What made America's War with Vietnam unique?

[zeldatimo]

Using points like Gulf of Tonkin, Tet Offensive and My Lai Massacre to support your answer.

I have down so far that this was America's longest war, yet the least popular American War of the twentieth century. Majority of Americans did not support the war and did not want soldiers there, and today Americans still debate over whether it was even necessary. As for the Tet Offensive, it cause an huge psychological impact on Americans convincing them that pursuing the war any further would be pointless. The story of My Lai was not released to the public until a year after it occurred. I think this is because American government did not want this news to reach the Americans back at home because they would see that in addition to the the not so proud of truth that Americans were losing the war, the soldiers were also committing brutalities against innocent citizens which was sure to make the Americans even less proud and even more resentful.


I just need help with including Gulf of Tonkin in my response, and maybe getting more info and facts on the other two.

[Toltec]

Seems to be a blatent homework thread.


However to answer the question not using any of the above stuff. The GI Mutiny for me.

[Comet]

Using points like Gulf of Tonkin, Tet Offensive and My Lai Massacre to support your answer.

I agree with toltec...is this a homework question? If so, then I can move it to the appropriate place

[zeldatimo]

yes, it is

[Comet]

yes, it is

I've moved your thread to our homework help support forum. Here our members will be able to assist you in the best way necessary...However...we need to know what YOU know about your subject. I would define those points for us so that we know you have attempted to work the question. None of our members will be able to help without some sort of work being shown. Here is our homework help guidelines:

http://www.historum.com/showthread.php?t=5275

[Alex III]

The amount of media involvement in the war was pretty unique. No other war, before or after, has seen the same amount of extensive footage and reporting than Vietnam. Footage of the war was broadcast every day in the US and they saw way more of the war than previous wars, and more than they ever would in later wars, such as the Gulf War that had virtually a media blackout, asSchwarzkopf made a very conscious effort to avoid what had happened with the media in Vietnam.

[Melisende]

What made it unique was the it originally was a French war - then the Americans stepped in - followed by Australia.

[zeldatimo]

Okay, i agree

[montbeliard80]

What made America's War with Vietnam unique?

I have no idea... you should ask Chuck Norris about this :)

[Son of Cathal]

What made America's War with Vietnam unique?

I have no idea... you should ask Chuck Norris about this :)


Oh god, not another Chuck Norris reference.

If you want to mention the Gulf of Tonkin incident, look at the conspiracy theory that it was staged by America to allow them to enter the war

[Himanil]

The unique thing would be America's experienced leadership acting like total gits and the pathetic quality of American troops willing to fight who were thrown to be butchered and were unable to win despite infinitely superior airpower and logistic s

[Black Dog]

Essentially, America was defending its increasing political strangehold on Asia, fearing that Vietnam would become a Soviet, or most likely, Chinese Communist satelite. This would (and did) have ramifications for Cambodia and other Asian states and may effectively set a precedent America did not like.

In essence, America was not actuall attacked, nor was she under threat. America was defending her ideology and foreign policy, which could be seen as vigorous political emnity to any form of non- capitalist (i.e. Communist, Socialist or even left wing democratic) government, and also the creation of a huge buffer zone in the east. It failed utterly to take into account things Nazi and Axis leaders were hung for: an unprovoked attack on a sovereign country. It also failed to appreciate that "Chinese Communist friendly" did not necessarily mean "USSR Communist friendly", but thanks to McCarthy and his acolytes, past and current, a "commie is a commie, no matter what".

America destroyed a country apparently to save it. Feeding kill figures and "loyalty ratings" into their computers, the American military could see no way out. Superior weapons, numbers, etc availed them nothing, but the myth is that America "lost". It didn't. Vietnam was shattered. America was just fine, apart from the unfortunate soldiers returning home, and because of its careful control over the media, and a sympathetic reportage by the rest of the west, (Britain in particular), it actually, in the long term, enhanced America's prestige. It showed that America was willing to perform the role it and its friends had created for it: the one to stand up against "Commies" and to play the World's Policeman. Ergo, what America has done ever since is usually deemed "right and just and restrained". Which leads us to Cambodia and Pol Pot, Indonesia, several central American countries, Several African countries, Iraq (twice) and Afghanistan, and most likely, next, Iran and North Korea. This sets a precedent to other powerful countries: hence the Soviet wars against would-be former members of the USSR: Chechnya being one example. If America can do it, and portray itself as "the good guy", then other powers can try the same. So long as they are USA friendly, they can do it: Israel's treatment of Palestine: Saddam Hussein's 10 year war with Iran, (before he became a "bad guy", not to mention Noriega and Suharto's murderous regimes.

Vietman started it all. But ultimately, Vietnam was living proof that countries fight harder to defend than to attack when they don't understand or appreciate the purpose of their actions. No matter how out numbered, out gunned etc they are.