The American Intervention in Veitnam 1954-1975

Vietnam was a French colony during the 19th century, then occupied by Japan during World War11. After Japan’s surrender, Ho Chi Minh, the Communist leader, decided to declare independence, but France refused to recognize it. As well, he sent messages to the American President to recognize Vietnam’s independence, but Harry Truman did not reply. Consequently, he led guerrilla war against the French that culminated in their withdrawal, after the death of 45,000 of French soldiers. Ho Chi Minh enjoyed an overwhelming popularity for his leadership.

Prior to the French withdrawal, peace negotiations were held in Geneva with representatives from France and Vietnam, as well as China, the USSR, Britain, and the United States. By early 1954, the Geneva Convention concluded that Vietnam would be temporarily partitioned along the 17th parallel. Ho Chi Minh was to head a government in the North, and a government composed of France’s former allies would rule the South. National elections were scheduled after two years and Vietnam’s reunification would ensue. The Convention also stipulated that signatory parties should refrain from sending troops or military equipment to either North or South Vietnam.

A government headed by the anti-Communist Catholic Diem was established in Saigon, South Vietnam. Diem had lived in the United States, where he made contacts with State Department and congressmen, including Senator John Kennedy. After one year in office, Prime Minister Diem amended the constitution, unseated the emperor, and became the head of state. A regime was established that had monopoly of political and economic power held by Diem’s family.

Because of Ho Chi Minh’s overwhelming popularity, the Americans realized that he would be elected as a president of unified Vietnam. This would lead Vietnam to full communism. Therefore, Secretary of State John Foster Dallas planned to make Vietnam’s division permanent. After Kennedy came to the White House in 1960, the number of American soldiers in South Vietnam rose from 865 to 16,500. In addition, his Administration sent heavy artillery, jet fighters, and helicopters. The United States favoured, like in many other countries, a nationalist leader that would be crowd-pleasing and execute its policies. Therefore, when vice president Lyndon Johnson visited Saigon, he described Diem as “the Churchill of Southeast Asia.” After awhile, the American Administration hinted to Diem to refuse the scheduled elections and Vietnam’s reunification. Thus, Ho Chi Minh decided in 1960 to lead armed struggle against American domination and the Diem regime.

A few months later, the National Liberation Front (NLF) was formed in the South. NLF was a broad coalition of left-leaning political parties, urban intellectuals, and middle class professionals who opposed Diem’s regime. Diem adopted repressive measures against the Communists and other anti-government elements. They were imprisoned, tortured, and executed. By 1963, a growing popular anti-regime wave erupted in Saigon, when the Buddhist community tried to celebrate Buddha’s birthday. The government announced religious celebrations were forbidden according to an old decree, even though the Catholics celebrated a religious occasion a few days earlier. When the Buddhists tried to hold demonstrations, the regime imposed martial law and arrested hundreds of monks. In protest, many leading Buddhist monks burned themselves. On the other hand, NLF sized and controlled 20 percent of the country.

Subsequently, Diem’s regime lost both credibility and legitimacy. By this time, Henry Lodge the American ambassador in Saigon realized that Diem was incapable of achieving victory over the North and NLF. Therefore, he sent a message to the American Administraion suggesting a coup to remove Diem. After Kennedy’s approval, the CIA contacted and financed General Duong Minh to overthrow Diem. The plot was successful and Diem was executed in November 1963. Before Vietnam, the CIA involved in coups in many other countries, such as Iran and Latin America, however, it was the first coup to depose a pro-American leader. Instead of pushing for economic and social reforms after Diem, the Americans continued to support corrupt and repressive military rulers.

The Vietnam War escalated during Lyndon Johnson’s Administration, when the number of American soldiers rose to more than half a million. The number of bombs dropped by American jets in North Vietnam was as three times as the number of bombs dropped during the whole World War11. In addition to air superiority, the American army used napalm and chemical weapons. Nonetheless, it failed to achieve military victory over the North. Moreover, the number of American soldiers killed in action rose dramatically. As a result, a strong anti-war movement grew in the United States. Despite the government suppression of the anti-war movement, it grew stronger, especially after the National Guard shot and killed four university students. Because of his failure in Vietnam, Johnson’s popularity was the lowest among American presidents. Therefore, he refused to run for a second term.

With Richard Nixon’s ascendancy to the White House, he adopted détente with the USSR and China. He also announced reduction in the intensity of the conflict to coincide with detente. Yet, American bombardment of the Communist insurgent basis continued even in neighbouring Cambodia. Thereafter, Nixon adopted his policy of Vietnamization, i.e. to improve the capability of South Vietnam’s army to take responsibility in fighting the North and NLF. Besides, he withdrew substantial number of American troops. The Vietnamization, however, was a failure because of corrupt rulers in Saigon. Afterwards, Nixon realized that the Vietnam War was not winnable. Therefore, he held negocitiations with the North. In January 1973, the Paris Peace Accords was concluded that called for American withdrawal and holding elections. Paradoxically, these were the essence of the Paris Accords of 1954 undermined by the Americans.

After the American withdrawal, the Communists besieged Saigon with 100,000 soldiers. The President fled to Taiwan and ultimately, Saigon fell in April 1975. Because Ho Chi Minh died before the final victory, the Communists renamed Saigon after his name.

The Vietnam War was the worst crisis that hit the United States since the Civil War. The number of American soldiers killed in action was 58,000. On the other hand, the number of those who were killed on both sides of Vietnam, including civilians, was more than two million. Financially, it cost the United States two thousand million dollar per month. This led to inflation followed by recession that its impact continued during the 1970s and the 1980s. Socially, it led to the emergence of the New Left that derived momentum from the anti-war movement and the Civil Rights Movement. With regard to American foreign policy, it led to the “Vietnam Syndrome” i.e., the United States became hesitant to intervene militarily in other countries.

The reason for American intervention in Vietnam was to prevent the establishment of a communist state. However, after such a long and costly war, not only did Vietnam became a communist state, but also the Communists overran both Laos and Cambodia after the fall of Saigon.

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