Vietnam War: Ho Chi Minh

[Barrin6]

Why exactly did we go to war? I'm taking this class in on the sociology ecology of peace and the professor keeps yip yapping about how Ho Chi Minh status as a communist and nationalism influenced the United States to go to war. Was that the main reason why? What if it was a different leader? Thoughts?

[moorobot]

One consideration that I believe was important, although not necessarily the most important, was one of containing the Soviet Union and its influence. Another communist country would work against that goal (at least in the view of many in the U.S.), and hence whether or not the leader was a communist probably played a very important role.

[PLOlover]

[ QUOTE ]
Why exactly did we go to war? I'm taking this class in on the sociology ecology of peace and the professor keeps yip yapping about how Ho Chi Minh status as a communist and nationalism influenced the United States to go to war. Was that the main reason why? What if it was a different leader? Thoughts?

[/ QUOTE ]

after wmd in iraq you think they're gonna tell you why viet?

[ikestoys]

We really didnt go to war per se (as in invade and take hold territory), a more accurate description would be we tried to head off instability in Vietnam caused by WWII and the French because of the policies of containment. Eventually, our actions escalated into a much broader role and conflict.

[tame_deuces]

You should also note that the public was largely pro-war in the beginning and largely anti-war in the end, a classic development when looking at prolonged american military operations in the modern day world.

[SNOWBALL]

IMO, it was to send a message to third world countries that nationalism will not be tolerated.

After WW2, the USA's official policy was to help rebuild europe by aiding them in recolonizing africa. Vietnam was just an extension of this policy. The french colony in vietnam was puppet-ruled by a fake catholic monarchy, and the population there was extremely hostile towards the government. During WW2, the vietnamese had to fight the japanese, and when the war was over, they wanted self-rule. Naturally, this was intolerable to france, and they were successful in dominating the south through violence, but the north proved too strong.

Basically, communism had very little to do with this, except as a pretext for empire building.

[Case Closed]

They blew up our boats
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Tonkin_Incident

[BPA234]

[ QUOTE ]
Why exactly did we go to war? I'm taking this class in on the sociology ecology of peace and the professor keeps yip yapping about how Ho Chi Minh status as a communist and nationalism influenced the United States to go to war. Was that the main reason why? What if it was a different leader? Thoughts?

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Posting a history question in politics is a lot like asking a priest for marriage counseling.

[rubberloon]

The official reason was the fabricated Tonkin Gulf Incident when North Vietnamese torpedo boats allegedly attacked a US destroyer. Some crew members on the destroyer denied that there was any such attack. The unofficial reason was the Vietnames communist insurrection in South Vietnam was beginning to defeat the South Vietnamese army [who came to fight, saw the enemy, then ran away leaving dead slowpokes on the field of dishonor]. The Southern insurrection was aided by North Vietnam run by Ho Chi Minh. IMO the US government thought it would be a cheap victory in Vietnam, just like they did in Iraq.

[PLOlover]

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he official reason was the fabricated Tonkin Gulf Incident when North Vietnamese torpedo boats allegedly attacked a US destroyer. Some crew members on the destroyer denied that there was any such attack.

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the official released lbj audio tapes (a la nixon) confirm this as a fabrication.