Download - An Overview of the Vietnam War Overview · were just playing a game, in reality, soldiers fighting in Vietnam, both American and Vietnamese faced dangerous conditions every day. Tell

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AnOverviewoftheVietnamWarOverviewInthislesson,studentswillbeintroducedtotheVietnamWarthroughasimulationregardingtheanxietyofcombatandwillthenreceiveanoverviewofthewarviaateacherPowerPointpresentationorlecture(provided),oratextbookreadingfollowedbyclassdiscussion.Studentswillthencreateanillustratedtimelinepicturingtheprominenteventsfromtheyearsofconflict.Grade11NCEssentialStandardsforAmericanHistoryII• AH2.H.1.1-Usechronologicalthinking…• AH2.H.1.2-UseHistoricalComprehensionto:• AH2.H.1.3-Usehistoricalanalysisandinterpretation…• AH2.H.1.4-Usehistoricalresearch…• AH2.H.2.1Analyzekeypolitical,economic,andsocialturningpointssincetheendofReconstructionin

termsofcausesandeffects• AH2.H.2.2EvaluatekeyturningpointssincetheendofReconstructionintermsoftheirlastingimpact• AH2.H.4.3Analyzethesocialandreligiousconflicts,movementsandreformsthatimpactedtheUnited

StatessinceReconstructionintermsofparticipants,strategies,opposition,andresults• AH2.H.6.2ExplainthereasonsforUnitedStatesinvolvementinglobalwarsandtheinfluenceeach

involvementhadoninternationalaffairs• AH2.H.7.1ExplaintheimpactofwarsonAmericanpoliticssinceReconstruction• AH2.H.7.3ExplaintheimpactofwarsonAmericansocietyandculturesinceReconstructionMaterials• Scrapmaterialthatcanbeusedasblindfolds• ChartpaperandPost-itnotes• Teacherreferencedocument:“AShortSummaryoftheVietnamWar”,attached• Optional:“AnOverviewoftheVietnamWar,”PowerPoint;availableinCarolinaK-12’sDatabaseofK-12

Resources(inPDFformat)o ToviewthisPDFasaprojectablepresentation,savethefile,click“View”inthetopmenubarofthe

file,andselect“FullScreenMode”o TorequestaneditablePPTversionofthispresentation,[email protected]

• Optional:“StudentNotes:AShortSummaryoftheVietnamWar,”questionsandanswerkeyattached• VietnamWarTimelinestrips,attached• Artpaperandmarkers,crayons,orcoloredpencils• Optionalhomework:“AfghanistanhauntedbyghostofVietnam,”CNNarticleattached

EssentialQuestions:• WhatwerethecausesoftheVietnamWar?• WhydidtheUnitedStatesbecomeinvolvedintheconflict?• WhatwerethemajoreventsoftheVietnamWar?• HowdidtheVietnamWarchangetheUnitedStatesandVietnam?

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Duration• 60minutesProcedure

BewareofLandmines!(OptionalWarm-UpSimulation)1. Atthebeginningofclass,breakstudentsupintopartnersandhavethemchoosetobeAorB.Instructthe

A’stolineupononesideoftheroomsidebyside.Tellthemtoturntheirbacktothecenteroftheroomandusetheprovidedmaterialtoblindfoldthemselves.

2. Next,havetheB’splaceitemsonthefloorthatwouldblockthepathoftheA’siftheyweretowalkacross

theroom(books,apileofpencils,jackets,backpacks,etc.).Theteachershouldjustmakesurethatnoneoftheobjectsusedcouldcauseharm.Ensurethestudentsspreadtheobjectsaroundthewholeroom,sothatthefloorisevenlycovered.Ifpossible,turnonarecordingofwarsoundeffects.

3. Onceallitemsareplaced,tellthegroupthatalloftheitemsonthefloor,whichtheB’scanseeandtheA’s

cannot,representlandmines.Iftheyaresteppedonormovedinanyway,theywillexplodeandobliteratethepoorpersonwhohashitit.

4. ExplainthatA’smustnavigateacrosstheroomwithoutopeningtheireyesandwithouthittingalandmine.

TheonlyassistancetheywillhaveistheirpartnerByellingwarningstodirectthemwhentheyareclosetodanger.B’smaynotsteertheirpartnersphysicallyinanyway.Inadditiontothewarsoundeffects(ifavailable),B’scanalsobeinstructedtoaddtothestressoftheactivitybyyellingwarlikeslogans,suchas“Incoming!;Retreat!;Weareunderattack!;”etc.

5. Oncestudentsunderstandwhattodo,theteachershouldassumetheroleofasergeantandyell

directives.HaveA’sbeginmovingacrosstheroombyyelling,“Alrightsoldier’s,moveout!We’vegotenemiesonourtrail,butproceedwithcaution!Let’sMOVE!”TheteacherandB’sshouldcontinuemakingthesimulationasstressfulaspossibleforA’s,whilestillensuringstudentsarenotliterallyharmedinanyway.TheteacherandB’sshouldpaycloseattentiontotheA’sandifanyrunintoanyofthelandmines,yellandletA’sknowtheyhavebeenblownup.

6. OnceallA’shavenavigatedthroughthelandminesorbeenblownup,discuss:

• Whatdidthatexperiencefeellike?• Imaginethelandminesyouwerecircumventingwerereal.Whatwouldthisexperiencehavebeenlike

then?• Youwereblindfoldedtoillustratehowsoldiersdidnotnecessarilyknowwherelandmineswerewhen

travelingongroundinenemyterritory.Howdoyouimaginethisuncertaintyaffectedthem?• Basedonwhatwehavediscussedintermsofwaringeneral,andbasedonthisactivity,whatdoyou

imaginegroundcombatwouldhavebeenlikeduringwar?• Canyouthinkofanywarswherelandmineswerelikelyused?Whatotherdangerousaspectsof

warfarehavebeenemployedthroughouthistory?

OverviewoftheVietnamWar7. Tellstudentsthattheywillbelearningaboutoneofthemostdangerousandcontroversialwarsinthe

historyoftheU.S.,theVietnamWar,whichlastedfrom1964-1973.Explaintostudentsthatwhiletheywerejustplayingagame,inreality,soldiersfightinginVietnam,bothAmericanandVietnamesefaceddangerousconditionseveryday.Tellstudentsyou’lldiscusstheactualuseoflandminesduringthewarabitlater,butthatyoufirstwanttohearwhattheyalreadyknowabouttheVietnamWar.Togaugestudents’priorknowledge,drawawordwebonapieceofchartpaperwiththewords“VietnamWar”inthecenter.GiveeachstudentthreePost-ItnotesandinstructthemtothinkaboutthephraseandthenwritedownthefirstthreethingsthatcometomindonthePost-Itsprovided.Studentsshouldthenadd

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theirPost-Itnotestothewordweb.Aftertheallottedtime,discusswhatstudentshaveposted.Dispelanymisinformationbeforeintroducingstudentstoageneraloverviewoftheconflict.SincetherearenumerouscomponentstotheVietnamWarera,teachersshouldchoosewhichaspectsofthewartohighlightwiththeirstudents.Optionsforprovidinganoverviewofthewarinclude:• UseCarolinaK-12’sPowerPoint,“AnOverviewoftheVietnamWar,”whichcanbefoundinthe

DatabaseofK-12Resources(k12database.unc.edu)orbye-mailingarequesttoCarolinaK12@unc.edu.ThisPPTprovidesageneraloverviewofallmajoraspectsoftheconflict;teachersshouldpickandchoosewhichcomponentsofthepresentationtheywishtosharewithstudents.

• Deliveraninteractivelecturetostudentsbasedontheattachedteacherresourcedocument,whichoffersacondensedsummaryoftheeventsoftheVietnamconflict.Teacherscanalsoprovidetheattacheddiscussionquestionsforstudentstofilloutthroughoutthelecture.

• ProvideanintroductoryreadingtostudentsregardingVietnam,suchastheinformationprovidedintheirtextbook.GooverthereadingwithstudentsbyaskingclarifyingquestionstoensurestudentsgainabasicfoundationofknowledgeregardingVietnam.

8. WhetherusingexcerptsfromthePowerPoint,deliveringalectureoverview,ordiscussingafterareading,

keeptheoverviewoftheVietnamWarasinteractiveaspossible.Forexample,posebasicquestionstotheclassthatfollowabasichistoryoftheVietnamWar,includingwhytheUnitedStatesgotinvolvedandthefinaloutcomeoftheconflict.TalkaboutthedifferenteffectstheVietnamWarhadonAmerica,andencouragethestudentstobrainstormhowtheythinkthewarmighthaveaffectedVietnam.Forexample:• WhofoughtagainstwhomintheVietnamWar?• DoesanyonethinktheyknowwhytheUnitedStatesbecameinvolvedinVietnam?Whydiditincrease

itsinvolvementintothe1970s?• WhatspecificeventsmarkedthebeginningoftheUnitedStates’activemilitarycampaignagainst

NorthVietnam?(e.g.,theGulfofTonkinResolution)• WhatwastheinitialpublicsentimentintheUnitedStatesregardingU.S.involvementinVietnam?• WhatwasPresidentJohnson’sattitudetowardU.S.involvementinVietnam?WhatwasPresident

Nixon’sattitudetowardthewar?• HowdidthewarchangeunderPresidentNixon’sadministration?• WastheVietnamWaroverwhelminglypopularamongAmericancivilians?Whyorwhynot?• WhatwastheaffectofthewaronAmericans?WhatwastheaffectofthewaronthoseinVietnam?• DoanyofyouknowanyonewhofoughtintheVietnamWar?Havetheytoldyouabouttheir

experiences?• WheredoyougetmostofyourinformationabouttheVietnamWar?School?Videogames?Movies?

TV?• HaveyouseenanyfilmsabouttheVietnamWar?Howisthewardepicted?

VietnamWarIllustratedTimeline

9. Oncestudentshavereceivedabasicoverviewoftheconflict,toreviewandfurtherfamiliarizestudentswiththeevents,tellstudentstheyaregoingtobeillustratingcertainkeymomentsofthishistoricalperiod,eitherindividually,inpartners,orinsmallgroups(teacher’sdiscretion).(Thereare29timelinestripsattachedthatshouldbecutapart;teachersshouldensureeachisillustrated.Onestripcanbeassignedperindividual,orifteacherspreferforstudentstoworkinpartnersorsmallgroups,multiplestripscanbeassignedforeachpartner/grouptoillustrate.)Tellstudentsthattheyareresponsibleforreadingtheirstrip,researchingadditionalinformationregardingtheevent(s)described(optional),thenillustratingtheireventontheartpaperprovided.Finalillustrationsshouldinclude:• Thedateoftheevent,prominentlyfeatured• Abriefbutcleardescriptionoftheevent• Anappropriateandcolorfulillustration;illustrationscanbeliteralorabstract,aslongasitisclearwhat

theabstractimageissymbolizing.

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Encouragestudentstobecreativewhilealsobeinghistoricallyaccurateandrespectfultothetimeperiod.Teachersshouldalsoletstudentsknowwhattypeofartisacceptable.SincecertainaspectsoftheVietnamwereveryviolent,itisrecommendedteachersencouragestudentstorefrainfromcreatingparticularlygruesomeartwork,andratherleantowardssymbolism.Finally,letstudentsknowthatuponcompletion,theirworkwillbehunginchronologicalorderwiththeworkoftheirclassmates,creatingalarge,illustratedtimelineofVietnam.Allowstudentstoaskquestionsandgivethemapproximately15-20minutestoworkontheirassignment.(

10. Oncestudentshavefinished,assisttheclassinhandingtheirtimelinearoundtheroominchronologicalorder.Provideeachstudentwithadouble-sidedcopyoftheattached“IllustratedTimelineReview.”Teacherscaneitherhavestudentscirculatethroughouttheroomandtakenotesastheyreviewtheartwork,orplacestudentsintosmallgroupsandcirculatetheartworkthroughouteachgroup,allowingstudentstoremainseatedwhiletakingtheirnotes.(Teachersshouldjustensurethetimelinecirculatesinorder.)

11. Afterstudentshavereviewedtheillustratedtimelineandtakennotesonthemajorevents,culminatewithadiscussion:• WhatweresomemajorturningpointsoftheVietnamconflict?• Baseduponwhatyou’velearned,whatdoyouthinkwasthemostdifficultaspectoftheVietnamWar?

(encouragestudentstoconsidermultipleaspectsastheyrespondtothisquestion(i.e.thefearofbeingdrafted,losinglovedonesincombat,difficultpresidentialdecisions,thepassionatefeelingsofthosewhodisagreedwithandprotestedthewar,returninghomeasasoldierbutbeingprotestedratherthanhonored,etc.)

• DoyouthinkthereisanywaytheVietnamWarhaveturnedoutdifferently(i.e.lessliveslost,lesscontroversy,shortertermofinvolvement,etc.)?Ifso,how?

• Thinkbacktoourwarm-up.Whilethatwasachanceforustogetupandhaveabitoffun,inactuality,whataspectsofVietnam(suchaslandmines)wouldhavebeenincrediblystressfulorfrightening?o Tobringthelessonfullcircle,sharesomeadditionalinformationregardinglandminesandthe

Vietnamconflictwithstudents.Letthemknowthatwhile“theVietnamwarendedover30yearsago,formanyVietnamese,therealitiesofthewarstilllinger.IntheyearssincethefallofSaigon,over40,000Vietnamesehavebeenkilledorinjuredbylandminesandunexplodedbombsleftbehindfromthatconflict.Infact,every22minutes,someonearoundtheworldiskilledormaimedbyalandmine.One-thirdoftheworld'scountriesarelitteredwithlandminesandtheU.S.StateDepartmentestimatesthat60to75millionlandminesremainunexplodedinthegroundworldwide.Someexpert’sestimatethatbetween12-18%ofbombsdroppedduringtheVietnamWardidn’texplodeonimpact.UnexplodedordnanceandburiedlandminesposeanongoinganddailythreattothepeopleofVietnam,particularlyintheDemilitarizedZone,the“DMZ,”whichonceseparatedNorthandSouthVietnam.Thesemunitionscontinuetoinflictinjuryanddeathonthefarmersandinnocentchildrenofsmallvillages.Removingsuchlandminesisexpensiveanddangerous,buttherearehumanitarianagenciesandprivateorganizationsincreasingawarenessoftheproblemandraisingfundstohelpvictimsandtode-minethefieldsandricepaddies.”(Source:http://www.pbs.org/vietnampassage/perspectives/perspectives.landmines.html)

• WhydoyouthinksomepoliticalcommentatorscomparethewarsinIraqandAfghanistantoVietnam?Canyouseeanyparallels?

12. Optional:Asahomeworkassignment,havestudentsreadtheattachedarticlefromCNN,“AfghanistanhauntedbyghostofVietnam.”Instructstudentstofilloutthechartatthebottomofthearticleastheyread,notingthesimilaritiesbetweenVietnamandAfghanistanandthedifferencesbetweenthetwo.Tellstudentstheinformationtheychartcanbefromthereading,butalsofrompriorknowledgeorother

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sources.Teacherswhoassignthereadingshouldreservetimethefollowingclassperiodtodiscussthearticlewithstudents.

AdditionalActivities• TeachCarolinaK-12’slesson,“RememberingVietnam:TheVietnamWarMemorial,”availableinthe

DatabaseofK-12Resourcesathttp://k12database.unc.edu/files/2012/05/RememberingVietnam8.pdf

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TEACHERREFERENCEDOCUMENT:

AShortSummaryoftheVietnamWar

ImperialismandColonialismTheVietnamWarhasrootsinVietnam’scenturiesofdominationbyimperialandcolonialpowers—firstChina,whichruledancientVietnam,andthenFrance,whichtookcontrolofVietnaminthelate1800sandestablishedFrenchIndochina.Intheearly1900s,nationalistmovementsemergedinVietnam,demandingmoreself-governanceandlessFrenchinfluence.ThemostprominentofthesewasledbyCommunistleaderHoChiMinh,whofoundedamilitantnationalistorganizationcalledtheVietMinh.

TheFirstIndochinaWarDuringWorldWarII,whenFrancewasoccupiedbyNaziGermany,itlostitsfootholdinVietnam,andJapantookcontrolofthecountry.TheVietMinhresistedtheseJapaneseoppressorsandextendeditspowerbasethroughoutVietnam.WhenJapansurrenderedattheendofWorldWarIIin1945,HoChiMinh’sforcestookthecapitalofHanoianddeclaredVietnamtobeanindependentcountry,theDemocraticRepublicofVietnam.

FrancerefusedtorecognizeHo’sdeclarationandreturnedtoVietnam,drivingHo’sCommunistforcesintonorthernVietnam.HoappealedforaidfromtheUnitedStates,butbecausetheUnitedStateswasembroiledintheescalatingColdWarwiththeCommunistUSSR,itdistrustedHo’sCommunistleaningsandaidedtheFrenchinstead.FightingbetweenHo’sforcesandtheFrenchcontinuedinthisFirstIndochinaWaruntil1954,whenahumiliatingdefeatatDienBienPhupromptedFrancetoseekapeacesettlement.DividedVietnamTheGenevaAccordsof1954declaredacease-fireanddividedVietnamofficiallyintoNorthVietnam(underHoandhisCommunistforces)andSouthVietnam(underaFrench-backedemperor).Thedividinglinewassetatthe17thparallelandwassurroundedbyademilitarizedzone,orDMZ.TheGenevaAccordsstipulatedthatthedividewastemporaryandthatVietnamwastobereunifiedunderfreeelectionstobeheldin1956.TheColdWarandtheDominoTheoryAtthispoint,theUnitedStates’ColdWarforeignpolicybegantoplayamajorpartinVietnam.U.S.policyatthetimewasdominatedbythedominotheory,whichbelievedthatthe“fall”ofNorthVietnamtoCommunismmighttriggerallofSoutheastAsiatofall,settingoffasortofCommunistchainreaction.WithinayearoftheGenevaAccords,theUnitedStatesthereforebegantooffersupporttotheanti-CommunistpoliticianNgoDinhDiem.WithU.S.assistance,DiemtookcontroloftheSouthVietnamesegovernmentin1955anddeclaredtheRepublicofVietnam.DuetothepopularityofHoChiMinhthroughoutVietnam,Diempromptlycanceledtheelectionsthathadbeenscheduledfor1956.TheDiemRegimeDiem’sregimeprovedcorrupt,oppressive,andextremelyunpopular.HewassounpopularthatsomeBuddhistmonksprotestedhisregimeusingself-immolation–settingoneselfonfire.Nonetheless,theUnitedStatescontinuedtopropDiemup,fearfuloftheincreasingCommunistresistanceactivityinSouthVietnam.ThisresistanceagainstDiem’sregimewasorganizedbytheHoChiMinh–backedNationalLiberationFront,whichbecamemorecommonlyknownastheVietCong.

HoChiMinh

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In1962,U.S.presidentJohnF.KennedysentAmerican“militaryadvisors”toVietnamtohelptraintheSouthVietnamesearmy,theARVN,butquicklyrealizedthattheDiemregimewasunsalvageable.Therefore,in1963,theUnitedStatesbackedacoupthatoverthrewDiemandinstalledanewleader.ThenewU.S.-backedleadersprovedjustascorruptandineffective.JohnsonandU.S.EscalationKennedy’ssuccessor,LyndonB.Johnson,pledgedtohonorKennedy’scommitmentsbuthopedtokeepU.S.involvementinVietnamtoaminimum.HekeptKennedy’sSecretaryofDefense,RobertMcNamara,butreplacedthepreviousAmericanmilitarycommanderwithWilliamC. Westmoreland–aU.S.generalwhoadvocatedaggressivestrategiesagainstViet

CongandNVAusinglargenumbersofU.S.forces.AfterNorthVietnameseforcesallegedlyattackedU.S.NavyshipsduringtheGulfofTonkinIncidentin1964,JohnsonwasgivencarteblancheintheformoftheGulfofTonkinResolution.ThisresolutionallowedJohnson“totakeallnecessarymeasuretorepelanyarmedattackagainsttheforcesofUnitedStatesandtopreventfurtheraggression;”thisgreatlyexpandedhispresidentialpower.WiththefreehandrecentlyprovidedbyCongress,JohnsonorderedtheU.S.AirForceandU.S.NavytobeginanintenseseriesofairstrikescalledOperationRollingThunder.HehopedthatthebombingcampaignwoulddemonstratetotheSouthVietnamesetheU.S.commitmenttotheircauseanditsresolvetohaltthespreadofCommunism.Ironically,theairraidsseemedonlytoincreasethenumberofVietCongandNVA(NorthVietnameseArmy)attacks.Johnson’s“Americanization”ofthewarledtoapresenceofnearly400,000U.S.troopsinVietnambytheendof1966.QuagmireandAttritionIn1965,Westmorelandbegantoimplementasearch-and-destroystrategythatsentU.S.troopsoutintothefieldtofindandkillVietCongmembers.WestmorelandwasconfidentthatAmericantechnologywouldsucceedinslowlywearingdowntheVietCongthroughawarofattrition—astrategyofextendedcombatmeanttoinflictsomanycasualtiesontheenemythatitcouldnolongercontinue.U.S.leadersagreed,believingthatNorthVietnam’seconomycouldnotsustainaprolongedwareffort.Inlightofthisnewstrategyoffightingawarofattrition,U.S.commanderswereinstructedtobeginkeepingbodycountsofenemysoldierskilled.Althoughbodycountswereindeedtallied,theywereoftenexaggeratedandprovedwildlyinaccurate,asthebodiesofVietCongsoldiersoftenweredifficulttodistinguishfromthebodiesoffriendlySouthVietnamesesoldiers.However,theVietCong’sguerrillatacticsfrustratedanddemoralizedU.S.troops,whileitsdispersed,largelyruralpresenceleftAmericanbomberplaneswithfewtargets.TheUnitedStatesthereforeusedunconventionalweaponssuchasnapalm–ahighlyflammablejelliedsubstance--andtheherbicidedefoliantAgentOrangebutstillmanagedtomakelittleheadway.TheHoChiMinhTrailMeanwhile,U.S.forcescontinuedtotrytocutoffVietCongsupplylinesthroughairpower.Theseeffortsexpendedagreatdealoftimeandresources,buttheNorthVietnamesegovernmentprovedextremelysavvy

initsabilitytokeeptheVietCongsupplied.RatherthanattempttosendmaterialsacrosstheheavilyguardedDMZ(thedemilitarizedzonesurroundingtheborderbetweenNorthandSouthVietnamatthe17thparallel),theysentsuppliesviatheHoChiMinhTrail,whichranfromNorthVietnamthroughLaosandCambodiaintoSouthVietnam(seemapabove).TroopsandsuppliesstreamedintoSouthVietnamviathetrailanddespiteintenseU.S.bombingthroughout1965,thetrailneverclosedonce,noteventemporarily.The“CredibilityGap”Despitethenumeroussetbacks,JohnsonandotherU.S.officials,citingincreasedtroopnumbersandredefinedobjectives,againclaimedtobemakingheadwayinthewar.Many

VietnamtakesitstollonPresidentJohnson

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governmentofficialsreportedthattheNorthVietnameseweredeclininginstrengthandwereonthebrinkofdefeat.PhotosandvideofootageofdeadAmericansoldiersinnewspapersandoneveningnewsprograms,however,indicatedotherwise.Moreover,U.S.spendinginsupportofthewarhadreachedrecordlevels,costingthegovernmentanestimated$3billionamonth.Asaresult,manypeopleintheUnitedStatesbegantospeakofa“credibilitygap”betweenwhatJohnsonandtheU.S.governmentwastellingtheAmericanpeopleandwhatactuallywastranspiringontheground.TheTetOffensiveIn1968,theNorthVietnameseArmyandtheVietConglaunchedamassive

campaigncalledtheTetOffensive,attackingnearlythirtyU.S.targetsanddozensofothercitiesinSouthVietnamatonce.AlthoughtheUnitedStatespushedbacktheoffensiveandwonatacticalvictory,Americanmediacoveragecharacterizedtheconflictasadefeat,andU.S.publicsupportforthewarplummeted.MoraleamongU.S.troopsalsohitanall-timelow,manifestingitselftragicallyinthe1968MyLaiMassacre,inwhichfrustratedU.S.soldierskilledhundredsofunarmedVietnameseciviliansinasmallvillage.

TheAntiwarMovementMeanwhile,theantiwarmovementwithintheUnitedStatesgainedmomentumasstudentprotesters,counterculturalhippies,andevenmanymainstreamAmericansdenouncedthewar.Protestsagainstthewarandtheselectiveservicesystem--militarydraft--grewincreasinglyviolent,resultinginpolicebrutalityoutsidetheDemocraticNationalConventionin1968andthedeathsoffourstudentsatKentStateUniversityin1970whenOhioNationalGuardsmenfiredonacrowd.Despitetheprotests,Johnson’ssuccessorelectedin1968,PresidentRichardM.Nixon,declaredthata“silentmajority”ofAmericansstillsupportedthewar.VietnamizationandU.S.WithdrawalNonetheless,NixonpromotedapolicyofVietnamizationofthewar,promisingtowithdrawU.S.troopsgraduallyandhandovermanagementofthewarefforttotheSouthVietnamese.AlthoughNixonmadegoodonhispromise,healsoillegallyexpandedthegeographicscopeofthewarbyauthorizingthebombingofVietCongsitesintheneutralnationsofCambodiaandLaos,allwithouttheknowledgeorconsentoftheU.S.Congress.Therevelationoftheseillegalactions,alongwiththepublicationofthesecretPentagonPapersinUSnewspapersin1971,causedanenormousscandalintheUnitedStatesandforcedNixontopushforapeacesettlement.ThesepapersrevealedthattheU.S.Army,aswellaspresidentsTruman,Eisenhower,Kennedy,andJohnson,hadauthorizedanumberofcovertactionsthatincreasedU.S.involvementinVietnamunbeknownsttotheAmericanpublic.Thegovernmenttriedtoblockthepublicationofthesepapersundertheguiseof“nationalsecurity”,buttheSupremeCourtruledinNewYorkTimesv.USthatthegovernmentmustproveanimmediatethreattonationalsecuritytocensurethepapers.Congress’sResponseOutragedbytheunauthorizedinvasionofCambodiaandbythedoublescandalfromtheMyLaiMassacreandthePentagonPapers,manyinCongresstookstepstoexertmorecontroloverthewarandtoappeasetheequallyangrypublic.TheSenatevotedtorepealtheGulfofTonkinResolutiontoreducethemilitary’suncheckedspendingpower(althoughtheHouseofRepresentativesdidnotfollowsuit).Congressalsoreducedthenumberofyearsdraftedsoldiersneededtoserveinthearmy.Finally,theTwenty-SixthAmendmentwasratifiedin1971tolowertheU.S.votingagefromtwenty-onetoeighteen,onthegroundsthattheyoungmenservinginVietnamshouldhaveasayinwhichpoliticianswererunningthewar.

“GeneralNguyenNgocLoanexecutingaVietCongprisonerin

Saigon”FamousTetOffensivePhoto

KentStateShootings

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TheWarPowersResolutionInJuly1973,CongressandtheAmericanpubliclearnedthefullextentofthesecretU.S.militarycampaignsinCambodia.TestimonyincongressionalhearingsrevealedthatNixonandthemilitaryhadbeensecretlybombingCambodiaheavilysince1969,eventhoughthepresidentandJointChiefsofStaffhadrepeatedly

deniedthecharge.Whenthenewsbroke,NixonswitchedtacticsandbeganbombingCambodiaopenlydespiteextremepublicdisproval.Angry,CongressmusteredenoughvotestopasstheNovember1973WarPowersResolutionoverNixon’sveto.TheresolutionrestrictedpresidentialpowersduringwartimebyrequiringthepresidenttonotifyCongressuponlaunchinganyU.S.militaryactionabroad.IfCongressdidnotapproveoftheaction,itwouldhavetoconcludewithinsixtytoninetydays.Ineffect,thisactmadethepresidentaccountabletoCongressforhisactionsabroad.Congressalsoendedthedraftin1973andstipulatedthatthemilitaryhenceforthconsistsolelyofpaidvolunteers.Both

theWarPowersResolutionandtheconversiontoanall-volunteerarmyhelpedquietantiwarprotesters.TheCease-fireandtheFallofSaigonAftersecretnegotiationsbetweenU.S.emissaryHenryA.KissingerandNorthVietnameserepresentativeLeDucThoin1972,NixonengagedindiplomaticmaneuveringwithChinaandtheUSSR—andsteppedupbombingofNorthVietnam—topressuretheNorthVietnameseintoasettlement.TheParisPeaceAccordswerefinallysignedinJanuary1973,andthelastU.S.militarypersonnelleftVietnaminMarch1973.Underthetermsoftheagreement,NixonpledgedtowithdrawallremainingmilitarypersonnelfromVietnamandallowthetensofthousandsofNVAtroopsinSouthVietnamtoremainthere,despitethefactthattheycontrolledaquarterofSouthVietnameseterritory.However,NixonpromisedtointerveneifNorthVietnammovedagainsttheSouth.Inexchange,NorthVietnampromisedthatelectionswouldbeheldtodeterminethefateoftheentirecountry.AlthoughNixoninsistedthattheagreementbrought“peacewithhonor,”SouthVietnameseleaderscomplainedthatthetermsamountedtolittlemorethanasurrenderforSouthVietnam.

TheU.S.governmentcontinuedtofundtheSouthVietnamesearmy,butthisfundingquicklydwindled.Meanwhile,asPresidentNixonbecameembroiledintheWatergatescandalthatledtohisresignationinAugust1974,NorthVietnameseforcessteppeduptheirattacksontheSouthandfinallylaunchedanall-outoffensiveinthespringof1975.OnApril30,1975,theSouthVietnamesecapitalofSaigonfelltotheNorthVietnamese,whoreunitedthecountryunderCommunistruleastheSocialistRepublicofVietnam,endingtheVietnamWar.

AdaptedandEditedbyCarolinaK-12Sources:http://www.sparknotes.com/history/american/vietnamwar/summary.htmlhttp://www.vn-tours.com/images/tour/map/vietnam-asia-map.gifhttp://img.timeinc.net/time/time100/images/main_hochiminh.jpghttp://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Pages/usa/images-3/vietnam-war-monk-self-immolation.jpghttp://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/asia_pac/05/vietnam_war/img/maps/2.gifhttp://lefteyeonthemedia.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/lbj_regretting_vnw.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f9/Nguyen.jpghttp://www.bristol.ac.uk/Depts/History/Sixties/Feminism/1968_files/image001.gifhttp://www.uiowa.edu/~policult/assets/VietNam/KentState.jpghttp://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40336000/jpg/_40336701_nixon_and_kissinger300.jpghttps://wikis.nyu.edu/ek6/modernamerica/uploads/Imperialism.ColdWarContainment/Evacuation.gif

Nixon and Kissinger

Evacuating civilians after the fall of Saigon

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Name_____________________________________

StudentNotes:AShortSummaryoftheVietnamWar

1. WhywasHoChiMinhfightingtheFrench?Whatwasthenameofhisorganization?2. WhathappenedatDienBienPhu?3. HowdidtheUnitedStates’foreignpolicyrelatetoanincreasedpresenceinVietnam?4. WhatgrouporganizedresistancetoDiem’sregime?Listbothnamesfortheorganization.5. WhatwastheGulfofTonkinresolution?Whywasitpassed?Whyisitsignificant?6. WhatwasthepurposeofOperationRollingThunder?Diditwork?7. WhatstrategiesdidtheUnitedStatesuseinVietnam?Whydidtheybelievetheywouldwork?8. WhywastheHoChiMinhTrailsignificant?9. WhatwastheTetOffensive?HowisitrelatedtotheCreditabilityGap?10. WhatwasVietnamization?

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StudentNotes:AShortSummaryoftheVietnamWar

AnswerKey

1. WhywasHoChiMinhfightingtheFrench?Whatwasthenameofhisorganization?HoChiMinhwantedtoremoveFrenchcontrolandinfluencefromVietnam,sotheVietnamesecouldrulethemselves.HisorganizationwascalledtheVietMinh.

2. WhathappenedatDienBienPhu?

TheFrenchweredefeatedbyHoChiMinh’sforcesandforcedtoleaveVietnam.3. HowdidtheUnitedStates’foreignpolicyrelatetoanincreasedpresenceinVietnam?

TheDominoTheorystressedthatifonenationfelltocommunism,thesurroundingnationswouldalsofall.HoChiMinhwasextremelypopularinVietnamafterdefeatingtheFrenchandheprobablywouldhavewonelectionstounifyingthecountryunderacommunistgovernment.TopreventVietnamfallingtocommunismunderHoChiMinh,theUnitedStatessentlargeamountsofaidandadvisors.Eventually,thispolicyledtoanincreaseintheamountofUStroopsinVietnam.

4. WhatgrouporganizedresistancetoDiem’sregime?Listbothnamesfortheorganization.

TheNationalLiberationFrontconsistedofsupportersofHoChiMinhstationedinSouthVietnamthatcarriedoutvariousresistanceactivities.Theyaremorecommonlyknownasthe“VietCong.”

5. WhatwastheGulfofTonkinResolution?Whywasitpassed?Whyisitsignificant?

TheGulfofTonkinResolutionwasacongressionalauthorizationthatallowedPresidentJohnsontogreatlyexpandthewarinVietnam.ItwaspassedinresponsetotheGulfofTonkinIncident.ItissignificantbecauseitgreatlyexpandedPresidentialWarPowersandallowedJohnsontoescalatethewarwithoutoversightfromCongress.

6. WhatwasthepurposeofOperationRollingThunder?Diditwork?

ThepurposeofOperationRollingThunderwastobombtheN.VietnameseintosubmissionandtodemonstratetotheSouthVietnamesethattheUSwasseriousaboutsupportingitscause.Itdidnotwork,itactuallystrengthenedtheresolveoftheNorthandincreasethenumberofpeoplesidingwithHoChiMinh.

7. WhatstrategiesdidtheUnitedStatesuseinVietnam?Whydidtheybelievetheywouldwork?

Onestrategywas“SearchandDestroy”–UStroopswouldgointothecountrysidetofindandkillVietCongmembers.Anotherstrategywasattrition–extendcombattoinflictthemostamountofenemiescasualtiesthusforcingthemtosurrender.TheybelieveditwouldworkbecausetheyfeltthatN.Vietnam’seconomycouldnotsustainaprotractedwareffort.

8. WhywastheHoChiMinhTrailsignificant?

ItallowedtheNorthtoresupplytheVietCongintheSouthdespiteUSeffortstostopthetrail.9. WhatwastheTetOffensive?HowdoyouthinkitisrelatedtotheCreditabilityGap?

AmassiveNorthVietnamesesurpriseattackagainstvariousAmericanandSouthVietnamesetargets.ItwasamilitaryfailurefortheNorthVietnamese,butithelpedturnedAmericansupportagainstthewar.ManygovernmentofficialsissuedreportsthattheNorthVietnamesewereonthebrinkofdefeat,buttheTetOffensiveprovedtheywerenot.

10. WhatwasVietnamization?PresidentNixon’splantowithdrawU.S.troopsgraduallyandhandovermanagementofthewarefforttotheSouthVietnamese.

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TimeLineoftheVietnamWarByDavidWalbert,LearnNC

TeacherNote:Stripsshouldbecutapartpriortoclass

1858–1884

VietnambecomesaFrenchcolony,calledIndochina.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1930

TheIndochineseCommunistPartyisformed.HoChiMinhisafounder.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------September1940

JapaninvadesVietnam.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------May1941

HoChiMinhestablishestheVietMinh(theLeaguefortheIndependenceofVietnam).--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------September2,1945

JapansurrenderstoAlliedforces.HoChiMinhdeclaresVietnamanindependentnation,theDemocraticRepublicofVietnam.ButvictoriousFrancereassumescolonialauthority.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1946

TheFirstIndochinaWarbegins,astheVietMinhbeginfightingagainstFrenchcolonialrule.Overthecourseofthewar,theygrowfromsmallguerillabandsintoawell-organizedandequippedarmy.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1950

ChinabeginsprovidingtheVietMinhwithmilitaryadvisorsandweapons.Inresponse,theUnitedStatespledges$15millioninmilitaryaidtoFrance.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1954

TheVietMinhdefeattheFrencharmyintheBattleofDienBienPhu,forcingthesurrenderofmostoftheoccupyingtroops.OnJuly21,FrancesignstheGenevaAccord,acease-firethatleadstothepeacefulwithdrawalofFrenchtroopsfromSoutheastAsia.VietnamistemporarilydividedbetweenNorthandSouthatthe17thparallel(17degreesnorthlatitude).TheVietMinharetowithdrawnorthoftheline,whiletroopssupportingFrancearetowithdrawtothesouth.Electionsaretobeheldin1956toreunifythecountry.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1955

OnOctober26,SouthVietnamdeclaresitselftheRepublicofVietnam,withitscapitalatSaigonandNgoDinhDiemelectedpresidentinriggedelections.DiemarguesthatSouthVietnamwasnotapartytotheGenevaAccords,andcancelsthe1956elections.TheNorthremainsunderthecontrolofHo’sCommunists,withitsgovernmentatHanoi.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1956

TheU.S.militarybeginstrainingSouthVietnameseforces.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1957

CommunistguerillasbeginaninsurgencyinSouthVietnam,assassinatingmorethan400SouthVietnameseofficials.Withinayear,CommunistforceshavesettledalongtheMekongDelta.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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1960TheHanoigovernmentformstheNationalLiberationFront(NLF)inSouthVietnam.DiemcallsthegrouptheVietcong.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1963

Diem,aCatholic,hasbeenintolerantofotherreligionsandhastriedtosilenceprotestsbyBuddhistmonks.Inresponse,monksprotestbysettingthemselvesonfireinpublicplaces.InNovember,withthetacitapprovaloftheU.S.,membersoftheSouthVietnamesemilitaryoverthrowDiemandexecutehim.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1964

GeneralNguyenKhanhtakespowerinSouthVietnaminanothercoup.OnAugust2threeNorthVietnameseboatsallegedlyfiretorpedoesattheU.S.S.Maddox,adestroyerlocatedintheinternationalwatersoftheTonkinGulf.AsecondattackwasallegedtohavetakenplaceonAugust4,butgovernmentdocumentslatershowedthatnosecondincidenttookplace.OnAugust7,CongresspassestheGulfofTonkinResolution,authorizingPresidentLyndonJohnsonto“takeallnecessarymeasurestorepelanyarmedattackagainstforcesoftheUnitedStatesandtopreventfurtheraggression.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1965

TheU.S.beginssustainedbombingofNorthVietnam,calledOperationRollingThunder.Thebombingwillcontinueforthreeyears.InMarch,thefirstU.S.combattroopsarriveinVietnam.Byyear’send,morethan200,000U.S.troopsarestationedthere.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1966

Thefirstprotestsagainstthewarareheld,includingaprotestbyveteransofWorldWarsIandIIinNewYorkCity.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1967

SecretaryofDefenseRobertMcNamaracallsthebombingcampaignineffective.TheU.S.launchesOperationCedarFalls,agroundwareffortinvolving30,000U.S.andSouthVietnamesetroopstodestroyVietcongoperationsandsupplysitesnearSaigon.TheydiscoveramassivesystemofundergroundtunnelsthathadservedasheadquartersfortheVietcong.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1968

InJanuary,ontheVietnameselunarnewyear(Tet),theNorthVietnameseandVietcongforceslaunchanattackononehundredSouthVietnamesecitiesandtowns.Withindays,U.S.forcesrecapturemostareas.The“TetOffensive”isamilitarydefeatforCommunists,butisapoliticalvictory,asAmericansbeginquestioningtheU.S.military’sconductofthewar.

OnMarch16,U.S.soldierskillhundredsofVietnameseciviliansinthetownofMaiLai.Hispopularityplummeting,PresidentJohnsonannouncesthathewillnotseekre-election.

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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1968(cont.)

InJuly,GeneralWilliamWestmoreland,commanderofU.S.forcesinVietnam,isreplacedbyGeneralCreightonAbrams.

RichardNixoniselectedPresidentinNovember.

ByDecember,U.S.trooplevelsinVietnamreach540,000.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1969

PresidentNixonapproves“OperationBreakfast,”covertbombingofCommunistsupplyroutesandbasecampsinCambodia.Thebombingcontinuesfor14monthswithoutknowledgeofCongressortheAmericanpublic.

Nixon’sSecretaryofDefense,MelvinLaird,announcesapolicyof“Vietnamization”inwhichtheU.S.willgraduallyshifttheburdenofthewartotheSouthVietnamesearmy.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1969(cont.)

HoChiMinhdiesonNovember3.OnNovember13,theAmericanpubliclearnsoftheMaiLaimassacre.Thenewsfurtherturnsopinionagainstthewar.TheArmyhasalreadychargedLietenantWilliamCalley,wholedtheattack,withmurder.Calleywillbeconvictedayearlater.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1970

OnApril30,NixonannouncesthatU.S.troopswillattackenemylocationsinCambodia.Thenewssparksprotestsnationwide,especiallyoncollegecampuses.

InMay,OhioNationalGuardsmenopenfireonacrowdofstudentprotestersatKentStateUniversity,killingfourstudentsandwoundingeightothers.SeveraloftheprotestershadbeenhurlingrocksandemptyteargascanistersattheGuardsmen.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1972

TheNorthVietnamesecrossthedemilitarizedzone(DMZ)atthe17thparalleltoattackSouthVietnaminwhatwillbeknownastheEasterOffensive.Nixonannouncesfurthertroopreductions.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1973

OnJanuary27,U.S.SecretaryofStateHenryKissingerandVietcongleaderLeDucThosigntheParisPeaceAccords,animmediatecease-firethatwillallowforU.S.withdrawal.KissingerandLeareawardedtheNobelPeacePrizelaterintheyear.OnMarch29,thelastU.S.troopsleaveVietnam.TheU.S.CongressabolishesthedraftinfavorofanallvolunteerArmy.

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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1974

NorthVietnamannouncesarenewalofthewar.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1975

NorthVietnamlaunchesamassiveassaultonSouthVietnam.PresidentGeraldFordannouncesthatfortheU.S.,theVietnamWaris“finished.”OnApril30,SouthVietnamsurrenderstoCommunistforces,andthelastAmericansevacuateSaigon.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1976–1980

VietnamisunifiedunderCommunistruleastheSocialistRepublicofVietnam.Thenewgovernmentimprisonsasmanyasamillionpeoplewithouttrialforsupportingthepreviousregime.ThousandsofVietnameserefugees,dubbed“boatpeople,”fleeincrowdedandricketyboats,hopingtobepermittedtoreachothercountries.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1982

TheVietnamVeteransMemorialisdedicatedinWashington,D.C.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1997

TheUnitedStatesandVietnamexchangeambassadorsforthefirsttimesincethewar,beginninganeweraofcooperationbetweenthetwonations.

16

Name:______________________________________

Vietnam–IllustratedTimelineReview

Event&Date Description/SignificanceoftheEvent

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AfghanistanhauntedbyghostofVietnamByEdHornick,CNN

Washington(CNN)--WhilePresidentObama'swarcouncildeliberatesitsstrategytowardAfghanistan,theghostofVietnamisofteninvokedasawarning.

Afghanistan,U.S.andcoalitionforceshavebeenfightinginAfghanistanforeightyears,anduntilrecentlythewarhadbeenovershadowedbytheoneinIraq.InMarch,AfghanistanwillbecomeAmerica'slongestwar,surpassingtheVietnamWar.

TheVietnamWar,whichcost58,000Americanlives,istheonemostofteninvokedwhenU.S.troopsarecommittedoverseas.

AlthoughsomesayAfghanistanis"Obama'sVietnam,"expertssaythereareseveralmajorsimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenthetwowars.

EricMargolis,aveteranjournalistandformerArmysoldierwhoservedduringtheVietnamWar,saidthebiggestproblemtheUnitedStatesisfacingnow--asinVietnam--isfightingthemostlypoor,ruralinsurgentswholiveamongAfghans.

"Itmakesitverydifficulttodrive[insurgents]out,becausetheycanstaythereforever....They'reathome.Whenweattackvillageswheretheyare,wekillalotofcivilians,causinganuproarandturningthepeoplemoreagainstus."

SteveClemonsofthenonpartisanNewAmericaFoundationsaidoneofthefactorsintheSoviet-AfghanWar--whichpittedtheSoviet-backedDemocraticRepublicofAfghanistanwiththeSovietmilitaryagainsttheIslamistMujahideenResistance--wasthebrutalattacksinflictedonbothfightersandciviliansbytheSoviets.

"[There]wasthesenseofoutrageandgrievanceatsomeofthethingsthattheyhaddoneandthetriggeringofadeeplyfeltemotionalantagonismtotheSovietefforttodominateandcolonizeAfghanistanamongthePashtun."

HeworriesthatiftheUnitedStatesfailstofocusonamorehumanitariananddiplomaticapproach,AmericanswillfallintothesametraptheSovietsfaced,whichultimatelyledtothemleavingthecountrydefeated.

"IthinkoneofthethingsI'mconcernedaboutiswhetherornotwe'retriggeringthosesamekindofemotionsamongthePashtunstoday.Andbelieveme,thePashtunsdon'tcarewhetherthey're[goingafter]AmericansorgoingaftertheSoviets.Ifyoubegintothreatentheirownperceptionoftheirownindependence,thenyouturnPashtunsintoTaliban."

PeterBeinart,whorecentlywroteanarticlecalled"BurytheVietnamAnalogy"onTheDailyBeast.com,hassaidthereisarealsenseofnationalidentityforAfghanisthatwasn'tseeninSouthVietnam.

"AfghanistanisarealcountrythatAfghansgenerallybelievein.TheyhaveanAfghannationalidentity.Thatdidn'texistinSouthVietnam,"hesaid,addingthattheTalibanismuchlesspopularinAfghanistanthantheVietCongwasinSouthVietnam.

InVietnam,theCommunistscontrolledthenationalistmovementandhadthenationalistlegitimacy.TheTaliban,meanwhile,isnotasorganizedastheVietCongandNorthVietnamesearmywere.

ButthereisevidencetheTalibanischanging,asshownbyaseriesofrecentwell-coordinatedattacksonremoteAfghanistanoutposts.

JournalistMargolisalsocomparedthegovernmentofAfghanistantothegovernmentofSouthVietnam.

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"Inbothcases,thegovernmentofSaigon[SouthVietnam]andKabul[Afghanistan]areheavilyinfluencedbyminorities.Wehavemadeourenemies[among]theethnicmajorityinAfghanistanwhoarethePashtuns--prettywellcutthemoutofpower."

TherecentAfghanistanelectionsreceivedworldwideattentionforclaimsoffraudbytheincumbent,PresidentHamidKarzai,whoreportedlywontheelection.Afterfierceinternationalcriticism,Karzairecentlyagreedtoarunoff.

Anotherdifferencebetweenthetwowarscomesintermsoftroopnumbers,Beinartsaid.

"Ithinkwhat'sclearisthattheresourcesweputinAfghanistanhavebeenabsolutelyminusculecomparedtoVietnamandcomparedtoIraq....In1968,wehadover500,000U.S.troopsinSouthVietnam.Wehadupuntilacoupleofyearsagoonlyabout20,000[inAfghanistan]....Sowhat'sclearis,wehaven'tmadeanywherenearthekindofcommitmenttoAfghanistanaswemadetoVietnam."

Inthepastmonth,Obama'stopcommanderinAfghanistan,Gen.StanleyMcChrystal,issuedareporttothepresidentandtheadministration,outliningtheproblemsfacingthenationandwhatresourceswillbeneeded.Hisprescription:moretroops--upwardsof40,000bysomeestimates--withthegoalfocusingonsecuringAfghantownsandcitiesincertainareas.

ACNN/OpinionResearchCorp.poll,takenOctober16-18,showed59percentofAmericansopposedsendingmoretroopsintothecountry.Thesamepollfoundthat52percentofAmericansconsiderthewarinAfghanistanhasturnedintoanotherVietnamWarsituation,while46sayit'snot.

Source:http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/10/27/afghanistan.vietnam/index.html?iref=allsearch

Similaritiesb/tVietnam&Afghanistan Differencesb/tVietnam&Afghanistan