnamese Army. 1964: August: North Vietnam attacked the USS Maddox in international waters. Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution that allowed President Johnson to increase America’s military involvement. It allowed him to "take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack...and to prevent further aggression." 1965: Pleiku Raid: Viet Cong attacked a Marine barracks killing eight and injuring over a...
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...The 1968 Democratic party convention held on August 26 stands as a national event that brought nation’s political and cultural history. Since the early 1960’s the United States was in war with Vietnam. The United States involvement to keep South Vietnam from falling under the control of communist North Vietnam, cost million Vietnamese and American lives. The leading candidate for the democratic party was Hubert Humphrey, vice president of Lyndon Johnson. Humphrey had a drive to become president but Humphrey could not free himself from the grip of Johnson. People didn’t like Johnson because of his expansion for war. Publicly Humphrey was supporting Johnson word policies of Vietnam and became the represented of Johnson words. However, Humphrey...
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...1960s and the West On the Tiger’s Back: The Vietnam War History written by the Americans – therefore it is one sided. Also with films – they are not accurate because they are told from the side of the defeaters. Forrest Gump – potted history of post-War America. Highly politicised film. Portrays Vietnam in very particular ways. Vietnamese do not appear in this film. They are absent. Not the only film that you can say that about. Good Morning Vietnam is the one film where Vietnamese feature strongly. American films – Americans feature strongly, not the Vietnamese. This is a familiar trope in Vietnam film. History by the defeated. America is still grappling with this film. Film was controversial when it came. Filtered through Reagan-ite, neo-conservative lens. 60s to blame for subsequent American problems. Central premise of the film – he does whatever he is told throughout the film, and reaps the awards at the end. Achieves the American Dream. He doesn’t ask questions. Undemocratic approach to the world. Robert McNamara, McGeorge Bundy * Bodies, asymmetric war. * War of attrition. * Vietnamese see this as a Civil War – but Americans see this as a Cold War conflict. * They are not fighting the war that they think they’re fighting. * Flexible response. * Dean Rusk, Secretary of State – anti-appeasement philosophy. Advocate of strategic bombing to weaken the enemy, but this does not work. Often ignored by Johnson, fairly marginal figure...
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...The Vietnam Experience The Vietnam War is one oft the most gruesome wars after 2nd world war. The war was between the years 1959-75. It was twenty years of war to no avail. Millions of people lost their lives – young soldiers from America and Vietnam, and many civil. After several years of war in Vietnam with France, a peace treaty was signed and the republic of Vietnam was created in South Vietnam with Ngo Dinh Diem as leader, and the north was ruled by communists. South Vietnam was receiving financial and military support from the United States, but the Diem regime was corrupt and the repression was a help to strengthen the communists opposition in South Vietnam. The military wing, called the Vietcong began in 1956 a guerilla war, where the smaller forces is fighting against a bigger strength. In 1964 the United States participate in the war, because they claim that some of their ships has been attacked. Systematically the U.S. started bombing the North Vietnamese cities, but while America were more advanced in the military, they where not able to defeat their opponents. The Vietnam War is especially known for its cruelty towards the civilian population, for example the My Lai massacre. The Americans were not familiar of this kind of guerilla war as the Vietcong's performed, and that is why it lead to a significant loss of civilian populations. Many stories and movies has been written and made to show just how extremely horrible and terrible this war has been, both from...
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...Minh fought for the liberty of his people over the corrupt Dieu regime. Noting he had several major reasons for commenting on Vietnam, the most apparent and obvious of the irony that we “have been repeatedly faced with the cruel irony of watching Negro and white boys on TV screens as they kill and die together for a nation that has been unable to seat them together in the same schools” (King). King referred to a cruel manipulation of the poor, those youth with education or money were exempt from a war, sending poor youth and minorities into a country and fighting a war they did not understand, fighting for liberty of the people in Vietnam while killing side by side, yet they would not be able to eat in the same room or live on the same block in America. From the Japanese, French and later American involvement, the Vietnamese have been embroiled in 116 constant years of warfare and oppression, betrayed by the Japanese, betrayed by the French and anticipating and inevitable betrayal from the blatant lies of the U.S.A. King mentions this distrust of the Vietnamese against the United States and how “Hanoi remembers how our leaders refused to tell us the truth about the earlier North Vietnamese overtures for peace, how the president claimed that none existed when they had clearly been made” (King). King spoke on the viewpoint of the “opposition” by seeing their point of view, by seeing their questions and their assessments that “ we may indeed see the basic weaknesses...
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...Tim O’Brien’s book, “The Things They Carried,” provides valuable insight into the minds of soldiers, and enlightens us to the emotional and psychological costs of war. Specifically, the stories of Mary Anne, the baby water buffalo and the chapter, “In the Field,” help us to relate to the metamorphosis that soldiers undergo. While the obvious correlation for O’Brien’s novel is to speak about the physical objects each soldier carried were much more significant, including such things as personal doubts, fears, and dreams. The soldiers have a crazy amount of mental baggage. O’Brien wrote this novel as a type of therapy for himself as a way to deal with everything he had experienced in the Vietnam War. They carried all they could bear, and then some, including a silent awe for the terrible power of the things they carried....
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