What would have happened if America never assisted South Vietnam?

Question

would communism have spread to the U.S. by now?

Answer 1

The story of Vietnam is not simple. Our problems developed due to some difficult circumstances. I think the context needs to be understood.

Your question has faulty premises. Vietnam was never of significance, such as China, Great Britain, France, or Japan, for example. The fact that it did fall to the Viet Cong, and we now stand alone as the superpower proves this. In addition, Communism, a tremendous menance I totally oppose, is not monolithic. China and Vietnam had strains and divisions. Chinese support of the Viet Cong was more to hurt the U.S. China has long been uneasy about a strong Vietnam on their border. The Soviet Union and Commumnist Chinese had in the 1950s and 1960s also has strains in relations, and even limited military conflict.

The U.S. originally had an anti-colonial policy after World War II. This would have meant an independent Vietnam, from France. However, the prickly French EVEN THOUGH WE WERE HELPING TO PROTECT THEM WITH NATO, were reluctant to join, UNLESS WE SUPPORTED THEM IN VIETNAM. Otherwise the French would have kept Germany, a mainstay of NATO, but a fear of theirs out. Right then we should have called France's hand; NATO has been stronger without them.

It was a mistake to try and court French support, and given them aid to rule Vietnam. They lost to the Viet Congo, the significant battle being Dien Bien Phu. Fortunately, we did not prop up the French before and after this battle.

The French withdrawal was formalized by the Geneva Agreement. This proves my earlier point. To the surprise of the Vietnam, COMMUNIST CHINA agreed to a north-south division of Vietnam. Elections were supposed to be held, Ho Chi Mihn, would have won, and the agreement woud have been obeyed.

In closing, we could have corrected our mistake of backing French colonialism, by letting an elected Vietnam be formed. It would have hurt us less to stay out of Vietnam. Again, the Chinese and Vietnameze are not allies. Vietnam, under a Ho Chi Mihn, that had not been warred against by the U.S., would have been no more significance to us than a sand flea.

There are plenty places where Communism needed to be fought, in Cuba, Nicarauga, Eastern Europe. Israel protected, and the Soviets kept out. But South Vietnam, ruled by a French puppet Bao Di, and later another dubious leader Diem, were not places where we needed to make a do or die committment, 540,000 troops, and so forth.

Directly answering your question if the U.S. had not assisted South Vietnam, our country would in fact be stronger today. In no way with our borders of protection, nuclear and conventional power, and the small size of Vietnam would have had them impact us. As already indicated, a more restrained policy in Vietnam, would not mean in other areas, such as Cuba and West Berlin that we had interests where powerful responses were justified.

Space constraints do not permit me to discuss how our presidents Truman through Nixon, erred in Vietnam (most notably Predsident Lyndon Johnson), but I can understand why they acted as they did.

In contrast, Baby Bush has acted completely irrationally and incoherently in Iraq toally unlike our American presidents, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon in Vietnam. None acted so recklessly in a complex situation. But in 2003 it was easy to see the bad fruits coming from a rash, reckless thoughtless actions of a president of a very limited intellect in Operation Iraqi Freedom that Bush proclaimed "Mission Accomplished" in that same year.

In summary, word communism needs to be looked at more complexly than your question implies. That lesson can be applied to other events.

Answer 2

Vietnam was a battlefield in the Cold War. Our only interest was that the USSR was supporting North Vietnam in an attempt to spread Soviet style Communism throughout Southeast Asia. Per the Truman Doctrine of Containment we were obligated to assist any nations resisting a Communist takeover. South Vietnam had no economic commodity that was of interest to the United Sates of America. Their chief economic export was rice. The US produces so much rice we also export it. No producing oilfields, not gold mines, no stashes of uranium, nothing. Critics who try and claim there was an evil, dark capitalist conspiracy to control South Vietnam are full of...well...you-know-what....

Answer 3

Vietnam would be Vietnam.

South Vietnam wouldn't have been a country as long as it was if it weren't for U.S. involvement

Communism couldn't survive here in the U.S.

Answer 4

if was a the duty to protect the people from a social dictatorial system which denied human freedom and subjugate people by brain washing.
Comuninism would eventually end in the world either by force or economic defeat.
Vietnam comprised to two different people ;the north and the south were never one people even at present.

Answer 5

There would still be one Vietnam and NO, Communism would not have 'spread' to America or any other nation.

Pax------------------