Nixon’s Vietnam Treachery

ZVUGKTUBM wrote:

Floridatexan wrote:

ZVUGKTUBM wrote:

\"gatorfan wrote:I hate to break the news but LBJ was not a "teetotaler", he drank scotch by the gallon. He also cost hundreds of lives through his hot/cold hands on approach to the war. His Great Society effort was an abject failure. In short, he was a bumbling fool.

LBJ is very low on my list of presidential greatness. More down there like George W. Bush. Both started wars that cost our nation dearly. We are lucky he served only one term.

The stage for the Vietnam war was set in both the Roosevelt and Truman administrations.  

Eisenhower played a role:

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/eisenhower-gives-famous-domino-theory-speech

President Dwight D. Eisenhower coins one of the most famous Cold War phrases when he suggests the fall of French Indochina to the communists could create a “domino” effect in Southeast Asia. The so-called “domino theory” dominated U.S. thinking about Vietnam for the next decade.

By early 1954, it was clear to many U.S. policymakers that the French were failing in their attempt to re-establish colonial control in Indochina (Vietnam), which they lost during World War II when the Japanese took control of the area. The Vietnamese nationalists, led by the communist Ho Chi Minh, were on the verge of winning a stunning victory against French forces at the battle of Dien Bien Phu. In just a few weeks, representatives from the world’s powers were scheduled to meet in Geneva to discuss a political settlement of the Vietnamese conflict. U.S. officials were concerned that a victory by Ho’s forces and/or an agreement in Geneva might leave a communist regime in control of all or part of Vietnam. In an attempt to rally congressional and public support for increased U.S. aid to the French, President Eisenhower gave an historic press conference on April 7, 1954.

He spent much of the speech explaining the significance of Vietnam to the United States. First was its economic importance, “the specific value of a locality in its production of materials that the world needs” (materials such as rubber, jute, and sulphur). There was also the “possibility that many human beings pass under a dictatorship that is inimical to the free world.” Finally, the president noted, “You have broader considerations that might follow what you would call the ‘falling domino’ principle.” Eisenhower expanded on this thought, explaining, “You have a row of dominoes set up, you knock over the first one, and what will happen to the last one is a certainty that it will go over very quickly.” This would lead to disintegration in Southeast Asia, with the “loss of Indochina, of Burma, of Thailand, of the Peninsula, and Indonesia following.” Eisenhower suggested that even Japan, which needed Southeast Asia for trade, would be in danger.

Eisenhower’s words had little direct immediate impact–a month later, Dien Bien Phu fell to the communists, and an agreement was reached at the Geneva Conference that left Ho’s forces in control of northern Vietnam. In the long run, however, Eisenhower’s announcement of the “domino theory” laid the foundation for U.S. involvement in Vietnam. John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson both used the theory to justify their calls for increased U.S. economic and military assistance to non-communist South Vietnam and, eventually, the commitment of U.S. armed forces in 1965.

***********

LBJ made the Vietnam commitment into the debacle it turned out to be. I was only a teenager during his presidency, but he was another one with a shady history both ethically and politically.

Why do presidents who never served in wars always start them? LBJ was in the Naval Reserve and made one visit to the war zone in WWII, flying on a single combat mission as a passenger on a bomber, for which he was awarded the Silver Star--he actually did nothing to deserve this. He was then called back to Washington to his congressional duties (he was a Texas congressman at the time). We are all fully aware of George W. Bush's history of hiding in the Texas National Guard while real soldiers went to the war zone in Vietnam.

John F. Kennedy, a war vet who saw combat in the South Pacific, wanted to withdraw the American military commitment to Vietnam. He has my utmost respect for this, and I wish he had lived to see this through.

ZVUGKTUBM wrote:

Floridatexan wrote:

ZVUGKTUBM wrote:

\"gatorfan wrote:I hate to break the news but LBJ was not a "teetotaler", he drank scotch by the gallon. He also cost hundreds of lives through his hot/cold hands on approach to the war. His Great Society effort was an abject failure. In short, he was a bumbling fool.

LBJ is very low on my list of presidential greatness. More down there like George W. Bush. Both started wars that cost our nation dearly. We are lucky he served only one term.

The stage for the Vietnam war was set in both the Roosevelt and Truman administrations.  

Eisenhower played a role:

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/eisenhower-gives-famous-domino-theory-speech

President Dwight D. Eisenhower coins one of the most famous Cold War phrases when he suggests the fall of French Indochina to the communists could create a “domino” effect in Southeast Asia. The so-called “domino theory” dominated U.S. thinking about Vietnam for the next decade.

By early 1954, it was clear to many U.S. policymakers that the French were failing in their attempt to re-establish colonial control in Indochina (Vietnam), which they lost during World War II when the Japanese took control of the area. The Vietnamese nationalists, led by the communist Ho Chi Minh, were on the verge of winning a stunning victory against French forces at the battle of Dien Bien Phu. In just a few weeks, representatives from the world’s powers were scheduled to meet in Geneva to discuss a political settlement of the Vietnamese conflict. U.S. officials were concerned that a victory by Ho’s forces and/or an agreement in Geneva might leave a communist regime in control of all or part of Vietnam. In an attempt to rally congressional and public support for increased U.S. aid to the French, President Eisenhower gave an historic press conference on April 7, 1954.

He spent much of the speech explaining the significance of Vietnam to the United States. First was its economic importance, “the specific value of a locality in its production of materials that the world needs” (materials such as rubber, jute, and sulphur). There was also the “possibility that many human beings pass under a dictatorship that is inimical to the free world.” Finally, the president noted, “You have broader considerations that might follow what you would call the ‘falling domino’ principle.” Eisenhower expanded on this thought, explaining, “You have a row of dominoes set up, you knock over the first one, and what will happen to the last one is a certainty that it will go over very quickly.” This would lead to disintegration in Southeast Asia, with the “loss of Indochina, of Burma, of Thailand, of the Peninsula, and Indonesia following.” Eisenhower suggested that even Japan, which needed Southeast Asia for trade, would be in danger.

Eisenhower’s words had little direct immediate impact–a month later, Dien Bien Phu fell to the communists, and an agreement was reached at the Geneva Conference that left Ho’s forces in control of northern Vietnam. In the long run, however, Eisenhower’s announcement of the “domino theory” laid the foundation for U.S. involvement in Vietnam. John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson both used the theory to justify their calls for increased U.S. economic and military assistance to non-communist South Vietnam and, eventually, the commitment of U.S. armed forces in 1965.

***********

LBJ made the Vietnam commitment into the debacle it turned out to be. I was only a teenager during his presidency, but he was another one with a shady history both ethically and politically.

Why do presidents who never served in wars always start them? LBJ was in the Naval Reserve and made one visit to the war zone in WWII, flying on a single combat mission as a passenger on a bomber, for which he was awarded the Silver Star--he actually did nothing to deserve this. He was then called back to Washington to his congressional duties (he was a Texas congressman at the time). We are all fully aware of George W. Bush's history of hiding in the Texas National Guard while real soldiers went to the war zone in Vietnam.

John F. Kennedy, a war vet who saw combat in the South Pacific, wanted to withdraw the American military commitment to Vietnam. He has my utmost respect for this, and I wish he had lived to see this through.

Markle wrote:

ZVUGKTUBM wrote:

Floridatexan wrote:

ZVUGKTUBM wrote:

\"gatorfan wrote:I hate to break the news but LBJ was not a "teetotaler", he drank scotch by the gallon. He also cost hundreds of lives through his hot/cold hands on approach to the war. His Great Society effort was an abject failure. In short, he was a bumbling fool.

LBJ is very low on my list of presidential greatness. More down there like George W. Bush. Both started wars that cost our nation dearly. We are lucky he served only one term.

The stage for the Vietnam war was set in both the Roosevelt and Truman administrations.  

Eisenhower played a role:

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/eisenhower-gives-famous-domino-theory-speech

President Dwight D. Eisenhower coins one of the most famous Cold War phrases when he suggests the fall of French Indochina to the communists could create a “domino” effect in Southeast Asia. The so-called “domino theory” dominated U.S. thinking about Vietnam for the next decade.

By early 1954, it was clear to many U.S. policymakers that the French were failing in their attempt to re-establish colonial control in Indochina (Vietnam), which they lost during World War II when the Japanese took control of the area. The Vietnamese nationalists, led by the communist Ho Chi Minh, were on the verge of winning a stunning victory against French forces at the battle of Dien Bien Phu. In just a few weeks, representatives from the world’s powers were scheduled to meet in Geneva to discuss a political settlement of the Vietnamese conflict. U.S. officials were concerned that a victory by Ho’s forces and/or an agreement in Geneva might leave a communist regime in control of all or part of Vietnam. In an attempt to rally congressional and public support for increased U.S. aid to the French, President Eisenhower gave an historic press conference on April 7, 1954.

He spent much of the speech explaining the significance of Vietnam to the United States. First was its economic importance, “the specific value of a locality in its production of materials that the world needs” (materials such as rubber, jute, and sulphur). There was also the “possibility that many human beings pass under a dictatorship that is inimical to the free world.” Finally, the president noted, “You have broader considerations that might follow what you would call the ‘falling domino’ principle.” Eisenhower expanded on this thought, explaining, “You have a row of dominoes set up, you knock over the first one, and what will happen to the last one is a certainty that it will go over very quickly.” This would lead to disintegration in Southeast Asia, with the “loss of Indochina, of Burma, of Thailand, of the Peninsula, and Indonesia following.” Eisenhower suggested that even Japan, which needed Southeast Asia for trade, would be in danger.

Eisenhower’s words had little direct immediate impact–a month later, Dien Bien Phu fell to the communists, and an agreement was reached at the Geneva Conference that left Ho’s forces in control of northern Vietnam. In the long run, however, Eisenhower’s announcement of the “domino theory” laid the foundation for U.S. involvement in Vietnam. John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson both used the theory to justify their calls for increased U.S. economic and military assistance to non-communist South Vietnam and, eventually, the commitment of U.S. armed forces in 1965.

***********

LBJ made the Vietnam commitment into the debacle it turned out to be. I was only a teenager during his presidency, but he was another one with a shady history both ethically and politically.

Why do presidents who never served in wars always start them? LBJ was in the Naval Reserve and made one visit to the war zone in WWII, flying on a single combat mission as a passenger on a bomber, for which he was awarded the Silver Star--he actually did nothing to deserve this. He was then called back to Washington to his congressional duties (he was a Texas congressman at the time). We are all fully aware of George W. Bush's history of hiding in the Texas National Guard while real soldiers went to the war zone in Vietnam.

John F. Kennedy, a war vet who saw combat in the South Pacific, wanted to withdraw the American military commitment to Vietnam. He has my utmost respect for this, and I wish he had lived to see this through.

JFK doubled the number of our "boots on the ground" from 8,000 to 16,000 just before he was assassinated.  Saying he wanted to pull us out holds no water.

Tellthetruth wrote:Keep dreaming scumbucket.