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The G of T resolution gave Johnson permission to escalate & the attack on Pleiku allowed LBJ to physically escalate.

Operation Rolling Thunder-

US public opinion was outraged. johnson now had the excuse to call up troops & bomb NV.

ORT began Feb 1965 with a joint attack by US & ARVN warplanes on key military & industrial targets in NV. (bridges, railway lines) Air crews weren't allowed to bomb Hanoi & Haiphong yet as there was fear of jeopardising US relations with Soviet union.

Large scale bombing on NV was a very serious escalatory step of the war. ORT eventually led to an extensive war from the air.

Americanization of the war-

3,500 US marines at the air base in Danang to protect against guerilla attacks. The marines went to SV as soldiers, prepared to fight a war.

The US took control over the SV war effort with direction of military operations in the hands of General WML. More troops arrived in SV, including soldiers from Australia & New Zealand (Domino Theory)

Dec 64- 16,000

Dec 66-268,000

Jan 1968- 500,000

US POLICY & WAR ON LAND-

The VC continued to increase its hold on the countryside. Joined by regulars from NVA who began to infiltrate the South in 65

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