US Involvement in the Growing Conflict in Vietnam Essay Sample
For the Presidents that had proceeded Kennedy Vietnam had non a chief concern and was seen to be a minor side-show against the turning force per unit areas of the Cold War. Under Kennedy the war became more of import and merely subsequently. after Kennedy’s decease. did it go a national incident ; being the first televised war. Kennedy himself loathed Communism and he believed that Communism should be ‘contained’ by America and was scared of Eisenhower’s revelatory ‘Domino Theory’ .
After his failure at the ‘Bay of Pigs’ Kennedy was despairing to reinstate himself as a house and dependable President. with a ‘no tolerance’ attitude to Communists. Kennedy pushed in front with military solutions such as increased fiscal assistance to Diem’s ground forces and he increased the Numberss of US military ‘advisers’ in Vietnam. After the first two old ages of his office the Numberss rose from 800 to 12. 000 in 1962 accompanied by arms that flooded into South Vietnam. This was ‘mission creep’ . which had been in topographic point since Eisenhower ; Kennedy merely seemed to hold inherited it ; although he pursued it more smartly. due to old failures. and his overbearing young person and rawness. Vietnam became “the place” where after the ‘Bay of Pigs’ Kennedy would reconstruct his honor. it became Kennedy’s campaign.
Kennedy’s foreign policy was perceived to be more anti-communist. in the aftermath of the McArthur period. and in his Inaugural reference: “Pay any monetary value. bear any burden” he clearly states that it is the responsibility of the United States to “assure the endurance and the success of liberty” and that any sensed “tyranny. poorness. disease. and war” would be brought to justness. His anti-communist rhetoric nevertheless is besides due the overpowering force per unit area from his military and civilian advisors. the ‘hawks’ . who urged him into a war.
Dedication to US engagement in Vietnam could besides be down to the ‘commitment trap’ . Kennedy one time remarked to General De Gaulle that he had inherited SEATO from Eisenhower and did non believe that its original creative activity was of the greatest determinations. yet if he dumped SEATO America would lose face. Besides as Kennedy took over from Eisenhower the fright of the ‘Domino Theory’ . where other states fell to communism. became the failure of the US. where America failed to exercise its thoughts of autonomy and fail in the containment of Communism.
Kennedy was besides forced farther into Vietnam due to his duties ; he had originally supported Diem. providing him with arms and advisors but upon his blackwash Kennedy had to thrown more weight into Vietnam to demo US support. and besides likely do the blackwash expression less like American behaviors.
After Kennedy’s decease Johnson had ‘inherited’ his policies. and with the ageless rush of fondness for rose for Kennedy Johnson found himself in a unstable state of affairs. he could non travel against a adult male who had died for his beliefs. Kennedy’s thoughts were difficult to travel against. Johnson excessively. like Kennedy. was a steadfast truster in the ‘Domino Theory’ Kennedy’s advisors. people like McNamara ; urged Johnson to intensify the programs that had been begun. Johnson believed that the war would be over rapidly and hence dispatched more resources to the country.
Although Kennedy did non assist in guaranting that Vietnam did non go on the incrimination can non lie wholly upon one adult male shoulders. Eisenhower started the committedness and due to his ineluctable young person and exuberance Kennedy besides committed more. After Kennedy’s decease made him a sufferer Johnson was obliged to make the same. all of the Presidents underestimated the strength of the Vietcong and the NKPA and were swept up in the ‘commitment trap’ .
