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Johnson's Foreign Policy
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- 1What was the situation Johnson faced in Vietnam? (Part 1)From Dec 1963 Hanoi was sending increased amount of North Vietnamese Army (NVA) regulars south, strengthening the VC.
Fall of Diem created instability and chaos.
Gov now ruled by the Military Ruling Council (MRC) led by General Duong Van Minh but believed didn't need US help.
Minh called for policy of neutralisation for Vietnam but US felt it would lead to victory for communists.
Jan 1964: Minh replaced with Nguyen Khanh with support of US army. - 2What was the situation Johnson faced in Vietnam? (Part 2)Khnah's Gov faced many problems.
ARVN was in poor condition even though Khanh introduced 20% pay rise.
Strategic Hamlet policy was a failure and VC able to counter US air superiority thanks to increasing supplies of weaponry from Chinese and Soviets.
Estimated communists now controlled 40% of SV.
Khanh keen to work closely with US and led to an increase to 22,000 advisers and increased military aid to ARVN. - 3What was the situation Johnson faced in Vietnam? (Part 3)March 1964 NSAM 288 reviewed US policy and suggested the following:
1. The need to protect independence of SV.
2. Increase size on ARVN.
3. General Westmoreland to replace Harkins as leader of US Military Assistance Command Vietnam.
4. Number of advisors to be increased to 23,300 and further economic aid of $50m.
Johnson could not look weak against communism with upcoming 1964 election. - 4Gulf of Tonkin Resolution August 1964CIA had been secretly sending SV teams on sabotage missions in the North.
During 1964 election, Goldwater accused Johnson of being soft on communism so he claimed that 2 Vietnamese ships launched an unprovoked attack on US ship in the Gulf of Tonkin.
On 4th August he asked for Congressional support in avenging these attacks.
Believing that lives of US sailors were at risk, Congress passed the resolution which gave Johnson power to wage war in Vietnam. - 51964 Presidential ElectionPassing of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution made Johnson appear tougher on communism and approval ratings went from 42% to 72%.
Played a balancing act by assuring the right he was tough on communism and assuring left he wouldn't act in haste and drag them into war. - 6Working Group RecommendationsGroup drawn up from Defence, State, CIA and JCS
Said an independent, anti-communist Vietnam was vital
Said escalation was necessary due to weakness of Saigon government
Suggested heavy bombing of the North would only stop if North negotiated - 7Start of the military campaign 1965 #1Maintained a moderate stance
Not planning on escalating involvement
North becoming aggressive-result of increased Soviet and Chinese aid due to them competing for leadership of communist world
Christmas 1964: the VC planted a bomb in a bar in Saigon used by US troops
Feb 1965: VC killed 8 US troops in attack on bast in Pleiku
McGeorge Bundy told Johnson a sustained bombing campaign only way to forge North into negotiations - 8Start of military campaign 1965 #2Operation 'Rolling Thunder' began in March 1965- hedged with restrictions and designed to slowly increase in intensity
Led very quickly to deployment of US ground forces
US Commander General Westmoreland requested US marines to protect bomber base at Danang
March 1965: first 3500 marines arrived at Danang
Congress granted $700m for military operations - 9Assessing role of Johnson in VietnamHis decision to escalate involvement in Vietnam by committing US combat forces
Hard for him to disengage
He had support from Congress and the American people- Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and the 1964 Presidential Election - 10Reasons for escalation1. Needed to fight if wanted to live securely in free world
2. NV aggressively attacked SV, needed to be opposed
3. NV puppet of expansionist communist powers so they can conquer Asia
4. Abandoning it would be dishonourable
5. Appeasement could lead to a third world war - 11Tet Offensive 1968 #1Communists launched an unprecedented attack on the night of 30-31st Jan-Vietnamese New Year
Both sides allowed 48hr truce for celebrations-NVA hoped to surprise them
VC were successful:
Attack on US embassy caused Ambassador to flee
Two battalions of NVA infantry broke in and captured Hue- recapturing it was a formidable task - 12Tet Offensive 1968 #2Propaganda victory for the communists as the world watched on
More periods of communist aggression in May-known as mini-Tet
May attacks caused worst week and month for US casualties
1968 was worst year for the US with nearly half of all casualties (14,650) - 13The Khe Sanh Base #1Been a US base since 1962 and lay close to NV border-meant US troops could patrol Ho Chi Minh trail
Jan 1968: General Giap surrounded the base with 20,000 men and a 75 day siege began
Inconceivable for Johnson to lose base- authorised a heavy bombing campaign in defence
Westmoreland suggested that nuclear weapons could be used - 14The Khe Sanh Base #2Westmoreland replaced by General Creighton Adams
Johnson closed the base down despite the fact that the Americans had broken the siege
Kept from the US public however the North exploited the 'capture' of Khe Sanh as a propaganda victory - 15Impact of 1968 events #1Tet Offensive cost communists dearly-huge propaganda success but 50-60,000 deaths
Now reliant on NVA troops from across the border
Victory in military terms but devastating for America:
Role of the media-first 'televised' war where Americans back home could watch events unfold
Opposition beginning to grow-demonstrations started in Unis 1965, 1967 MLK made speech against war - 16Impact of 1968 events #21966 mid-term elections-Democrats did badly losing seats in the Senate and the House
The 'wise men' (senior advisors such as Acheson and Rusk)- given their support in 1967 but met again in 1968 and advocated some kind of retreat
March: obscure Democrat Eugene McCarthy won 42% in New Hampshire Primary whereas Johnson won 49% which was huge blow
Robert Kennedy then announced candidacy-possibility he would lose
Shocked the country by announcing he would not stand in forthcoming elections
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- Fichas sobre Johnson's Foreign Policy, creado por Katie Staines el 15/03/2017.
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