Chapter 30: The Turbulent Sixties, 1960-1969 (#3) Johnson Escalates the Vietnam War
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Chapter 30: The Turbulent Sixties, 1960-1969 (#3) Johnson Escalates the Vietnam War LBJ – stressed continuity in foreign policy inherited the policy of containment and shared the same Cold War assumptions and convictions tended to rely heavily on Kennedy’s advisors moved firmly to contain communism in the Western Hemisphere Brazil – military junta overthrew a leftists regime, Johnson offered covert aid and open encouragement Panama – equally forceful in compelling Panama to restrain rioting aimed at the continued American presence in the Canal Zone Dominican Republic – sent 20,000 American troops that ended with the election of a conservative government struggled to uphold the Cold War policies he had inherited from Kennedy found himself under attack from Congress, the media, and universities The Vietnam Dilemma Vietnam – led ultimately to LBJ’s political downfall believed he had little choice but to continue Kennedy’s policy in Vietnam 1964 – seven different governments ruled South Vietnam continued Kennedy’s policy of economic and technical assistance insisted it was still up to the Vietnamese themselves to win the war – he expanded American support for covert operations, including amphibious raids on the North Gulf of Tonkin affair North Vietnamese torpedo boats attacked the Maddox (an American destroyer) engaged in electronic intelligence gathering in the Gulf of Tonkin belief the American ship had been involved in a South Vietnamese raid nearby Maddox – escaped unscathed America sent the C. Turner Joy and the two destroyers responding to sonar and radar contacts, opened fire on North Vietnamese gunboats in the area ordered retaliatory airstrikes on North Vietnamese naval bases investigation later revealed that the North Vietnamese gunboats had not launched a second attack on the American chips (so our entire premise to escalate involvement will be based on a lie) president asked Congress to pass a resolution authorizing him to take “all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States to prevent further aggression” did not in fact need this authority wanted the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution to demonstrate to North Vietnam the American determination to defend South Vietnam at any cost congressional resolution was phrased broadly enough to enable him to use whatever level of force he wanted – including unlimited military intervention Escalation series of steps designed primarily to prevent a North Vietnamese victory advisers urged the bombing of the North would block North Vietnamese infiltration routes, make Hanoi pay a heavy price for its role, and lift the sagging morale of the South Vietnamese long-planned aerial bombardment of selected North Vietnamese targets air strikes – proved ineffective Johnson authorized the use of American combat troops defensive operations intended to protect American air bases spoke out against military escalation in favor of a political settlement Johnson – decided he had no choice but to persevere settled on a steady military escalation designed to compel Hanoi to accept a diplomatic solution permitted a gradual increase in the bombing of North Vietnam and allowed American ground commanders to conduct offensive operations in the South opted for large-scale but limited military intervention committing a half million American troops to battle in Southeast Asia – all the while pretending it was a minor engagement and refusing to ask the American people for the support and sacrifice required for victory Johnson’s sins in Vietnam: the failure to confront the people with the stark choices the nation faced in Vietnam the insistence on secrecy and deceit the refusal to acknowledge that he had committed the United States to a dangerous military involvement Stalemate bombing of the North proved ineffective North Vietnamese – used the jungle canopy effectively to hide their shipments and their massive efforts to repair damaged roads and bridges South – the Vietcong still controlled much of the countryside search-and-destroy tactics – used by General William Westmoreland – proved ill-suited to the situation Westmoreland – used superior American firepower wantonly, devastating the countryside, causing many civilian casualties, and driving the peasantry into the arms of the guerrillas tactics led to the slaughter of innocent civilians (most notably at My Lai) strategy was to wage war of attrition (inflicting continuous losses) that would finally reach a “crossover point” when communist losses each month would be greater than the number of new troops they could recruit LBJ – had only achieved a bloody stalemate that gradually turned the American people against a war they had once eagerly embraced Download 28.13 Kb. Share with your friends:
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