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And if he did, why? Was President Kennedy really trying to prevent the Vietnam War?

2007-08-27 18:03:11 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities History

11 answers

John F Kennedy assassinated President Diem of South Vietnam (one of three he ordered around the world). And he sent over military advisers, far exceeding what Eisenhower had sent, some of whom actually fought. It is thought that he felt he couldn't afford to be seen as soft on Communism.

Second guessing his policy into a hypothetical second term is just that; pure speculation.

2007-08-28 07:13:38 · answer #1 · answered by Wave 4 · 1 0

Greetings! Actually, if you look at it closely, it started with Eisenhower. He sent a few troops in as advisors after France started to pull out. Kennedy sent more troops in, but became aware that this was eventually going to go nowhere but create more havoc, but he was assassinated before he could withdraw the troops. It was Johnson's administration that really made the war sky rocket. It leveled during Nixon's administration and officially ended during Ford's administration.

You would think that Mr. W. would read about Viet Nam history....in fact, he was in it...oh no, he wasn't. His Daddy got him into the TX National Guard knowing damned well what a folly the Viet Nam war was. Mr. W has a way of forgetting his own history. And he's our leader.

Shameful.

Take care.

2007-08-27 21:00:04 · answer #2 · answered by TeacherGrant 5 · 1 0

I think the policy of the U.S. was to assist countries trying to avoid a communist form of government; given this, President Kennedy implemented assistance to South Vietnam. I have read that during his administration this was limited to supplying arms and other goods and sending American military personnel as "advisors", to train the South Vietnamese in weapons use and tactical kinds of things.

Talking about the "domino" effect; that is how I see the U.S. contribution. It just kept falling over into the next step, finally escalating to what it became, full military involvement and participation. I think that government officials, starting with President Kennedy, were unable to see the big picture and inevitable consequences of their policies and just reacted day to day as things happened, rather than having any achievable objectives and goals. Kinda like now.

2007-08-27 18:50:21 · answer #3 · answered by LodiTX 6 · 0 0

The USA was 'involved' in Viet Nam long before Kennedy. The USA gave aid to the French while Viet Nam was still a French colony. The first direct military aid to Viet Nam was under the Eisenhower administration, in 1955. It was Lyndon Johnson who really cranked up United States participation. Nobody knows if JFK would have made the same mistake as Johnson, or if he would have taken a different course.

2007-08-27 18:26:58 · answer #4 · answered by Daniel E 4 · 4 0

JFK took the crucial decision to get rid of Diem. After that America had an open-ended commitment to his replacements, their men. The Vietnam war was part of his 'bear any burden, pay any price' mission. The beginning of the troop escalation started with JFK.
Bobby? He was kiled in 68 when the war was already raging.

2007-08-27 18:23:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

Kennedy sent military advisors to South Vietnam. Although this by itself wasn't active involvement, it sent a trent ad herarlded the involvement itself...

2007-08-27 18:51:55 · answer #6 · answered by chrisvoulg1 5 · 1 0

i just know we were relieving the french who had been there as colonizers for ten years but the commies and thier bleeding hearts didn't want it to become a colony like africa and india so the ruskies supplied the rebels physically from the north. In such a situation we either believed french imperial rule was a good idea or us rule was a good idea, or it was cold war fight against russia through a non nuclear medium. They could beat around the bush through vietnam without provoking the all out war of doomsday. Like talking to the ugly friend to get closer to the pretty one. But then you just winde up going home with a fat chick.

2007-08-27 18:18:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0 2

It was Lyndon Johnson who escalated it. The Kennedys tried to squelch it. If Bobby had not been assassinated there probably wouldn't have been a war. Maybe small scale at best.

2007-08-27 18:11:48 · answer #8 · answered by robee 7 · 1 0

Yes Kennedy got the U.S. involved in Viet Nam.

2007-08-27 18:25:55 · answer #9 · answered by Edit My Profile 2 · 0 1

Daniel E has it. It was Truman and Eisenhower who started the ball rolling. Ho Chi Minh actually liked America before we stabbed him in the back by supporting the return of French colonialism after WWII.

2007-08-27 19:09:55 · answer #10 · answered by Spreedog 7 · 1 0

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