Did the French ask the Americans to take over the war effort in Vietnam?

Question

Several French-haters here seem to infer that the French were somehow responsible for getting us into Vietnam. I don't remember the French asking us to send troops there. It was American fear of communism that had LBJ sending all those boys over to Vietnam (either that LBJ's fear of the Republicans). It was 10 years after the French pulled out of Vietnam before USA got seriously involved in the conflict. Where are these people getting their history from? The Rush Limblah School of Oxycontin?

Answer 1

Actually, the U.S. military was there in an "advisory" capacity for many years. The personnel were called "advisers," there to train the French and Vietnamese forces, presumably, to combat the North Vietnamese offensive and communism. There's a lot more to the history that I don't know about, but this is the essence of what I do know. France left and our "advisers" stayed there supposedly continue training South Vietnamese. Due to the increasing opposition by the North Vietnamese and rampant fear of communism in this country, the conflict expanded into an all-out war from the U.S point of view. The "advisers" had originally been sent there by Eisenhower and their numbers were increased slowly by Kennedy, so you can see that it wasn't something that wasn't just sprung on the American populace. The most important thing about the conflict was that Johnson saw it as a way to secure his second term in office by beating North Vietnam using the advanced technology at the disposal of the U.S. forces. His mistake. It wasn't American fear of communism that sent all of those boys over there as much as it was political maneuvering and manipulation of the populace by an administration wanting to hang onto its power for as long as possible. But then, many Presidents have realized that wars revitalize the economy and make heroes of the politicians who have seldom worn uniforms, the rear guard, so to speak.

Answer 2

The Elephant and the Tiger (originally published in 1990 by Hippocrene Books), is a thorough and thought-provoking history of the Vietnam War. It chronicles the events from Dec. 13, 1954, the date when the US first signed a formal agreement with France to assume more responsibility for equipping and training the South Vietnamese armed forces, until 1975 when South Vietnam's army was swept aside by the North Vietnamese Army and the last Americans were forced to flee the country in defeat.

Answer 3

By the time the french was defeated at Dien Bein Phu, we was covering almost their entire cost of fighting the war, had advisors there and was supplying support personal as well as aircraft. At the peace confrence, we advised the South Vietnamese not to sign becasue of the fact that communist forces in the south would not be made to leave. Since the issueing of the Truman doctrine 7 years earlier, we were commited to fight communism and stood by the souths side to help them out. At this point we began funneling money and more advisors into Vietnam in order to follow both the Truman doctrine and the policy of containment that had been adopted. From that point we had to conitnue to increase forces till we no longer had a choice and had to send in combat troops to help give the government time to stabilize, not only in Vietnam but outher contries in south east asia.

Answer 4

YES!!! LBJ did not start Vietnam. President Eisenhower sent advisors to Vietnam after the French warned the US about a communist takeover of Southeast Asia.

Answer 5

It was actually before LBJ that we sent "advisors" into Vietnam, when JFK was in office and some before that. Lol...the Rush Limblah School of Oxycontin...good one.

Answer 6

no, I'm pretty sure that France never ask US for nuthin in Vietnam (we called Indochine) cause it was a strategic land; both countries had interests in winning, and don't be fooled, I don't see why US would have given so lives or money to support France..... after Dien Bien Phu battle (a big strategic mistake, cause this land was surrounded by high positions and was too hard to defend) France retires, and then Us comes. But we hadn't so much helicopters and military equipment US army had.

Answer 7

I don't know if the French asked us to take over the war effort, I do know if they hadn't given up (national French past-time) we wouldn't have needed to go in.

I also know that if it were not for a bunch of whining lib's here in the States we would have won that war as well.

Lets see, lets put the French up to the test, lets wipe the slate clean (that is a lot of wiping) lets start right here, right now, with Lebanon.

Lets see the mightly French Army, disarm Hezbollah and keep Israel safe on the northern border.

Hell, I will be impressed if they even show up before they surrender.

Answer 8

Your right and wrong at the same time. The French never asked the US but you got into Vietnam and couldn't handle it. So that's where the US stepped in.

Oh yeah you are the guy who thinks France has had to bail the US out of all of its problems. Yeah right!

Answer 9

French Indo-China---- Another glowing example of military prowess of the Frog nation.

Answer 10

Read Rule by Secrecy by Jim Marrs