Introduction
In 1964, America responded to the invasion of South Vietnam by the North Vietnamese by declaring war against the Viet Cong. By the time the US got involved, the war had been going on since 1955.
Reasons for American Involvement in Vietnam
While the American public was told that the reason for US involvement was to protect the South from the North, the real reason for involvement was Cold War politics. The policymakers in Washington decided to go to war in Vietnam to stop the spread of communism since it was feared that the success of the communists in Vietnam would have a domino effect. In addition, the US wanted a presence in Southeast Asia to prevent Soviet influence in the region. Therefore, the US went to war in Vietnam with the explicit goal of defeating the spread of communism in the country.
Official Goals of the Vietnam War
The US invaded Vietnam for several reasons, some of which became less clear as the war dragged on. The initial goals of the invasion were to stop the spread of communism and halt the advance of the North Vietnamese toward the South, which was led by a corrupt and dictatorial leader loyal to the US. However, as the conflict dragged on, the goals of the invasion became controversial and ambiguous. Rather than continue with the initial goals, the US’s goals shifted towards maintaining credibility with the allies by not appearing to lose the war. They also took on other goals, such as the promotion of democracy and human rights in the region, but these goals often conflicted with the realities of the war.
Soldiers’ Perceptions of the War’s Purpose
The soldiers believed that their goals were to protect civilians and spread American values. However, as the war dragged on, most soldiers became disillusioned with the war and could no longer tell what their mission and goals were.
Public Opinion and Political Perspectives
The American public had mixed feelings about the war. Families that had a loved one fighting in Vietnam were concerned for their safety, and thus, they followed every debate and news about the war. However, for those people who did not have anyone fighting in Vietnam, the war was a nuisance.
Consequently, groups of supporters and opposers of the war formed in the US. Those opposed to the war saw it as a waste of public resources and human lives. Those supportive of the war saw it as a necessary evil to stem the spread of communism. The politicians were also divided along similar lines as the public. Some saw the war as necessary, while others disagreed with its execution and funding.
Conflicting Views and Their Impact on the War Effort
The differing perspectives on the war by the American public, politicians, and soldiers eventually led to the loss of the war. In addition, a clear lack of mission and goals that shifted at the whims of the politicians in office at the time reduced support for the war and lowered the morale of the soldiers, making it difficult to achieve victory. In addition, a lot of things did not go according to the plan, which led to public condemnation of US actions.
For example, the use of Agent Orange in populated areas led to severe health problems for soldiers and civilians, and it damaged the environment in the long term. By using this chemical agent, the US failed to win the hearts and minds of the Vietnamese people, which would have made victory inevitable. In the words of one veteran of the Vietnam War, “They hated us for what we were doing to them.”
Conclusion
Therefore, the US got into Vietnam to prevent the spread of communism. However, as the war dragged on, the goals of the mission became blurred, leading to a lack of support for the war and eventual loss. To summarize, the United States initiated the Vietnam War with the clear aim of countering communism; however, as the conflict persisted, the mission’s objectives became increasingly ambiguous.
References
Becker, Elizabeth. “The Secrets and Lies of the Vietnam War, Exposed in One Epic Document.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 2021. Web.
Garner, Alice, and Diane Kirkby. “Education, or ‘Part of Our Foreign Policy’?: At War in Vietnam.” Academic ambassadors, Pacific allies, 2019, 109–29. Web.
Hagopian, Patrick. “The Vietnam War in American Memory.” Oxford Research Encyclopedia of American History, 2019. Web.
Hoffman, David 1. “This Highly Decorated Vietnam Veteran Remembers ’60s America.”. YouTube, 2019. Web.
Hoffman, David 2. “Brutally Honest Vietnam Veterans Debate The War In 1968.” YouTube, 2019. Web.
Hoffman, David 3. “A Vietnam Vet. 19 Million Viewers Watched His Story Start To Finish.” YouTube, 2019. Web.