Research Paper on U.S. Loses to Vietnam: Reasons Behind the Historic Defeat

Introduction

The U.S. lost to Vietnam during their intervention was breaking news all over the world because it is a superpower and is equipped with the most technologically advanced tools. It was the longest war in history. Lyndon Johnston decided to stop his ambition to be president to enable East Asia to be communists. This paper gives some of the reasons why U.S. A lost to a smaller nation in the middle east. It discusses significant ideas such as the tunnel tactic, the training, and the political aspects.

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There was a shortage of supplies among the U. S troops. They were not as equipped as their Vietnamese opponents. They had superior weapons they could not launch because of the lack of proper technology in the country. The international community did not offer support to the American side(Herzog, 2017). The friends of the States gave little help because of the international laws. The support was more critical, considering that the U.S. soldiers were fighting in an unfamiliar ground and needed supplies. The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO), is an organization created by the government of the U.S.A. The organization should have been the first to offer help to the soldiers who were slowly running out of food and drugs. They should have provided intelligence. Few countries contributed their soldiers as compared to the U.S. commitment. America is a democratic country which depended on public opinions to make a decision. This always delayed quick interventions. The North Vietnamese had supplies from China and Russia. The two superpower countries gave funds in the war against the invasion of the U.S. troops. There is an estimate of two billion dollars that were given out to the war in favored Vietnam, and the United state could not withstand the opposition. The money was used to purchase and maintain thousands of guns used in attacking aircraft and hundreds of anti-aircraft site of missiles launching. There was the shortage of human resources and Labour. The forces who were injured could not be easily replaced.

Another reason why America lost in Vietnam war is the confusing tunnels of Chu Chi. The tunnels are located in Saigon and are among the many all over the country. They were the major centers of the Vietnamese soldiers. The Tet offensive of1968 was organized and fought with them, serving as hideouts(Thayer,2016). The tunnels were major routes to hospitals and roads to transfer weapons and food. The growing American military effort had no impact on the tubes since they were unfamiliar. The conditions in the tunnel were not very well. According to the U.S. Soldiers, It was invested with venomous centipedes and the harmful object. There were bobby traps and camouflaged trap doors. The cave was bombed during the end of the war and destroyed successfully.

Train networks in Vietnam were so advanced and connected. The excellent rail network enabled the transfer of troops to areas with an emergency. The U.S. had a hard time trying to stop rail transport by bombing the railways. The Chinese government was ready to offer help, and re-construction was always done quickly on time. This line led to the defeat of the U.S.A.

The media is another reason why the U.S. troops were defeated. The war was aired on national T.vs and imaged in newspapers. The pictures of dead children wounded women, and wounded men destroyed the reputation of America. The citizens questioned the claim that they were fighting an enemy of morality and equality. The media led to several campaigns and protested all over America and the world. An example of such protest is the student's protest in America. The students claimed that the fight was old fashioned and not needed in the present generation. They said that the government was abusing its power. The war was wasting time and the resources that American citizens paid in the revenue bills. The civil rights activists also campaigned claiming that the killings were not humane and that the war should be stopped for the sake of the innocent people in Vietnam. The blacks felt that the government was unfair. They claimed that it was racist to force blacks to fight in Vietnam (Melanson & Richard,2015). Muhammad Ali is an example of a boxer whose license was banned because he refused to be sent to Vietnam. The protests were also held all over the world by sensitive environmental groups. They claimed that the war was polluting the environment with the toxic chemicals and gasses in the Vietnamese jungle. The enormous protest was seen in October 1969, where thousands came to the Washington DC plead with the government to end the war.

The final reason why the Vietnam troops won over U.SA is because of the financial constraints in the U.S. The war occurred during the leadership and administration of president Johnston. It cost an annual 20 million (Werner & Luu,2015). This amount was not even enough to train soldiers and give them the necessary supplies. The economic situation in the U.S.A. could not support the people because there were less effort and funds released by the government towards development.

Conclusion

In conclusion, America lost the war to the Vietnamese because of several reasons the reasons above are divided into two. The strategic aims and also socio-economic rights. Lack of support by the allies is a reason that made the Americans lose the war at the start of it. The partners had all the resources needed by the troops to match the well-equipped Vietnamese. The Vietnamese had a human resource, and the availability of money from two big nations was a big boost. The allies who contributed to America were few. Another diplomatic reason is the media using pictures of t victims to beg for sympathy in the eyes of the world. The tactic worked as several campaigns sparked out. Some other factors include the fighting in unknown grounds. The places had traps, and the enemy used the tunnels to the disadvantage of the American troops. The secret routes were used to supply food and medicine, making it hard to press down the opponent who had constant reinforcement. The extensive network of train services made it possible for the Vietnam troops to travel and cover many parts of the country. The routes were well maintained. The American bombs were ineffective because of regular repairs by the republic of China. The association of the American military with the Diem government made them unpopular among the citizens. The people of South Vietnam despised the Corrupt government. The residents became angry and unsupportive. They cooperated with the fighters from the north and fought against the oppression brought by the foreign troops. The signing of a peace treaty between America made it Americas first ever lost the war.

Work Cited

Herzog, Tobey C. Vietnam war stories: Innocence lost. Routledge, 2017. Retrieved from https://content.taylorfrancis.com/books/download?dac=C2004-0-12544-6&isbn=9781134902620&format=googlePreviewPdf

Melanson, Richard A. American foreign policy since the Vietnam War: the search for consensus from Nixon to Clinton. Routledge, 2015. Retrieved from https://content.taylorfrancis.com/books/download?dac=C2014-0-39236-0&isbn=9781317477204&format=googlePreviewPdf

Thayer, Thomas. War without fronts: The American experience in Vietnam. Naval Institute Press, 2016.

Werner, Jayne, and Luu Doan Huynh. The Vietnam War: Vietnamese and American Perspectives: Vietnamese and American Perspectives. Routledge, 2015. Retrieved from https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781315698823