Contemporary Issues

1. Describe how Kennedy and his advisors saw counterinsurgency as being the "liberal middle ground between colonialism and Communism." Why was this new military doctrine a perfect fit for Vietnam?

Kennedy wanted to be able to respond to Communist aggression at any level. Kennedy set out to build a counterinsurgency force that could stamp out insurrection or revolution in the jungles of Asia or the mountains of South America. With this counterinsurgency force, Kennedy would prove to the world that the so- called wars of national liberation did not work. The West would win the battle for the Third World. It was a perfect fit because the Berets would apply American techniques and know-how in guerrilla warfare situations and solve the problems that had baffled the French. They would apply a "wholly new kind of strategy". It also avoided direct confrontation with the Soviet Union-an escalation to nuclear war was small. In Kennedy's view and his advisors, the United States would be able to do what other white men had failed to do in Vietnam and elsewhere partly because America's motives were pure, partly because America had mastered the lessons of guerrilla warfare. The United States wouldn't overwhelm the enemy or fight a strictly conventional war instead it would give advice to local troops while American civil agencies would help the governments to institute political reforms that would separate the guerrillas from the people. It would show the people that there was middle liberal middle ground between colonialism and communism. It was a perfect fit because of the advantages. Diem was more a low-grade despot than a ruthless dictator. He was relatively honest and a sincere nationalist. The Americans were already in Vietnam. There Kennedy could show his interest in the Third World, demonstrate conclusively that American lived up to her commitments, and play the exciting new game of counterinsurgency.

2. Explain the "world view" of the United States in regard to aid to South Vietnam between 1956 and November, 1963. What remained consistent about US policy in the region? What changed?

Everything in the Kennedy record pointed to increased aid to Diem, and nearly everyone in the Kennedy administration supported the decision. The joint Chiefs went along, but they did not push Kennedy into Vietnam, nor did American corporations with Asian interest, nor did the Asia firsters in the Republican Party. All agreed they had to stand up to the aggressors from the North, using whatever means were necessary. There was also a universal agreement on the need to prove to the Chinese that wars of national liberation did no work and to show the Third World that America stood by her commitments. America will honor its treaties and provide aid to its allies, including protection, against nuclear powers. However, in other cases of aggression such as insurrections or non-nuclear treaties America's allies are expected to use their own manpower for their own defense. America will still provide economic and limited aid in such cases especially in cases like "Vietnamization"

3. How did the war in Vietnam affect the American presidential election of 1964?

Lyndon B. Johnson inherited a difficult situation in Vietnam, as the South Vietnamese government was in shambles and the Viet