Vietnam Vietnam ConflictConflict

1. Was a limited war 1. Was a limited war 2. Civilians making military 2. Civilians making military

decisionsdecisions4.4. Enemy difficult to Enemy difficult to identify:identify:

- Didn’t wear uniforms- Didn’t wear uniforms- “Switched” sides - “Switched” sides - Non-traditional - Non-traditional

soldiers soldiers women, elderly, childrenwomen, elderly, children

Issues that made this Issues that made this conflict different from conflict different from

othersothers

3.3. US knew very little about US knew very little about country… NV took advantage country… NV took advantage of landscape and avoided open of landscape and avoided open combatcombat

Issues that made this Issues that made this conflict different from conflict different from

othersothers5. War 5. War televised televised with with daily daily death death countcount

6. At 6. At home, home, oppositiopposition arose on arose

Involvement under Involvement under EisenhowerEisenhower

US formed US formed SEATO to SEATO to protect South protect South Vietnam, Laos Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia & Cambodia from from communismcommunism

(South East (South East Asian Treaty Asian Treaty Organization)Organization)

Involvement under Involvement under IkeIke

Dai → Paris Dai selected Ngo Dinh Diem

to be his Prime Minister

Diem corrupt & repressive Refused to participate in country elections Won S. elections with 98% (!!) of vote…

rigged?? Coined the phrase “Viet Cong” Seized land from peasants -- VC were giving it

Involvement under Involvement under KennedyKennedy Sent Sent

Green Green Berets toBerets totrain SV train SV armyarmy

Military Military increase:increase: 1961 = 1961 = 800800 1963= 1963= 16,70016,700

Operations (started by SV w/ Operations (started by SV w/ US help)US help)

1.1. Operation Sunrise:Operation Sunrise:2.2. Strategic Hamlets:Strategic Hamlets:3. Operation Ranch 3. Operation Ranch Hand:Hand:

Involvement under Involvement under JFKJFK

Robert McNamara, Defense Robert McNamara, Defense Secretary:Secretary:Visits S. Vietnam – May 1962

““We are We are winning winning the war."the war."

Involvement under Involvement under JFKJFK CIA said NV persecuting N. Catholics (??)

They fled south and… Uprooted Buddhists who were not on good

terms with Diem b/c he = Catholic wouldn’t let them display religious flags

Buddhists peacefully demonstrated… And MASSACRE occurred

Buddhists protested the killings by…

“Passers-by stop to watch as flames envelope a young Buddhist monk,

Saigon, October 5th, 1963.

The man sits impassively in the central market square, he has set himself on fire performing a ritual

suicide in protest against governmental anti-Buddhist policies. Crowds gathered to protest in Hue

after the South Vietnamese government prohibited Buddhists from carrying flags on Buddha's

birthday. Government troops opened fire to disperse the dissidents, killing

nine people, Diems government blamed the incident on the Vietcong and never admitted responsibility. The Buddhist leadership quickly organized demonstrations that eventually led to seven monks burning themselves to death.”

… and Diem viewed as embarrassment

Involvement under Involvement under JFKJFK Despite US efforts, ARVN still losing

Diem blamed by SV

US told of plot to kill Diem by SV generals… US looked the other way

Generals then plotted to kill each other TEN successive gov’ts in 18 months

JFK started to withdraw troops, then…