an overview of the vietnam war overview · were just playing a game, in reality, soldiers fighting...

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1 An Overview of the Vietnam War Overview In this lesson, students will be introduced to the Vietnam War through a simulation regarding the anxiety of combat and will then receive an overview of the war via a teacher Power Point presentation or lecture (provided), or a text book reading followed by class discussion. Students will then create an illustrated timeline picturing the prominent events from the years of conflict. Grade 11 NC Essential Standards for American History II AH2.H.1.1- Use chronological thinking… AH2.H.1.2- Use Historical Comprehension to: AH2.H.1.3- Use historical analysis and interpretation… AH2.H.1.4- Use historical research… AH2.H.2.1 Analyze key political, economic, and social turning points since the end of Reconstruction in terms of causes and effects AH2.H.2.2 Evaluate key turning points since the end of Reconstruction in terms of their lasting impact AH2.H.4.3 Analyze the social and religious conflicts, movements and reforms that impacted the United States since Reconstruction in terms of participants, strategies, opposition, and results AH2.H.6.2 Explain the reasons for United States involvement in global wars and the influence each involvement had on international affairs AH2.H.7.1 Explain the impact of wars on American politics since Reconstruction AH2.H.7.3 Explain the impact of wars on American society and culture since Reconstruction Materials Scrap material that can be used as blindfolds Chart paper and Post-it notes Teacher reference document: “A Short Summary of the Vietnam War”, attached Optional: “An Overview of the Vietnam War,” Power Point; available in Carolina K-12’s Database of K-12 Resources (in PDF format) o To view this PDF as a projectable presentation, save the file, click “View” in the top menu bar of the file, and select “Full Screen Mode” o To request an editable PPT version of this presentation, send a request to [email protected] Optional: “Student Notes: A Short Summary of the Vietnam War,” questions and answer key attached Vietnam War Timeline strips, attached Art paper and markers, crayons, or colored pencils Optional homework: “Afghanistan haunted by ghost of Vietnam,” CNN article attached Essential Questions: What were the causes of the Vietnam War? Why did the United States become involved in the conflict? What were the major events of the Vietnam War? How did the Vietnam War change the United States and Vietnam?

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Page 1: An Overview of the Vietnam War Overview · were just playing a game, in reality, soldiers fighting in Vietnam, both American and Vietnamese faced dangerous conditions every day. Tell

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AnOverviewoftheVietnamWarOverviewInthislesson,studentswillbeintroducedtotheVietnamWarthroughasimulationregardingtheanxietyofcombatandwillthenreceiveanoverviewofthewarviaateacherPowerPointpresentationorlecture(provided),oratextbookreadingfollowedbyclassdiscussion.Studentswillthencreateanillustratedtimelinepicturingtheprominenteventsfromtheyearsofconflict.Grade11NCEssentialStandardsforAmericanHistoryII• AH2.H.1.1-Usechronologicalthinking…• AH2.H.1.2-UseHistoricalComprehensionto:• AH2.H.1.3-Usehistoricalanalysisandinterpretation…• AH2.H.1.4-Usehistoricalresearch…• AH2.H.2.1Analyzekeypolitical,economic,andsocialturningpointssincetheendofReconstructionin

termsofcausesandeffects• AH2.H.2.2EvaluatekeyturningpointssincetheendofReconstructionintermsoftheirlastingimpact• AH2.H.4.3Analyzethesocialandreligiousconflicts,movementsandreformsthatimpactedtheUnited

StatessinceReconstructionintermsofparticipants,strategies,opposition,andresults• AH2.H.6.2ExplainthereasonsforUnitedStatesinvolvementinglobalwarsandtheinfluenceeach

involvementhadoninternationalaffairs• AH2.H.7.1ExplaintheimpactofwarsonAmericanpoliticssinceReconstruction• AH2.H.7.3ExplaintheimpactofwarsonAmericansocietyandculturesinceReconstructionMaterials• Scrapmaterialthatcanbeusedasblindfolds• ChartpaperandPost-itnotes• Teacherreferencedocument:“AShortSummaryoftheVietnamWar”,attached• Optional:“AnOverviewoftheVietnamWar,”PowerPoint;availableinCarolinaK-12’sDatabaseofK-12

Resources(inPDFformat)o ToviewthisPDFasaprojectablepresentation,savethefile,click“View”inthetopmenubarofthe

file,andselect“FullScreenMode”o TorequestaneditablePPTversionofthispresentation,[email protected]

• Optional:“StudentNotes:AShortSummaryoftheVietnamWar,”questionsandanswerkeyattached• VietnamWarTimelinestrips,attached• Artpaperandmarkers,crayons,orcoloredpencils• Optionalhomework:“AfghanistanhauntedbyghostofVietnam,”CNNarticleattached

EssentialQuestions:• WhatwerethecausesoftheVietnamWar?• WhydidtheUnitedStatesbecomeinvolvedintheconflict?• WhatwerethemajoreventsoftheVietnamWar?• HowdidtheVietnamWarchangetheUnitedStatesandVietnam?

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Duration• 60minutesProcedure

BewareofLandmines!(OptionalWarm-UpSimulation)1. Atthebeginningofclass,breakstudentsupintopartnersandhavethemchoosetobeAorB.Instructthe

A’stolineupononesideoftheroomsidebyside.Tellthemtoturntheirbacktothecenteroftheroomandusetheprovidedmaterialtoblindfoldthemselves.

2. Next,havetheB’splaceitemsonthefloorthatwouldblockthepathoftheA’siftheyweretowalkacross

theroom(books,apileofpencils,jackets,backpacks,etc.).Theteachershouldjustmakesurethatnoneoftheobjectsusedcouldcauseharm.Ensurethestudentsspreadtheobjectsaroundthewholeroom,sothatthefloorisevenlycovered.Ifpossible,turnonarecordingofwarsoundeffects.

3. Onceallitemsareplaced,tellthegroupthatalloftheitemsonthefloor,whichtheB’scanseeandtheA’s

cannot,representlandmines.Iftheyaresteppedonormovedinanyway,theywillexplodeandobliteratethepoorpersonwhohashitit.

4. ExplainthatA’smustnavigateacrosstheroomwithoutopeningtheireyesandwithouthittingalandmine.

TheonlyassistancetheywillhaveistheirpartnerByellingwarningstodirectthemwhentheyareclosetodanger.B’smaynotsteertheirpartnersphysicallyinanyway.Inadditiontothewarsoundeffects(ifavailable),B’scanalsobeinstructedtoaddtothestressoftheactivitybyyellingwarlikeslogans,suchas“Incoming!;Retreat!;Weareunderattack!;”etc.

5. Oncestudentsunderstandwhattodo,theteachershouldassumetheroleofasergeantandyell

directives.HaveA’sbeginmovingacrosstheroombyyelling,“Alrightsoldier’s,moveout!We’vegotenemiesonourtrail,butproceedwithcaution!Let’sMOVE!”TheteacherandB’sshouldcontinuemakingthesimulationasstressfulaspossibleforA’s,whilestillensuringstudentsarenotliterallyharmedinanyway.TheteacherandB’sshouldpaycloseattentiontotheA’sandifanyrunintoanyofthelandmines,yellandletA’sknowtheyhavebeenblownup.

6. OnceallA’shavenavigatedthroughthelandminesorbeenblownup,discuss:

• Whatdidthatexperiencefeellike?• Imaginethelandminesyouwerecircumventingwerereal.Whatwouldthisexperiencehavebeenlike

then?• Youwereblindfoldedtoillustratehowsoldiersdidnotnecessarilyknowwherelandmineswerewhen

travelingongroundinenemyterritory.Howdoyouimaginethisuncertaintyaffectedthem?• Basedonwhatwehavediscussedintermsofwaringeneral,andbasedonthisactivity,whatdoyou

imaginegroundcombatwouldhavebeenlikeduringwar?• Canyouthinkofanywarswherelandmineswerelikelyused?Whatotherdangerousaspectsof

warfarehavebeenemployedthroughouthistory?

OverviewoftheVietnamWar7. Tellstudentsthattheywillbelearningaboutoneofthemostdangerousandcontroversialwarsinthe

historyoftheU.S.,theVietnamWar,whichlastedfrom1964-1973.Explaintostudentsthatwhiletheywerejustplayingagame,inreality,soldiersfightinginVietnam,bothAmericanandVietnamesefaceddangerousconditionseveryday.Tellstudentsyou’lldiscusstheactualuseoflandminesduringthewarabitlater,butthatyoufirstwanttohearwhattheyalreadyknowabouttheVietnamWar.Togaugestudents’priorknowledge,drawawordwebonapieceofchartpaperwiththewords“VietnamWar”inthecenter.GiveeachstudentthreePost-ItnotesandinstructthemtothinkaboutthephraseandthenwritedownthefirstthreethingsthatcometomindonthePost-Itsprovided.Studentsshouldthenadd

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theirPost-Itnotestothewordweb.Aftertheallottedtime,discusswhatstudentshaveposted.Dispelanymisinformationbeforeintroducingstudentstoageneraloverviewoftheconflict.SincetherearenumerouscomponentstotheVietnamWarera,teachersshouldchoosewhichaspectsofthewartohighlightwiththeirstudents.Optionsforprovidinganoverviewofthewarinclude:• UseCarolinaK-12’sPowerPoint,“AnOverviewoftheVietnamWar,”whichcanbefoundinthe

DatabaseofK-12Resources(k12database.unc.edu)orbye-mailingarequesttoCarolinaK12@unc.edu.ThisPPTprovidesageneraloverviewofallmajoraspectsoftheconflict;teachersshouldpickandchoosewhichcomponentsofthepresentationtheywishtosharewithstudents.

• Deliveraninteractivelecturetostudentsbasedontheattachedteacherresourcedocument,whichoffersacondensedsummaryoftheeventsoftheVietnamconflict.Teacherscanalsoprovidetheattacheddiscussionquestionsforstudentstofilloutthroughoutthelecture.

• ProvideanintroductoryreadingtostudentsregardingVietnam,suchastheinformationprovidedintheirtextbook.GooverthereadingwithstudentsbyaskingclarifyingquestionstoensurestudentsgainabasicfoundationofknowledgeregardingVietnam.

8. WhetherusingexcerptsfromthePowerPoint,deliveringalectureoverview,ordiscussingafterareading,

keeptheoverviewoftheVietnamWarasinteractiveaspossible.Forexample,posebasicquestionstotheclassthatfollowabasichistoryoftheVietnamWar,includingwhytheUnitedStatesgotinvolvedandthefinaloutcomeoftheconflict.TalkaboutthedifferenteffectstheVietnamWarhadonAmerica,andencouragethestudentstobrainstormhowtheythinkthewarmighthaveaffectedVietnam.Forexample:• WhofoughtagainstwhomintheVietnamWar?• DoesanyonethinktheyknowwhytheUnitedStatesbecameinvolvedinVietnam?Whydiditincrease

itsinvolvementintothe1970s?• WhatspecificeventsmarkedthebeginningoftheUnitedStates’activemilitarycampaignagainst

NorthVietnam?(e.g.,theGulfofTonkinResolution)• WhatwastheinitialpublicsentimentintheUnitedStatesregardingU.S.involvementinVietnam?• WhatwasPresidentJohnson’sattitudetowardU.S.involvementinVietnam?WhatwasPresident

Nixon’sattitudetowardthewar?• HowdidthewarchangeunderPresidentNixon’sadministration?• WastheVietnamWaroverwhelminglypopularamongAmericancivilians?Whyorwhynot?• WhatwastheaffectofthewaronAmericans?WhatwastheaffectofthewaronthoseinVietnam?• DoanyofyouknowanyonewhofoughtintheVietnamWar?Havetheytoldyouabouttheir

experiences?• WheredoyougetmostofyourinformationabouttheVietnamWar?School?Videogames?Movies?

TV?• HaveyouseenanyfilmsabouttheVietnamWar?Howisthewardepicted?

VietnamWarIllustratedTimeline

9. Oncestudentshavereceivedabasicoverviewoftheconflict,toreviewandfurtherfamiliarizestudentswiththeevents,tellstudentstheyaregoingtobeillustratingcertainkeymomentsofthishistoricalperiod,eitherindividually,inpartners,orinsmallgroups(teacher’sdiscretion).(Thereare29timelinestripsattachedthatshouldbecutapart;teachersshouldensureeachisillustrated.Onestripcanbeassignedperindividual,orifteacherspreferforstudentstoworkinpartnersorsmallgroups,multiplestripscanbeassignedforeachpartner/grouptoillustrate.)Tellstudentsthattheyareresponsibleforreadingtheirstrip,researchingadditionalinformationregardingtheevent(s)described(optional),thenillustratingtheireventontheartpaperprovided.Finalillustrationsshouldinclude:• Thedateoftheevent,prominentlyfeatured• Abriefbutcleardescriptionoftheevent• Anappropriateandcolorfulillustration;illustrationscanbeliteralorabstract,aslongasitisclearwhat

theabstractimageissymbolizing.

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Encouragestudentstobecreativewhilealsobeinghistoricallyaccurateandrespectfultothetimeperiod.Teachersshouldalsoletstudentsknowwhattypeofartisacceptable.SincecertainaspectsoftheVietnamwereveryviolent,itisrecommendedteachersencouragestudentstorefrainfromcreatingparticularlygruesomeartwork,andratherleantowardssymbolism.Finally,letstudentsknowthatuponcompletion,theirworkwillbehunginchronologicalorderwiththeworkoftheirclassmates,creatingalarge,illustratedtimelineofVietnam.Allowstudentstoaskquestionsandgivethemapproximately15-20minutestoworkontheirassignment.(

10. Oncestudentshavefinished,assisttheclassinhandingtheirtimelinearoundtheroominchronologicalorder.Provideeachstudentwithadouble-sidedcopyoftheattached“IllustratedTimelineReview.”Teacherscaneitherhavestudentscirculatethroughouttheroomandtakenotesastheyreviewtheartwork,orplacestudentsintosmallgroupsandcirculatetheartworkthroughouteachgroup,allowingstudentstoremainseatedwhiletakingtheirnotes.(Teachersshouldjustensurethetimelinecirculatesinorder.)

11. Afterstudentshavereviewedtheillustratedtimelineandtakennotesonthemajorevents,culminatewithadiscussion:• WhatweresomemajorturningpointsoftheVietnamconflict?• Baseduponwhatyou’velearned,whatdoyouthinkwasthemostdifficultaspectoftheVietnamWar?

(encouragestudentstoconsidermultipleaspectsastheyrespondtothisquestion(i.e.thefearofbeingdrafted,losinglovedonesincombat,difficultpresidentialdecisions,thepassionatefeelingsofthosewhodisagreedwithandprotestedthewar,returninghomeasasoldierbutbeingprotestedratherthanhonored,etc.)

• DoyouthinkthereisanywaytheVietnamWarhaveturnedoutdifferently(i.e.lessliveslost,lesscontroversy,shortertermofinvolvement,etc.)?Ifso,how?

• Thinkbacktoourwarm-up.Whilethatwasachanceforustogetupandhaveabitoffun,inactuality,whataspectsofVietnam(suchaslandmines)wouldhavebeenincrediblystressfulorfrightening?o Tobringthelessonfullcircle,sharesomeadditionalinformationregardinglandminesandthe

Vietnamconflictwithstudents.Letthemknowthatwhile“theVietnamwarendedover30yearsago,formanyVietnamese,therealitiesofthewarstilllinger.IntheyearssincethefallofSaigon,over40,000Vietnamesehavebeenkilledorinjuredbylandminesandunexplodedbombsleftbehindfromthatconflict.Infact,every22minutes,someonearoundtheworldiskilledormaimedbyalandmine.One-thirdoftheworld'scountriesarelitteredwithlandminesandtheU.S.StateDepartmentestimatesthat60to75millionlandminesremainunexplodedinthegroundworldwide.Someexpert’sestimatethatbetween12-18%ofbombsdroppedduringtheVietnamWardidn’texplodeonimpact.UnexplodedordnanceandburiedlandminesposeanongoinganddailythreattothepeopleofVietnam,particularlyintheDemilitarizedZone,the“DMZ,”whichonceseparatedNorthandSouthVietnam.Thesemunitionscontinuetoinflictinjuryanddeathonthefarmersandinnocentchildrenofsmallvillages.Removingsuchlandminesisexpensiveanddangerous,buttherearehumanitarianagenciesandprivateorganizationsincreasingawarenessoftheproblemandraisingfundstohelpvictimsandtode-minethefieldsandricepaddies.”(Source:http://www.pbs.org/vietnampassage/perspectives/perspectives.landmines.html)

• WhydoyouthinksomepoliticalcommentatorscomparethewarsinIraqandAfghanistantoVietnam?Canyouseeanyparallels?

12. Optional:Asahomeworkassignment,havestudentsreadtheattachedarticlefromCNN,“AfghanistanhauntedbyghostofVietnam.”Instructstudentstofilloutthechartatthebottomofthearticleastheyread,notingthesimilaritiesbetweenVietnamandAfghanistanandthedifferencesbetweenthetwo.Tellstudentstheinformationtheychartcanbefromthereading,butalsofrompriorknowledgeorother

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sources.Teacherswhoassignthereadingshouldreservetimethefollowingclassperiodtodiscussthearticlewithstudents.

AdditionalActivities• TeachCarolinaK-12’slesson,“RememberingVietnam:TheVietnamWarMemorial,”availableinthe

DatabaseofK-12Resourcesathttp://k12database.unc.edu/files/2012/05/RememberingVietnam8.pdf

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TEACHERREFERENCEDOCUMENT:

AShortSummaryoftheVietnamWar

ImperialismandColonialismTheVietnamWarhasrootsinVietnam’scenturiesofdominationbyimperialandcolonialpowers—firstChina,whichruledancientVietnam,andthenFrance,whichtookcontrolofVietnaminthelate1800sandestablishedFrenchIndochina.Intheearly1900s,nationalistmovementsemergedinVietnam,demandingmoreself-governanceandlessFrenchinfluence.ThemostprominentofthesewasledbyCommunistleaderHoChiMinh,whofoundedamilitantnationalistorganizationcalledtheVietMinh.

TheFirstIndochinaWarDuringWorldWarII,whenFrancewasoccupiedbyNaziGermany,itlostitsfootholdinVietnam,andJapantookcontrolofthecountry.TheVietMinhresistedtheseJapaneseoppressorsandextendeditspowerbasethroughoutVietnam.WhenJapansurrenderedattheendofWorldWarIIin1945,HoChiMinh’sforcestookthecapitalofHanoianddeclaredVietnamtobeanindependentcountry,theDemocraticRepublicofVietnam.

FrancerefusedtorecognizeHo’sdeclarationandreturnedtoVietnam,drivingHo’sCommunistforcesintonorthernVietnam.HoappealedforaidfromtheUnitedStates,butbecausetheUnitedStateswasembroiledintheescalatingColdWarwiththeCommunistUSSR,itdistrustedHo’sCommunistleaningsandaidedtheFrenchinstead.FightingbetweenHo’sforcesandtheFrenchcontinuedinthisFirstIndochinaWaruntil1954,whenahumiliatingdefeatatDienBienPhupromptedFrancetoseekapeacesettlement.DividedVietnamTheGenevaAccordsof1954declaredacease-fireanddividedVietnamofficiallyintoNorthVietnam(underHoandhisCommunistforces)andSouthVietnam(underaFrench-backedemperor).Thedividinglinewassetatthe17thparallelandwassurroundedbyademilitarizedzone,orDMZ.TheGenevaAccordsstipulatedthatthedividewastemporaryandthatVietnamwastobereunifiedunderfreeelectionstobeheldin1956.TheColdWarandtheDominoTheoryAtthispoint,theUnitedStates’ColdWarforeignpolicybegantoplayamajorpartinVietnam.U.S.policyatthetimewasdominatedbythedominotheory,whichbelievedthatthe“fall”ofNorthVietnamtoCommunismmighttriggerallofSoutheastAsiatofall,settingoffasortofCommunistchainreaction.WithinayearoftheGenevaAccords,theUnitedStatesthereforebegantooffersupporttotheanti-CommunistpoliticianNgoDinhDiem.WithU.S.assistance,DiemtookcontroloftheSouthVietnamesegovernmentin1955anddeclaredtheRepublicofVietnam.DuetothepopularityofHoChiMinhthroughoutVietnam,Diempromptlycanceledtheelectionsthathadbeenscheduledfor1956.TheDiemRegimeDiem’sregimeprovedcorrupt,oppressive,andextremelyunpopular.HewassounpopularthatsomeBuddhistmonksprotestedhisregimeusingself-immolation–settingoneselfonfire.Nonetheless,theUnitedStatescontinuedtopropDiemup,fearfuloftheincreasingCommunistresistanceactivityinSouthVietnam.ThisresistanceagainstDiem’sregimewasorganizedbytheHoChiMinh–backedNationalLiberationFront,whichbecamemorecommonlyknownastheVietCong.

HoChiMinh

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In1962,U.S.presidentJohnF.KennedysentAmerican“militaryadvisors”toVietnamtohelptraintheSouthVietnamesearmy,theARVN,butquicklyrealizedthattheDiemregimewasunsalvageable.Therefore,in1963,theUnitedStatesbackedacoupthatoverthrewDiemandinstalledanewleader.ThenewU.S.-backedleadersprovedjustascorruptandineffective.JohnsonandU.S.EscalationKennedy’ssuccessor,LyndonB.Johnson,pledgedtohonorKennedy’scommitmentsbuthopedtokeepU.S.involvementinVietnamtoaminimum.HekeptKennedy’sSecretaryofDefense,RobertMcNamara,butreplacedthepreviousAmericanmilitarycommanderwithWilliamC. Westmoreland–aU.S.generalwhoadvocatedaggressivestrategiesagainstViet

CongandNVAusinglargenumbersofU.S.forces.AfterNorthVietnameseforcesallegedlyattackedU.S.NavyshipsduringtheGulfofTonkinIncidentin1964,JohnsonwasgivencarteblancheintheformoftheGulfofTonkinResolution.ThisresolutionallowedJohnson“totakeallnecessarymeasuretorepelanyarmedattackagainsttheforcesofUnitedStatesandtopreventfurtheraggression;”thisgreatlyexpandedhispresidentialpower.WiththefreehandrecentlyprovidedbyCongress,JohnsonorderedtheU.S.AirForceandU.S.NavytobeginanintenseseriesofairstrikescalledOperationRollingThunder.HehopedthatthebombingcampaignwoulddemonstratetotheSouthVietnamesetheU.S.commitmenttotheircauseanditsresolvetohaltthespreadofCommunism.Ironically,theairraidsseemedonlytoincreasethenumberofVietCongandNVA(NorthVietnameseArmy)attacks.Johnson’s“Americanization”ofthewarledtoapresenceofnearly400,000U.S.troopsinVietnambytheendof1966.QuagmireandAttritionIn1965,Westmorelandbegantoimplementasearch-and-destroystrategythatsentU.S.troopsoutintothefieldtofindandkillVietCongmembers.WestmorelandwasconfidentthatAmericantechnologywouldsucceedinslowlywearingdowntheVietCongthroughawarofattrition—astrategyofextendedcombatmeanttoinflictsomanycasualtiesontheenemythatitcouldnolongercontinue.U.S.leadersagreed,believingthatNorthVietnam’seconomycouldnotsustainaprolongedwareffort.Inlightofthisnewstrategyoffightingawarofattrition,U.S.commanderswereinstructedtobeginkeepingbodycountsofenemysoldierskilled.Althoughbodycountswereindeedtallied,theywereoftenexaggeratedandprovedwildlyinaccurate,asthebodiesofVietCongsoldiersoftenweredifficulttodistinguishfromthebodiesoffriendlySouthVietnamesesoldiers.However,theVietCong’sguerrillatacticsfrustratedanddemoralizedU.S.troops,whileitsdispersed,largelyruralpresenceleftAmericanbomberplaneswithfewtargets.TheUnitedStatesthereforeusedunconventionalweaponssuchasnapalm–ahighlyflammablejelliedsubstance--andtheherbicidedefoliantAgentOrangebutstillmanagedtomakelittleheadway.TheHoChiMinhTrailMeanwhile,U.S.forcescontinuedtotrytocutoffVietCongsupplylinesthroughairpower.Theseeffortsexpendedagreatdealoftimeandresources,buttheNorthVietnamesegovernmentprovedextremelysavvy

initsabilitytokeeptheVietCongsupplied.RatherthanattempttosendmaterialsacrosstheheavilyguardedDMZ(thedemilitarizedzonesurroundingtheborderbetweenNorthandSouthVietnamatthe17thparallel),theysentsuppliesviatheHoChiMinhTrail,whichranfromNorthVietnamthroughLaosandCambodiaintoSouthVietnam(seemapabove).TroopsandsuppliesstreamedintoSouthVietnamviathetrailanddespiteintenseU.S.bombingthroughout1965,thetrailneverclosedonce,noteventemporarily.The“CredibilityGap”Despitethenumeroussetbacks,JohnsonandotherU.S.officials,citingincreasedtroopnumbersandredefinedobjectives,againclaimedtobemakingheadwayinthewar.Many

VietnamtakesitstollonPresidentJohnson

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governmentofficialsreportedthattheNorthVietnameseweredeclininginstrengthandwereonthebrinkofdefeat.PhotosandvideofootageofdeadAmericansoldiersinnewspapersandoneveningnewsprograms,however,indicatedotherwise.Moreover,U.S.spendinginsupportofthewarhadreachedrecordlevels,costingthegovernmentanestimated$3billionamonth.Asaresult,manypeopleintheUnitedStatesbegantospeakofa“credibilitygap”betweenwhatJohnsonandtheU.S.governmentwastellingtheAmericanpeopleandwhatactuallywastranspiringontheground.TheTetOffensiveIn1968,theNorthVietnameseArmyandtheVietConglaunchedamassive

campaigncalledtheTetOffensive,attackingnearlythirtyU.S.targetsanddozensofothercitiesinSouthVietnamatonce.AlthoughtheUnitedStatespushedbacktheoffensiveandwonatacticalvictory,Americanmediacoveragecharacterizedtheconflictasadefeat,andU.S.publicsupportforthewarplummeted.MoraleamongU.S.troopsalsohitanall-timelow,manifestingitselftragicallyinthe1968MyLaiMassacre,inwhichfrustratedU.S.soldierskilledhundredsofunarmedVietnameseciviliansinasmallvillage.

TheAntiwarMovementMeanwhile,theantiwarmovementwithintheUnitedStatesgainedmomentumasstudentprotesters,counterculturalhippies,andevenmanymainstreamAmericansdenouncedthewar.Protestsagainstthewarandtheselectiveservicesystem--militarydraft--grewincreasinglyviolent,resultinginpolicebrutalityoutsidetheDemocraticNationalConventionin1968andthedeathsoffourstudentsatKentStateUniversityin1970whenOhioNationalGuardsmenfiredonacrowd.Despitetheprotests,Johnson’ssuccessorelectedin1968,PresidentRichardM.Nixon,declaredthata“silentmajority”ofAmericansstillsupportedthewar.VietnamizationandU.S.WithdrawalNonetheless,NixonpromotedapolicyofVietnamizationofthewar,promisingtowithdrawU.S.troopsgraduallyandhandovermanagementofthewarefforttotheSouthVietnamese.AlthoughNixonmadegoodonhispromise,healsoillegallyexpandedthegeographicscopeofthewarbyauthorizingthebombingofVietCongsitesintheneutralnationsofCambodiaandLaos,allwithouttheknowledgeorconsentoftheU.S.Congress.Therevelationoftheseillegalactions,alongwiththepublicationofthesecretPentagonPapersinUSnewspapersin1971,causedanenormousscandalintheUnitedStatesandforcedNixontopushforapeacesettlement.ThesepapersrevealedthattheU.S.Army,aswellaspresidentsTruman,Eisenhower,Kennedy,andJohnson,hadauthorizedanumberofcovertactionsthatincreasedU.S.involvementinVietnamunbeknownsttotheAmericanpublic.Thegovernmenttriedtoblockthepublicationofthesepapersundertheguiseof“nationalsecurity”,buttheSupremeCourtruledinNewYorkTimesv.USthatthegovernmentmustproveanimmediatethreattonationalsecuritytocensurethepapers.Congress’sResponseOutragedbytheunauthorizedinvasionofCambodiaandbythedoublescandalfromtheMyLaiMassacreandthePentagonPapers,manyinCongresstookstepstoexertmorecontroloverthewarandtoappeasetheequallyangrypublic.TheSenatevotedtorepealtheGulfofTonkinResolutiontoreducethemilitary’suncheckedspendingpower(althoughtheHouseofRepresentativesdidnotfollowsuit).Congressalsoreducedthenumberofyearsdraftedsoldiersneededtoserveinthearmy.Finally,theTwenty-SixthAmendmentwasratifiedin1971tolowertheU.S.votingagefromtwenty-onetoeighteen,onthegroundsthattheyoungmenservinginVietnamshouldhaveasayinwhichpoliticianswererunningthewar.

“GeneralNguyenNgocLoanexecutingaVietCongprisonerin

Saigon”FamousTetOffensivePhoto

KentStateShootings

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TheWarPowersResolutionInJuly1973,CongressandtheAmericanpubliclearnedthefullextentofthesecretU.S.militarycampaignsinCambodia.TestimonyincongressionalhearingsrevealedthatNixonandthemilitaryhadbeensecretlybombingCambodiaheavilysince1969,eventhoughthepresidentandJointChiefsofStaffhadrepeatedly

deniedthecharge.Whenthenewsbroke,NixonswitchedtacticsandbeganbombingCambodiaopenlydespiteextremepublicdisproval.Angry,CongressmusteredenoughvotestopasstheNovember1973WarPowersResolutionoverNixon’sveto.TheresolutionrestrictedpresidentialpowersduringwartimebyrequiringthepresidenttonotifyCongressuponlaunchinganyU.S.militaryactionabroad.IfCongressdidnotapproveoftheaction,itwouldhavetoconcludewithinsixtytoninetydays.Ineffect,thisactmadethepresidentaccountabletoCongressforhisactionsabroad.Congressalsoendedthedraftin1973andstipulatedthatthemilitaryhenceforthconsistsolelyofpaidvolunteers.Both

theWarPowersResolutionandtheconversiontoanall-volunteerarmyhelpedquietantiwarprotesters.TheCease-fireandtheFallofSaigonAftersecretnegotiationsbetweenU.S.emissaryHenryA.KissingerandNorthVietnameserepresentativeLeDucThoin1972,NixonengagedindiplomaticmaneuveringwithChinaandtheUSSR—andsteppedupbombingofNorthVietnam—topressuretheNorthVietnameseintoasettlement.TheParisPeaceAccordswerefinallysignedinJanuary1973,andthelastU.S.militarypersonnelleftVietnaminMarch1973.Underthetermsoftheagreement,NixonpledgedtowithdrawallremainingmilitarypersonnelfromVietnamandallowthetensofthousandsofNVAtroopsinSouthVietnamtoremainthere,despitethefactthattheycontrolledaquarterofSouthVietnameseterritory.However,NixonpromisedtointerveneifNorthVietnammovedagainsttheSouth.Inexchange,NorthVietnampromisedthatelectionswouldbeheldtodeterminethefateoftheentirecountry.AlthoughNixoninsistedthattheagreementbrought“peacewithhonor,”SouthVietnameseleaderscomplainedthatthetermsamountedtolittlemorethanasurrenderforSouthVietnam.

TheU.S.governmentcontinuedtofundtheSouthVietnamesearmy,butthisfundingquicklydwindled.Meanwhile,asPresidentNixonbecameembroiledintheWatergatescandalthatledtohisresignationinAugust1974,NorthVietnameseforcessteppeduptheirattacksontheSouthandfinallylaunchedanall-outoffensiveinthespringof1975.OnApril30,1975,theSouthVietnamesecapitalofSaigonfelltotheNorthVietnamese,whoreunitedthecountryunderCommunistruleastheSocialistRepublicofVietnam,endingtheVietnamWar.

AdaptedandEditedbyCarolinaK-12Sources:http://www.sparknotes.com/history/american/vietnamwar/summary.htmlhttp://www.vn-tours.com/images/tour/map/vietnam-asia-map.gifhttp://img.timeinc.net/time/time100/images/main_hochiminh.jpghttp://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Pages/usa/images-3/vietnam-war-monk-self-immolation.jpghttp://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/asia_pac/05/vietnam_war/img/maps/2.gifhttp://lefteyeonthemedia.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/lbj_regretting_vnw.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f9/Nguyen.jpghttp://www.bristol.ac.uk/Depts/History/Sixties/Feminism/1968_files/image001.gifhttp://www.uiowa.edu/~policult/assets/VietNam/KentState.jpghttp://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40336000/jpg/_40336701_nixon_and_kissinger300.jpghttps://wikis.nyu.edu/ek6/modernamerica/uploads/Imperialism.ColdWarContainment/Evacuation.gif

Nixon and Kissinger

Evacuating civilians after the fall of Saigon

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Name_____________________________________

StudentNotes:AShortSummaryoftheVietnamWar

1. WhywasHoChiMinhfightingtheFrench?Whatwasthenameofhisorganization?2. WhathappenedatDienBienPhu?3. HowdidtheUnitedStates’foreignpolicyrelatetoanincreasedpresenceinVietnam?4. WhatgrouporganizedresistancetoDiem’sregime?Listbothnamesfortheorganization.5. WhatwastheGulfofTonkinresolution?Whywasitpassed?Whyisitsignificant?6. WhatwasthepurposeofOperationRollingThunder?Diditwork?7. WhatstrategiesdidtheUnitedStatesuseinVietnam?Whydidtheybelievetheywouldwork?8. WhywastheHoChiMinhTrailsignificant?9. WhatwastheTetOffensive?HowisitrelatedtotheCreditabilityGap?10. WhatwasVietnamization?

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StudentNotes:AShortSummaryoftheVietnamWar

AnswerKey

1. WhywasHoChiMinhfightingtheFrench?Whatwasthenameofhisorganization?HoChiMinhwantedtoremoveFrenchcontrolandinfluencefromVietnam,sotheVietnamesecouldrulethemselves.HisorganizationwascalledtheVietMinh.

2. WhathappenedatDienBienPhu?

TheFrenchweredefeatedbyHoChiMinh’sforcesandforcedtoleaveVietnam.3. HowdidtheUnitedStates’foreignpolicyrelatetoanincreasedpresenceinVietnam?

TheDominoTheorystressedthatifonenationfelltocommunism,thesurroundingnationswouldalsofall.HoChiMinhwasextremelypopularinVietnamafterdefeatingtheFrenchandheprobablywouldhavewonelectionstounifyingthecountryunderacommunistgovernment.TopreventVietnamfallingtocommunismunderHoChiMinh,theUnitedStatessentlargeamountsofaidandadvisors.Eventually,thispolicyledtoanincreaseintheamountofUStroopsinVietnam.

4. WhatgrouporganizedresistancetoDiem’sregime?Listbothnamesfortheorganization.

TheNationalLiberationFrontconsistedofsupportersofHoChiMinhstationedinSouthVietnamthatcarriedoutvariousresistanceactivities.Theyaremorecommonlyknownasthe“VietCong.”

5. WhatwastheGulfofTonkinResolution?Whywasitpassed?Whyisitsignificant?

TheGulfofTonkinResolutionwasacongressionalauthorizationthatallowedPresidentJohnsontogreatlyexpandthewarinVietnam.ItwaspassedinresponsetotheGulfofTonkinIncident.ItissignificantbecauseitgreatlyexpandedPresidentialWarPowersandallowedJohnsontoescalatethewarwithoutoversightfromCongress.

6. WhatwasthepurposeofOperationRollingThunder?Diditwork?

ThepurposeofOperationRollingThunderwastobombtheN.VietnameseintosubmissionandtodemonstratetotheSouthVietnamesethattheUSwasseriousaboutsupportingitscause.Itdidnotwork,itactuallystrengthenedtheresolveoftheNorthandincreasethenumberofpeoplesidingwithHoChiMinh.

7. WhatstrategiesdidtheUnitedStatesuseinVietnam?Whydidtheybelievetheywouldwork?

Onestrategywas“SearchandDestroy”–UStroopswouldgointothecountrysidetofindandkillVietCongmembers.Anotherstrategywasattrition–extendcombattoinflictthemostamountofenemiescasualtiesthusforcingthemtosurrender.TheybelieveditwouldworkbecausetheyfeltthatN.Vietnam’seconomycouldnotsustainaprotractedwareffort.

8. WhywastheHoChiMinhTrailsignificant?

ItallowedtheNorthtoresupplytheVietCongintheSouthdespiteUSeffortstostopthetrail.9. WhatwastheTetOffensive?HowdoyouthinkitisrelatedtotheCreditabilityGap?

AmassiveNorthVietnamesesurpriseattackagainstvariousAmericanandSouthVietnamesetargets.ItwasamilitaryfailurefortheNorthVietnamese,butithelpedturnedAmericansupportagainstthewar.ManygovernmentofficialsissuedreportsthattheNorthVietnamesewereonthebrinkofdefeat,buttheTetOffensiveprovedtheywerenot.

10. WhatwasVietnamization?PresidentNixon’splantowithdrawU.S.troopsgraduallyandhandovermanagementofthewarefforttotheSouthVietnamese.

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TimeLineoftheVietnamWarByDavidWalbert,LearnNC

TeacherNote:Stripsshouldbecutapartpriortoclass

1858–1884

VietnambecomesaFrenchcolony,calledIndochina.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1930

TheIndochineseCommunistPartyisformed.HoChiMinhisafounder.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------September1940

JapaninvadesVietnam.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------May1941

HoChiMinhestablishestheVietMinh(theLeaguefortheIndependenceofVietnam).--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------September2,1945

JapansurrenderstoAlliedforces.HoChiMinhdeclaresVietnamanindependentnation,theDemocraticRepublicofVietnam.ButvictoriousFrancereassumescolonialauthority.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1946

TheFirstIndochinaWarbegins,astheVietMinhbeginfightingagainstFrenchcolonialrule.Overthecourseofthewar,theygrowfromsmallguerillabandsintoawell-organizedandequippedarmy.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1950

ChinabeginsprovidingtheVietMinhwithmilitaryadvisorsandweapons.Inresponse,theUnitedStatespledges$15millioninmilitaryaidtoFrance.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1954

TheVietMinhdefeattheFrencharmyintheBattleofDienBienPhu,forcingthesurrenderofmostoftheoccupyingtroops.OnJuly21,FrancesignstheGenevaAccord,acease-firethatleadstothepeacefulwithdrawalofFrenchtroopsfromSoutheastAsia.VietnamistemporarilydividedbetweenNorthandSouthatthe17thparallel(17degreesnorthlatitude).TheVietMinharetowithdrawnorthoftheline,whiletroopssupportingFrancearetowithdrawtothesouth.Electionsaretobeheldin1956toreunifythecountry.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1955

OnOctober26,SouthVietnamdeclaresitselftheRepublicofVietnam,withitscapitalatSaigonandNgoDinhDiemelectedpresidentinriggedelections.DiemarguesthatSouthVietnamwasnotapartytotheGenevaAccords,andcancelsthe1956elections.TheNorthremainsunderthecontrolofHo’sCommunists,withitsgovernmentatHanoi.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1956

TheU.S.militarybeginstrainingSouthVietnameseforces.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1957

CommunistguerillasbeginaninsurgencyinSouthVietnam,assassinatingmorethan400SouthVietnameseofficials.Withinayear,CommunistforceshavesettledalongtheMekongDelta.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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1960TheHanoigovernmentformstheNationalLiberationFront(NLF)inSouthVietnam.DiemcallsthegrouptheVietcong.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1963

Diem,aCatholic,hasbeenintolerantofotherreligionsandhastriedtosilenceprotestsbyBuddhistmonks.Inresponse,monksprotestbysettingthemselvesonfireinpublicplaces.InNovember,withthetacitapprovaloftheU.S.,membersoftheSouthVietnamesemilitaryoverthrowDiemandexecutehim.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1964

GeneralNguyenKhanhtakespowerinSouthVietnaminanothercoup.OnAugust2threeNorthVietnameseboatsallegedlyfiretorpedoesattheU.S.S.Maddox,adestroyerlocatedintheinternationalwatersoftheTonkinGulf.AsecondattackwasallegedtohavetakenplaceonAugust4,butgovernmentdocumentslatershowedthatnosecondincidenttookplace.OnAugust7,CongresspassestheGulfofTonkinResolution,authorizingPresidentLyndonJohnsonto“takeallnecessarymeasurestorepelanyarmedattackagainstforcesoftheUnitedStatesandtopreventfurtheraggression.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1965

TheU.S.beginssustainedbombingofNorthVietnam,calledOperationRollingThunder.Thebombingwillcontinueforthreeyears.InMarch,thefirstU.S.combattroopsarriveinVietnam.Byyear’send,morethan200,000U.S.troopsarestationedthere.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1966

Thefirstprotestsagainstthewarareheld,includingaprotestbyveteransofWorldWarsIandIIinNewYorkCity.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1967

SecretaryofDefenseRobertMcNamaracallsthebombingcampaignineffective.TheU.S.launchesOperationCedarFalls,agroundwareffortinvolving30,000U.S.andSouthVietnamesetroopstodestroyVietcongoperationsandsupplysitesnearSaigon.TheydiscoveramassivesystemofundergroundtunnelsthathadservedasheadquartersfortheVietcong.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1968

InJanuary,ontheVietnameselunarnewyear(Tet),theNorthVietnameseandVietcongforceslaunchanattackononehundredSouthVietnamesecitiesandtowns.Withindays,U.S.forcesrecapturemostareas.The“TetOffensive”isamilitarydefeatforCommunists,butisapoliticalvictory,asAmericansbeginquestioningtheU.S.military’sconductofthewar.

OnMarch16,U.S.soldierskillhundredsofVietnameseciviliansinthetownofMaiLai.Hispopularityplummeting,PresidentJohnsonannouncesthathewillnotseekre-election.

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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1968(cont.)

InJuly,GeneralWilliamWestmoreland,commanderofU.S.forcesinVietnam,isreplacedbyGeneralCreightonAbrams.

RichardNixoniselectedPresidentinNovember.

ByDecember,U.S.trooplevelsinVietnamreach540,000.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1969

PresidentNixonapproves“OperationBreakfast,”covertbombingofCommunistsupplyroutesandbasecampsinCambodia.Thebombingcontinuesfor14monthswithoutknowledgeofCongressortheAmericanpublic.

Nixon’sSecretaryofDefense,MelvinLaird,announcesapolicyof“Vietnamization”inwhichtheU.S.willgraduallyshifttheburdenofthewartotheSouthVietnamesearmy.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1969(cont.)

HoChiMinhdiesonNovember3.OnNovember13,theAmericanpubliclearnsoftheMaiLaimassacre.Thenewsfurtherturnsopinionagainstthewar.TheArmyhasalreadychargedLietenantWilliamCalley,wholedtheattack,withmurder.Calleywillbeconvictedayearlater.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1970

OnApril30,NixonannouncesthatU.S.troopswillattackenemylocationsinCambodia.Thenewssparksprotestsnationwide,especiallyoncollegecampuses.

InMay,OhioNationalGuardsmenopenfireonacrowdofstudentprotestersatKentStateUniversity,killingfourstudentsandwoundingeightothers.SeveraloftheprotestershadbeenhurlingrocksandemptyteargascanistersattheGuardsmen.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1972

TheNorthVietnamesecrossthedemilitarizedzone(DMZ)atthe17thparalleltoattackSouthVietnaminwhatwillbeknownastheEasterOffensive.Nixonannouncesfurthertroopreductions.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1973

OnJanuary27,U.S.SecretaryofStateHenryKissingerandVietcongleaderLeDucThosigntheParisPeaceAccords,animmediatecease-firethatwillallowforU.S.withdrawal.KissingerandLeareawardedtheNobelPeacePrizelaterintheyear.OnMarch29,thelastU.S.troopsleaveVietnam.TheU.S.CongressabolishesthedraftinfavorofanallvolunteerArmy.

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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1974

NorthVietnamannouncesarenewalofthewar.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1975

NorthVietnamlaunchesamassiveassaultonSouthVietnam.PresidentGeraldFordannouncesthatfortheU.S.,theVietnamWaris“finished.”OnApril30,SouthVietnamsurrenderstoCommunistforces,andthelastAmericansevacuateSaigon.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1976–1980

VietnamisunifiedunderCommunistruleastheSocialistRepublicofVietnam.Thenewgovernmentimprisonsasmanyasamillionpeoplewithouttrialforsupportingthepreviousregime.ThousandsofVietnameserefugees,dubbed“boatpeople,”fleeincrowdedandricketyboats,hopingtobepermittedtoreachothercountries.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1982

TheVietnamVeteransMemorialisdedicatedinWashington,D.C.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1997

TheUnitedStatesandVietnamexchangeambassadorsforthefirsttimesincethewar,beginninganeweraofcooperationbetweenthetwonations.

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Name:______________________________________

Vietnam–IllustratedTimelineReview

Event&Date Description/SignificanceoftheEvent

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AfghanistanhauntedbyghostofVietnamByEdHornick,CNN

Washington(CNN)--WhilePresidentObama'swarcouncildeliberatesitsstrategytowardAfghanistan,theghostofVietnamisofteninvokedasawarning.

Afghanistan,U.S.andcoalitionforceshavebeenfightinginAfghanistanforeightyears,anduntilrecentlythewarhadbeenovershadowedbytheoneinIraq.InMarch,AfghanistanwillbecomeAmerica'slongestwar,surpassingtheVietnamWar.

TheVietnamWar,whichcost58,000Americanlives,istheonemostofteninvokedwhenU.S.troopsarecommittedoverseas.

AlthoughsomesayAfghanistanis"Obama'sVietnam,"expertssaythereareseveralmajorsimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenthetwowars.

EricMargolis,aveteranjournalistandformerArmysoldierwhoservedduringtheVietnamWar,saidthebiggestproblemtheUnitedStatesisfacingnow--asinVietnam--isfightingthemostlypoor,ruralinsurgentswholiveamongAfghans.

"Itmakesitverydifficulttodrive[insurgents]out,becausetheycanstaythereforever....They'reathome.Whenweattackvillageswheretheyare,wekillalotofcivilians,causinganuproarandturningthepeoplemoreagainstus."

SteveClemonsofthenonpartisanNewAmericaFoundationsaidoneofthefactorsintheSoviet-AfghanWar--whichpittedtheSoviet-backedDemocraticRepublicofAfghanistanwiththeSovietmilitaryagainsttheIslamistMujahideenResistance--wasthebrutalattacksinflictedonbothfightersandciviliansbytheSoviets.

"[There]wasthesenseofoutrageandgrievanceatsomeofthethingsthattheyhaddoneandthetriggeringofadeeplyfeltemotionalantagonismtotheSovietefforttodominateandcolonizeAfghanistanamongthePashtun."

HeworriesthatiftheUnitedStatesfailstofocusonamorehumanitariananddiplomaticapproach,AmericanswillfallintothesametraptheSovietsfaced,whichultimatelyledtothemleavingthecountrydefeated.

"IthinkoneofthethingsI'mconcernedaboutiswhetherornotwe'retriggeringthosesamekindofemotionsamongthePashtunstoday.Andbelieveme,thePashtunsdon'tcarewhetherthey're[goingafter]AmericansorgoingaftertheSoviets.Ifyoubegintothreatentheirownperceptionoftheirownindependence,thenyouturnPashtunsintoTaliban."

PeterBeinart,whorecentlywroteanarticlecalled"BurytheVietnamAnalogy"onTheDailyBeast.com,hassaidthereisarealsenseofnationalidentityforAfghanisthatwasn'tseeninSouthVietnam.

"AfghanistanisarealcountrythatAfghansgenerallybelievein.TheyhaveanAfghannationalidentity.Thatdidn'texistinSouthVietnam,"hesaid,addingthattheTalibanismuchlesspopularinAfghanistanthantheVietCongwasinSouthVietnam.

InVietnam,theCommunistscontrolledthenationalistmovementandhadthenationalistlegitimacy.TheTaliban,meanwhile,isnotasorganizedastheVietCongandNorthVietnamesearmywere.

ButthereisevidencetheTalibanischanging,asshownbyaseriesofrecentwell-coordinatedattacksonremoteAfghanistanoutposts.

JournalistMargolisalsocomparedthegovernmentofAfghanistantothegovernmentofSouthVietnam.

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"Inbothcases,thegovernmentofSaigon[SouthVietnam]andKabul[Afghanistan]areheavilyinfluencedbyminorities.Wehavemadeourenemies[among]theethnicmajorityinAfghanistanwhoarethePashtuns--prettywellcutthemoutofpower."

TherecentAfghanistanelectionsreceivedworldwideattentionforclaimsoffraudbytheincumbent,PresidentHamidKarzai,whoreportedlywontheelection.Afterfierceinternationalcriticism,Karzairecentlyagreedtoarunoff.

Anotherdifferencebetweenthetwowarscomesintermsoftroopnumbers,Beinartsaid.

"Ithinkwhat'sclearisthattheresourcesweputinAfghanistanhavebeenabsolutelyminusculecomparedtoVietnamandcomparedtoIraq....In1968,wehadover500,000U.S.troopsinSouthVietnam.Wehadupuntilacoupleofyearsagoonlyabout20,000[inAfghanistan]....Sowhat'sclearis,wehaven'tmadeanywherenearthekindofcommitmenttoAfghanistanaswemadetoVietnam."

Inthepastmonth,Obama'stopcommanderinAfghanistan,Gen.StanleyMcChrystal,issuedareporttothepresidentandtheadministration,outliningtheproblemsfacingthenationandwhatresourceswillbeneeded.Hisprescription:moretroops--upwardsof40,000bysomeestimates--withthegoalfocusingonsecuringAfghantownsandcitiesincertainareas.

ACNN/OpinionResearchCorp.poll,takenOctober16-18,showed59percentofAmericansopposedsendingmoretroopsintothecountry.Thesamepollfoundthat52percentofAmericansconsiderthewarinAfghanistanhasturnedintoanotherVietnamWarsituation,while46sayit'snot.

Source:http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/10/27/afghanistan.vietnam/index.html?iref=allsearch

Similaritiesb/tVietnam&Afghanistan Differencesb/tVietnam&Afghanistan

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