Henry Kissinger Henry Kissinger DiplomacyDiplomacy

Chapters 26 & 27Chapters 26 & 27

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Vietnam: On the Road to Vietnam: On the Road to

DespairDespair

2. (644) How important was the fundamental 2. (644) How important was the fundamental misconception that Moscow “called all the misconception that Moscow “called all the shots” in a global conspiracy with Beijing shots” in a global conspiracy with Beijing and Hanoi?and Hanoi?

3.(645) Why was Vietnam 3.(645) Why was Vietnam thethe battle to confront communism battle to confront communism in the third world?in the third world?

5. (646) How did the failed Bay of Pigs 5. (646) How did the failed Bay of Pigs invasion affect the Kennedy invasion affect the Kennedy Administration’s conduct of foreign Administration’s conduct of foreign policy?policy?

6. (647) How did Kennedy “give” the 6. (647) How did Kennedy “give” the trail to North Vietnam?trail to North Vietnam?

9. (647) Big Picture: Bay of Pigs, 2nd 9. (647) Big Picture: Bay of Pigs, 2nd Berlin Crisis, Laotian neutrality – Was Berlin Crisis, Laotian neutrality – Was withdrawal from Vietnam a viable withdrawal from Vietnam a viable option for the Kennedy option for the Kennedy

Administration?Administration?

10. (648) How do the Special Forces 10. (648) How do the Special Forces served the goal articulated by served the goal articulated by Kennedy’s quote on page 648?Kennedy’s quote on page 648?

12. (649) The concept of nation building was 12. (649) The concept of nation building was (to some extent) formalized as U.S. policy (to some extent) formalized as U.S. policy under the Kennedy Administration. Why under the Kennedy Administration. Why would this idea gain support from both would this idea gain support from both liberals and conservatives since is requires liberals and conservatives since is requires increased U.S. commitment and increased U.S. commitment and involvement to interests outside our involvement to interests outside our borders? Despite rhetoric against this idea borders? Despite rhetoric against this idea (W during his first presidential campaign), (W during his first presidential campaign), do you feel that the U.S. is still committed to do you feel that the U.S. is still committed to this idea?this idea?

13. (649) Is a Vice-Presidential envoy 13. (649) Is a Vice-Presidential envoy assessment a valid political assessment a valid political measure? measure?

14. (650) What was Vice-President 14. (650) What was Vice-President Johnson’s “assessment” of the Johnson’s “assessment” of the situation in South Vietnam in May situation in South Vietnam in May

1961?1961?

15.(651) Why do you think that there 15.(651) Why do you think that there was uniform underestimation of the was uniform underestimation of the

future size of the conflict?future size of the conflict?

16.(652) Why was gradual escalation 16.(652) Why was gradual escalation the “fashion of the day”? Why did it the “fashion of the day”? Why did it prove to be the “most dangerous” prove to be the “most dangerous” option? option?

20. (655) Describe how Diem was 20. (655) Describe how Diem was removed from office to include: (a) removed from office to include: (a) domestic tensions leading to the coup domestic tensions leading to the coup

and (b) U.S. involvementand (b) U.S. involvement

21. (655) Assess the following statement 21. (655) Assess the following statement in context of the American Revolution, in context of the American Revolution, “And history teaches this iron law of “And history teaches this iron law of revolutions: the more extensive the revolutions: the more extensive the eradication of existing authority, the eradication of existing authority, the more its successors have to rely on more its successors have to rely on naked power to establish themselves.”naked power to establish themselves.”

22. (655/6) What problems did Diem’s 22. (655/6) What problems did Diem’s coup solve? What problems were coup solve? What problems were

created?created?

ContextContext Goal of War - _______Goal of War - _______

– Limited or Total WarLimited or Total War Measurement of successMeasurement of success

– Political: _______Political: _______– Battlefield: _______Battlefield: _______

Gradual EscalationGradual Escalation ““This is Language”This is Language” 1964/5 – Civil War to Invasion1964/5 – Civil War to Invasion OP-Plan 34AOP-Plan 34A De Soto PatrolsDe Soto Patrols Gulf of TonkinGulf of Tonkin

24. (659) What does Kissinger mean 24. (659) What does Kissinger mean when he said that methods used to when he said that methods used to achieve the Gulf of Tonkin achieve the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution would not be possible Resolution would not be possible today? Was he right?today? Was he right?

27. (660) Describe 2 strategies 27. (660) Describe 2 strategies Kissinger believed would have Kissinger believed would have produced a “victory” in Vietnam. produced a “victory” in Vietnam.

28. (660) What strategy did the US 28. (660) What strategy did the US employ? employ?

29. (660/1) How did the U.S. and North 29. (660/1) How did the U.S. and North Vietnam view the theaters of war Vietnam view the theaters of war differently? How did reflect their differently? How did reflect their approaches to foreign policy? approaches to foreign policy?

36. (665) Describe how the 36. (665) Describe how the experiences of the Korean and experiences of the Korean and Vietnam Wars differed in respect to Vietnam Wars differed in respect to domestic support for the war. domestic support for the war.

37. (666) Explain what is meant by 37. (666) Explain what is meant by Lipmann’s assertion that U.S. world Lipmann’s assertion that U.S. world standing would improve if it were standing would improve if it were

“defeated” in Vietnam.“defeated” in Vietnam.

40. (670/1) Does Kissinger offer any 40. (670/1) Does Kissinger offer any new perspectives and/or new perspectives and/or information about the Tet information about the Tet Offensive?Offensive?

42. (672) Why does Kissinger criticize 42. (672) Why does Kissinger criticize Johnson for his ending of bombing Johnson for his ending of bombing campaigns in 1968? What strategy campaigns in 1968? What strategy would have produced a more favorable would have produced a more favorable climate for negotiations to be conducted climate for negotiations to be conducted by his successor (ultimately Nixon)? by his successor (ultimately Nixon)?

Chapter 27:Chapter 27:Vietnam: The Extrication; Vietnam: The Extrication;

NixonNixon

2. (675) Just how hated was LBJ by 1968?

4. (676) Kissinger contends that Vietnam occurred at a generational crossroad – What specific experiences of the generations involved created significantly different perspectives?

7. (679) What were the three options open to Nixon to end America’s involvement in Vietnam? How was Kissinger’s treatment of this subject different from Norman Friedman?

8. (679) Why was a unilateral withdrawal politically and practically impossible?

9. (680) With reference to question seven, which option did Kissinger prefer?

10. (680) What were the possible components of the ‘dual track’ option?

11. (681) Why didn’t Nixon go to congress to obtain support for his Vietnam policy?

12. (681) Which option did Nixon choose?

13. (681-2) What conflicting expectations were the American people demanding in Vietnam? Did Vietnamization mitigate or exacerbate this problem?

14. (682) “Salted peanuts”? Examine the excerpt of Kissinger and Anthony Lake’s September 10, 1969 memorandum that criticized Vietnamization. Assess the political relevancy of each item. Could these criticisms be valid concerning an Iraq exit policy? … assuming one will be created in the future

18. (684) Who were the four parties involved in the formal negotiations?

19. (685) Describe the negotiation positions of the United States and Vietnam prior to 1972.

20. (685/6) What was the stereotyped procedure that the 1970-2 negotiations followed?

21. (686) What was the objective necessity needed by Kissinger?

22. (686) Why did the North Vietnamese complicate negotiations with competing seven and nine point plans? In other words, what did Le Duc Tho mean by “nothing”?

23. (687) In consideration of the following comments: “objective necessity”, “nothing”, and “big effort” What kind of personalities were involved in these negotiations? Did you find these anecdotes amusing, disconcerting, or boring?

24. (687/8) How large and effective was the peace movement by 1970?

25. (688/9) Explain why the peace movement and the Nixon administration could never find common ground? What single issue seemed to highlight this gap?

26. (691) What were terms of the agreement between the United States and North Vietnam in 1972?

27. (692) What caused North Vietnam to finally grant the terms of American negotiators?