Ideological crusade against communism Essay Example

to Hitler and viewed communism and fascism as equally dangerous threats. Consequently, all US presidents held an anti-communist stance which resulted in an ideological campaign against communists and refusal to negotiate with them.

During the Cold War, the United States initiated a campaign to halt communism from spreading. All presidents supported the domino theory, fearing isolation in a world dominated by communist nations that could impede trade. Truman's administration was particularly concerned about China becoming communist and validating the domino theory. Therefore, it became vital for the US to implement measures that deterred neighboring countries around China from being affected by communism.

Despite setbacks in Cuba and Laos, the US was determined to stop communism's expansion and maintain their power. They were willing to support a corrupt government in southern Vietnam to prevent the spread of communism. This demonstrates the extreme measures that the US was prepared to take in order to hinder communism, indicating that their goal was not simply engaging in an ideological conflict but actively fighting against it.

According to the revisionist perspective, the US's powerful opposition to communism during the Cold War was instigated by their economic concerns in Southeast Asia. They believed that if Vietnam fell under Soviet control, America would be at a disadvantage due to resource exploitation. Despite attempts from various presidents to resolve this conflict, their actions only exacerbated it and withdrawal became unfeasible. To add on, Truman's choice to assist France in fighting against guerrilla tactics further fueled this escalation.

Truman's decision to enter Vietnam was continued by Eisenhower through the establishment of SEATO, aimed at protecting South Vietnam. This resulted in a dependence on American aid rather than empowering

the South Vietnamese to defend themselves against the North. Kennedy further intensified involvement by increasing the number of advisors from 3,000 to 12,000, with hopes of boosting ARVN morale, but this only added to their reliance on US assistance.

The use of helicopters in the Vietnam War was ineffective, resulting in reduced activity from the ARVN. After the death of Kennedy, Johnson pledged to continue the US's involvement since he had not been elected as president. He deployed troops to safeguard the previous Southern morale-boosting efforts and to defend against advancing North Vietnamese troops, which was necessary due to his predecessor's decision. Since the attempts at negotiation and reform had failed, this was the only feasible course of action. Without the presence of superpower competition, the US would not have felt compelled to get involved and become trapped in the conflict.

Successive US presidents deepened their commitment to Vietnam out of fear of communist takeover, and were pressured to win the war following losses in Laos and Cuba during Kennedy's administration. In 1961, the US launched a secret invasion at the Bay of Pigs in an attempt to kill Castro and his communist connections with the USSR.

Kennedy experienced humiliation when his efforts failed, damaging his reputation. Additionally, he was concerned about the possibility of communist success in Laos, a region within Indochina. Despite challenges from the communist parties involved, Kennedy succeeded in creating a coalition government to "neutralise" Laos, aligning with his belief that the spread of communism must be prevented.

The loss of China tarnished Truman's reputation and similarly Kennedy faced losses, strengthening the US's commitment to avoiding the appearance of giving up. Presidential candidates during campaigns

showcased their determination to not appear weak or non-committal towards foreign policy. The Vietnam War played a significant role in the Goldwater-Johnson presidential campaign, with Goldwater being labeled as a "ruthless reactionary" and Johnson as a "peacemaker."

In summary, the stalemate concept mandated that the US combat communism and increase its engagement in Vietnam. With South Vietnam dependent on outside assistance and no possibility of withdrawal, Truman's decision to support Vietnam through France created a binding commitment that could not be easily undone without damaging the nation's credibility. Eisenhower's rejection of the Geneva Accords and establishment of MAAG and SEATO further cemented the US's involvement in Vietnam.

Despite sending in military advisers, extracting them once they reached South Vietnam proved to be challenging. Due to the lack of motivation and poor fighting skills of the ARVN, US support was necessary to defend the advisers. As Kennedy deployed Green Berets and helicopters, more Americans became involved and Johnson sent in troops to safeguard the advisers, resulting in a greater commitment from the US. Ultimately, although various measures led to US involvement and commitment in Vietnam, they still found themselves trapped in the end.

In summary, the increased American presence in Vietnam stemmed from their anti-communist stance. Despite knowing their eventual defeat, the US remained dedicated to Vietnam to avoid being perceived as defeated by their constituents. Additionally, successive presidents made decisions which reinforced their commitment due to a lack of understanding of the situation. The Cold War illustrated a fight against communism instead of one between ideologies.