...One Million Dead for Naught The involvement of U.S. military forces in the Vietnam Conflict was neither justifiable nor demonstrative of sound judgment by the American government. Many books, magazines, and other forms of commentary on the Vietnam War have surfaced in the half century since the war’s end. Historian and author Stanley Karnow suggests that such publications generally attempt to make sense of the horrific “war that nobody won” (Karnow 9). It is a subject that will continue endlessly to divide historians and others as they attempt to draw lessons from the conflict that might then be used to justify, condemn, or promote America’s involvement in modern day Vietnams. Because of the magnitude of complexities surrounding the war, some may find it difficult to formulate an unwavering opinion about the war’s causes and effects. According to Robert McNamara, who served as Secretary of Defense for Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, mankind has often struggled to find solutions to even simple problems related to the unification of values and ideologies spanning diverse cultures (McNamara 323). In order to fairly judge why the American government put our troops in the jungles, swamps, and fields of Vietnam, one might first closely examine why our government claims to have committed our troops to Vietnam. One of the reasons most adamantly advanced by our government to justify a full scale assault on the Vietcong of North Vietnam was an incident that is said to have occurred...
Words: 3484 - Pages: 14
...The United States has become the dominant force in international relations. It is argued that the United States’ military act as the world’s police. What are two real-life international incidents where the States have used military action abroad? What are two factors that propelled America into a dominant military and diplomatic force after World War II? What are the key differences in American foreign policy before and after World War II? What are the main reasons in the changes of pre- and post-war policy occurred? In what manner does the justifications used for America’s overseas involvement during World War II still play a role in United States military action abroad? What example can be provided of such justifications in action? In what fundamental ways in which the rise of the United States to a world superpower has shaped the country’s responses to domestic spending, Fourth Amendment protections, and Americans’ choice of leaders in Congress and the White House on the home front? These previous topics covers the manner of America’s shift of power occurred and the consequences that the United States faces as a result of this elevated status. What are two real-life international incidents where the States have used military action abroad? In 2011, the United States aided in NATO’s successful intervention in Libya. According to the website of foreign affairs, the United States facilitated the intervention, took its led in cutting off funding to Libya as well as freezing...
Words: 1812 - Pages: 8
...a country’s resources should be utilized in waging war since the enemy would surely do the same. Following WWII Americans were used to the idea of large armies, clear objectives, and decisive victories; however these ideas would be reconsidered in the years following WWII leading up to the Korean War. During the Korean War the idea of total war became less popular and ideas which were more in line with Sun Tzu’s idea of a limited war became the policy of the Truman administration. There are many possible reasons why Truman chose to conduct a limited war in Korea. One possible reason for Truman’s policy might have been “China’s entry into the Korean War in November put an abrupt end to any immediate hopes of trying to separate Moscow and Peking.” (Strategies of Containment, P-116) In 1950 American forces were not prepared to engage in a total war with China and the Soviet Union and Truman and MacArthur both realized these deficiencies within the U.S. military. The scope of my argument in this essay will not be about what type of war, limited or total, is best because there are certain instances where a limited war is desired and there are times when total war is required. I will however address the period between December 1950 and March 1951 where I feel that Truman’s choice to wage a limited war was better than MacArthur’s belief that the U.S. either engage in a total war with the communists or withdraw from Korea and prepare for total war with the communists at a later...
Words: 2112 - Pages: 9
...1865, the Civil War ended with the surrender of the Confederate army. 617,000 Americans had died in the war, approximately the same number as in all of America's other wars combined” (Para. 18). In fact, theses wars with others have seemed to position a lasting stance on freedom for Americans no matter what color individuals appeared. Team B’s review of the civil wars may express what is unknown to some individuals, and what others family member fought for years ago. Even though civil wars caused death, if changes had not happen many Americans may still be slaves. Civil war was needed to stop the opposing thoughts of diversity in America. Because, of the foundation set in America for everyone, which appeared to outcast some chosen groups normally in the southern states. North and south states viewed certain individuals as unequal to other humans rendering freedom to those entities. Why the South lost the Civil War “If the Southern generals like Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson were so brilliant, and if the South lost fewer men than the North, why did the North win the war?” The reason for the South losing the war was not because of manpower, but location, location, location. Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, Albert Sydney Johnston, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, and James Longstreet all trained at West Point Military Academy (Schultz, 2012). These officers had one more thing in common: They joined the Confederate army...
Words: 1501 - Pages: 7
...TIMOTHY K. DEADY “It should be the earnest and paramount aim of the military administration to win the confidence, respect, and affection of the inhabitants of the Philippines . . . and by proving to them that the mission of the United States is one of benevolent assimilation, substituting the mild sway of justice and right for arbitrary rule.” — President William McKinley 21 December 1898 T he United States topples an unsavory regime in relatively brief military action, suffering a few hundred fatalities. America then finds itself having to administer a country unaccustomed to democratic self-rule. Caught unawares by an unexpectedly robust insurgency, the United States struggles to develop and implement an effective counterinsurgency strategy. The ongoing US presidential campaign serves as a catalyst to polarize public opinion, as the insurrectionists step up their offensive in an unsuccessful attempt to unseat the incumbent Republican President. These events—from a century ago—share a number of striking parallels with the events of 2003 and 2004. The Philippine Insurrection of 18991902 was America’s first major combat operation of the 20th century. The American policy of rewarding support and punishing opposition in the Philippines, called “attraction and chastisement,” was an effective operational strategy. By eliminating insurgent resistance, the campaign successfully set the conditions necessary for achieving the desired end-state. After a brief review of the conflict...
Words: 6720 - Pages: 27
...rebuilding the Iraqi infrastructure and reformulating its political institutions. The military's role in modern stability operations, though seemingly new, fits into a preexisting American foreign policy formula. However, the military sees stability operations through contemporary ethical lenses. Since each case depends upon current ethical understanding about what the military should or should not do, past examples of stability operations do not necessarily provide fitting frameworks for modern efforts. This article focuses on ethical abstractions as well as the ways national and social views of how "right" and "wrong" translate into political and military application, and it examines examples of stability operations and the ethical challenges and implications such efforts raise.1 Morality in Post-war Operations Even though moral rhetoric often permeates stability operations, international stability and perceived strategic interests have overridden moral obligations as determinants for American military commitments. A study of the ethical implications of conducting stability operations today bridges a historiographic gap in the understanding of morality in warfare. Scholars have often alluded to the prevalence of the just war tradition in (Western) military thought.2 However, the Just War model is insufficient when discussing stability operations because it only describes jus ad bellum (rationale for going to war in the first place) and jus in bello (appropriate conduct during...
Words: 3928 - Pages: 16
...Geopolitics and International Affairs “What are the key factors in contemporary redistributions of Geopolitical Power?” The Encyclopaedia Britannica describes Geopolitics as “analysis of the geographic influences on power relationships in international relations” (2010); therefore Geopolitical Power is the power certain nations have over other nations, based upon Geographic influences and advantages. Across the world the geographies of power shift from nation to nation over time (such as the shift in power from Britain to the USA after WWII) and the hegemonic structure has a huge effect on world dynamics such economy, politics, society and culture. The nation with the most power tends to have the greatest influence over these and other factors. Currently, and in recent years there has been a notable rise in power from nations in the geographic east (most notably China) simultaneous to the apparent decline in power by the worlds current top geopolitical power (the USA). This is raising serious questions as to the future of the current hegemonic structure. There are a number of key factors which are driving this shift in power and here I aim to address and analyse these so that I may answer the question “What are the key factors in contemporary redistributions of Geopolitical Power?” The USA is currently the world's dominant geopolitical power and has been since World War II. According to Fareed Zakaria (2008) “...the United States' [unrivalled economic status] has lasted more...
Words: 1474 - Pages: 6
...ELECTRONIC ASSIGNMENT COVERSHEET | | Student Number | 31963763 | Surname | Dendup | Given name | Tenzin | Email | Dendup.tenzin3@gmail.com | | | Unit Code | POL161 | Unit name | Asia Pacific in the Global System | Enrolment mode | Internal / external | Date | 13/05/2013 | Assignment number | 2 | Assignment name | Rise of China and Its Security Risk to Australia | Tutor | Kreisti Nillus | Student’s Declaration: * Except where indicated, the work I am submitting in this assignment is my own work and has not been submitted for assessment in another unit. * This submission complies with Murdoch University's academic integrity commitments. I am aware that information about plagiarism and associated penalties can be found at http://www.murdoch.edu.au/teach/plagiarism/. If I have any doubts or queries about this, I am further aware that I can contact my Unit Coordinator prior to submitting the assignment. * I acknowledge that the assessor of this assignment may, for the purpose of assessing this assignment: * reproduce this assignment and provide a copy to another academic staff member; and/or * submit a copy of this assignment to a plagiarism-checking service. This web-based service may retain a copy of this work for the sole purpose of subsequent plagiarism checking, but has a legal agreement with the University that it will not share or reproduce it in any form. * I have retained a copy of this assignment. * I will...
Words: 2143 - Pages: 9
...The Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Pearl Harbor was bombed on December 7, 1941. An air attack led by Commander Mitsuo Fuchida, which consisted of 183 fighters and bombers, attacked Pearl Harbor at 7:55 a.m. During the bombing many ships were destroyed, and many soldiers died. This event would bring the United States into World War II. The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor because it was considered the height of America’s Naval supremacy. Another reason is that the Japanese knew the United States would primilary be using the navy to attack them. Since the Japanese were trying to take over China, they knew it would be a bit easier for them to do it because it would be harder for us to get to Japan and stop them if they destroyed the American Navy in Pearl Harbor. Despite how far Japan was from Pearl Harbor, it was still closer then the rest of the United States. The Japanese fleet had to sail over 4,000 miles to launch airplanes to attack Hawaii. The Japanese were able to attack Pearl Harbor because America's intelligence community failed to notice them. Some reasons why it was hard for the American intelligence community to notice the Japanese on their long naval journey, was the Japanese would only travel at night and would not use any radio communication. Any form of radio interception was impossible (Truman). The Manhattan Project started when Albert Einstein left Germany to come to the United States to escape Nazi prosecution. A month after Einstein had left Germany he wrote...
Words: 2036 - Pages: 9
...What do you find most striking/interesting/relevant/significant/innovative about the film and why? Given the lack of advanced of digital technology available to the film industry then, the way special effects were created was through a synthesis of camera work and the use of props. The low budget of the film had compelled them to use props consisting of condoms, oatmeal etc. together with filming techniques to replicate certain scenes like the tunnels or the heat-ray effect. These innovative methods of mixing prop-use and camera tricks, have mostly been replaced by digital technology. Poor representations of what we would come to expect of advanced technology, these special effects back then would have been the acceptable visual standard of portraying the scientific fantasies of the 1950s era. These different special-effects standards notwithstanding, the genre-function of science-fiction is to represent a sort of fantasy with hyper-real elements, while concurrently being a parody of contemporary issues. Hence, with the normative expectations of that genre in mind, it is interesting to see how cinematic expectations have changed, for example, to see how boiled-oatmeal coupled with camera tricks could pass off as a heat-ray’s effect then. However, a judgment regarding the proximity to reality between past and present visual effects can be passed while avoiding anachronisms. Hence, where hyper-real elements – successful exaggerations of reality where representation fades into...
Words: 1383 - Pages: 6
...Is America’s opposition to the ICC an unjustifiable justification? Mohamed Kunowah Kiellow From the early nineties up to the present day, international criminal law has made major developments ‘unknown since Nuremberg Tribunal’: norms have been changed, refined or even expanded. Moreover, after the Cold War, institutions have been established and norm-creating judgements passed both domestically and internationally. The setting up of the Yugoslavia and Rwanda Tribunals is an example of such international institutions created. The Pinochet decision is an example of such norm-creating judgements. The adoption of the Rome Statute International Criminal Court, which came into force on 1 July 2002, crystallised all these developments. This day will be a red-letter day in the history of international criminal law. On this day, a permanent international criminal court came into existence. This Court has enjoyed broad and enthusiastic support from governments and non-governmental organisations around the globe. However, not all states were happy about all provisions in the Rome Statute. One major country which refused to ratify this milestone treaty is America; an opposition which many termed as a blow dealt to the effectiveness of the Court. America sees itself as the sole remaining world super power which should be involved in promoting peace all around the world. It is of the conviction that its involvement in peace keeping processes is highly needed if they are to succeed....
Words: 4516 - Pages: 19
...Opting for the Military (revise) In the American culture, value is often dictated through the money one has and the possessions one owns. There is a constant goal to have more. The more things you have, the more you are worth, and the more you can rest safe and assured that you are doing well. Like a bubble, your infinitive collection of things acts as a safety net. Perhaps this mindset contributes to the lack of equivalence in the discretionary spending of the national budget. Money is aimed towards excessive military efforts, which could provide a sense of stability and protection for the American people as the military is given money and remains heavily stocked and prepared for battle. The national budget is a distribution of money from the government to various publicly funded areas such as international affairs, veterans’ benefits, social security, and other areas like Medicare and health or even the government itself. The federal spending is broken down into mandatory spending, discretionary spending, and money from interest on debt. Mandatory spending is not regulated like a typical budget, and is instead derived from...
Words: 1948 - Pages: 8
...Research Paper: Final On September 11, 2001, 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda, hijacked four American planes and executed pre-engineered terrorist attacks against various targets in the United States. Two of the planes were flown directly into the towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. A third plane then hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, DC, and the fourth and final plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. Now referred to as 9/11, the attacks resulted in extensive destruction, over 3000 merciless deaths in New York City and Washington, and triggered the driving force behind major US initiatives to combat terrorism. Also, may view this horrific event as a defining moment in the presidency of George W. Bush. The first strike was on the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Flight 11, a Boeing 747 carrying 76,000 pounds of jet fuel and 92 passengers, was overtaken by five Arabic passengers, that was later discovered to have worked directly with al-Qaida leader, Osama bin Laden to both plan and give life to this attack. At 7:40 am the flight departed from Boston as normal, the flight maintained its course for the first thirteen minutes. Following this, the crew was not acknowledging communications with the FAA. Several attempts were made to communicate with the crew but no reply was received, with the exception of the sound of static and was thought to be a scream. Connection was finally made at 8:18am to Cary, North Carolina...
Words: 4158 - Pages: 17
...Bin Laden Is Dead: America Still Unsafe Devry University English 135 June 28, 2011 Introduction So, in the end it was not a cold, dark Afghan cave that sheltered the world's most wanted man, Osama bin Laden. It was a huge million dollar home in Abbottabad, Pakistan, with far too much security and 18-foot high walls, much taller than necessary to protect the two couriers who allegedly lived there alone. A U.S. bullet into his head, among other places, is what brought the sudden end to Bin Laden's life after a 10-year hunt for the spiritual leader of the global Al-Qaeda terrorist franchise and the master plotter of the 9/11 attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people. The death of Osama bin Laden has raised many questions; what impact does his death have on U.S. counter-terrorism activities, Al-Qaeda and Islamic extremism, and U.S./NATO efforts in Afghanistan? More importantly, is the world any safer now than it was before? U.S. efforts to combat terrorism Without doubt, the death of the Al-Qaida leader is a great achievement in the global fight against terrorism. The spontaneous celebrations that broke out across the U.S. show how eagerly Americans were waiting to see this day. “History's most expansive, expensive and exasperating manhunt has finally ended, but the most expensive war against terrorism still has a long way to go.” (China Post, 2011) While we take comfort in his removal, we must not become complacent in our efforts to win the war on terror. Bin...
Words: 2381 - Pages: 10
...in the Persian Gulf The Persian Gulf is a region of many conflicting interest. The name itself already offers a good example of this, since it is the center of a politicized debate between those preferring Persian Gulf and those preferring Arabian Gulf. Although this debate will not be further explored in this paper – it was decided to use the term “Persian Gulf” as it is most commonly used – this paper will delve deeper into the transition from British to American hegemony in the Persian Gulf and review how various aspects of this are described and interpreted in the literature. This paper will deal with this transition between the years of 1945, the end of the Second World War, and 1971, the year that the British completed their military withdrawal from the Persian Gulf. Even though the Americans were interested in the area before the WWII, the year 1945 was chosen as a starting point because the war had severely altered the power equilibrium between the great powers the United States of America and Britain were considered as at that time. During the Cold War, which started in 1946 the importance of the region was on the rise, both because of the oil and because of the containment policy against the Russians. The relevance of the region was on the rise for America in particular because the power of Britain was waning in the post-war era. Britain, faced with economic hardship, imperial fatigue, and events of humiliation such as the Suez Crisis of 1956-57, was entering the...
Words: 6767 - Pages: 28
