http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=36110
by Phillip Jennings
03/23/2010
1954South Vietnam becomes independent state, "granted" by Geneva
Convention, which they did not attend; Diem appointed Prime Minister
by Emperor Bao Dai. Ho Chi Minh grabs North Viet Nam for himself, a
gift from the Japanese who 'owned' it briefly in WW II.
Communist forces in South Vietnam begin terrorist attacks on
civilians in South Vietnam, escalating to skirmishes and
platoon/company-size battles. South Vietnamese forces keep Communists
from any significant military victories.
1956South Vietnam doesn't vote to turn itself into a communist-ruled
slave state irritating Europeans and the American left.
1957The UN Security Council votes 8 to 1 (the Soviet Union vetoing)
and the General Assembly votes 49 to 9 to admit South Vietnam. It
becomes a member of every UN agency from which it could not be barred
by Soviet veto. Becomes first UN "Almost" Nation.
1959Communists in Hanoi pledge to conquer South Vietnam and begin
sending troops to invade Laos and Cambodia to secure highway
right-of-way (Ho Chi Minh Trail) having been given 'free pass' by
Kennedy administration's settlement with Communists in Laos.
1962JFK backs up 'bear any burden' speech and approves small U.S.
advisory force in Vietnam.
1963Weasels in U.S. government, uncertain and with weak leadership,
acquiesce to coup against South Vietnamese leader, Diem, who is
assassinated after JFK administration forgot to arrange
transportation out of the country following coup.
1965U.S. Marines arrive in Danang. Followed by U.S. troop build-up
to over 500,000 with 20% actual combat troops. Kill ratio (U.S. to
Communist) remains above 10 to 1 for duration of war. ARVN fight
valiantly, independently and alongside U.S. forces, losing over a
million dead and wounded (over course of war) in defense of their homeland.
1968TET '68 Offensive. Communists lose 50,000 to 75,000 soldiers in
ten days. No South Vietnamese join offensive on side of Communists.
No South Vietnam cities are held by Communist invaders with exception
of Hue where Communists held long enough to slaughter 3,000 to 4,000
civilians before being defeated by U.S. and ARVN forces.
US media declares resounding US defeat, primarily based on reports
that Viet Cong sappers had completely destroyed flowerbeds in US
embassy grounds during their final few hours before being shot. Media
claims U.S. government didn't tell them the war was still going on
and begins five year pout.
Siege of Khe Sanh lifted, fewer than 300 Americans dead, between
5,000 and 15,000 Communists dead. Media decides it was 'almost Dien
Bien Phu' except that US won, killed thousands of enemy, was never in
danger of being overrun, had overwhelming airpower available as well
as tens of thousands of troops in reserve.
North Viet Nam claims they never meant to overrun Khe Sanh anyway.
Just a brilliant ploy to lose a few thousand men so as to divert
attention from chance to lose 50,000 men in TET offensive.
1968-1975Hoards of leftist journalists, academics, peace-activists,
politicians, movie stars, folk singers, radical war-protesters, and
various charlatans, fools and frauds descend on North Vietnam,
reporting breathlessly that U.S. bombing is causing damage and that
the North Vietnamese people don't like it. After photo-ops and notes
for books complete, all return to lives of relative luxury and safety in U.S.
Richard Nixon elected president of U.S., proving populace and media
not 100% in synch.
1969---America begins to withdraw troops. Europe and NATO throw fit
that Nixon won't reveal his withdrawal plan completely.
Administration suggests they subscribe to New York Times if they want
U.S. military secrets.
1972North Vietnam joins in the debate over effectiveness of American
air power and launches Communist "Easter Offensive" on South
Vietnamese towns. Lose 100,000 soldiers before scrambling back into
North Vietnam and Cambodia/Laotian sanctuaries.
Communists walk out of Paris Peace talks. Nixon bombs be-Jesus out of
Hanoi. Communists scurry back into Paris Peace talks.
1973Paris Peace Accord signed in January. All U.S. combat troops
out. Democratically elected SVN government is non-Communist.
Internationally sanctioned cease fire in place. U.S. POWs released.
Viet Cong army no longer exists. North Vietnamese army decimated.
North Vietnam economy in ruins. US starts chats with new best friends
China and Russia. American War in Vietnam Over!
U.S. Democrat Congress, not realizing U.S. had won, seizes
opportunity to surrender. Votes Case-Church Amendment barring US
naval forces from sailing on seas surrounding, US ground forces from
operation on the land of, and US air forces from flying in the air
over, South Vietnam, North Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Nullifies
Paris Peace agreement (which pledges support to enforce the treaty)
before North Vietnam has a chance to do it for itself. (*)
1973-1974North Vietnam rebuilds army. Receives massive aid from
Communist godfathers. Begins military probe of South Vietnam, testing
waters with attacks in Phouc Binh province.
US Congress debates break-in of Democratic office in Watergate
complex in Washington DC and its implications for humanity, God, and
future elections.
North Vietnam leaders begin planning full scale attack on South
Vietnam. Discuss their fear and hatred of Nixon. (Ditto U.S.
Congress) The Vietnam propaganda machine prevails after 1973,
convincing the world that North Vietnam is entitled to overrun South
Vietnam. Legality and morality is not challenged by attorneys or U.S. Congress.
1974Richard Nixon resigns as President. Giving Congress scores sole
victory of their Vietnam War policy.
1975North Vietnam captures Phouc Long, provincial capital of Phouc
Binh, north of Saigon on Cambodian border. Democrat Congress musters
courage to sit quietly and study fingernails. Foul mouth anti-war
activists, Rubin and Rudd, debate opportunity to work Phouc Binh and
Phouc Long into their anti-American tirades.
1975 laterNorth Vietnam mounts full scale invasion of South Vietnam
with 17+ divisions, spearheaded by 700 Russian tanks. US Democrat
Congress expresses 'grave concern.'
Without air power, replacement parts, ammunition, and funds (cut off
by US Congress in numerous bills, amendments, rants and resolutions)
the South Vietnamese army defeated and North Vietnam and its leftist
allies conquer South Vietnam. (**)
Hundreds of thousands of South Vietnamese citizens are suddenly
struck by a desire to see Disneyland and depart, primarily in boats,
through heart-breaking horror of piracy, rape, murder, and starvation
to come to America. (Where they become one of the most successful
immigrant groups in US history).
Although now supplied with a flotilla of boats, none of the
anti-American leftists and radicals, escape 'immoral' America back to
now 'free' Vietnam.
1975-Until Sun Burns OutDraft dodgers, leftist journalists,
peaceniks, academics, fools and charlatans (See 1968-1975 above)
begin self-justification of cowardly acts and empirically wrong
opinions, with attacks on American Veterans, and the South Vietnamese
Government and its army under guise of morality and 'evil' motives of
America's involvement in Vietnam.
1975-presentCommunist Vietnam plans and manages its way to one of
the poorest and most repressive nations on the face of the earth. (***)
--
(*) At the time, America had several treaty agreements to provide
support and protection for its allies and favored nations. 50,000
troops in Korea. 300,000 troops in Europe. The US Navy protecting
Taiwan. All had various guarantees that the US would intervene if
Communist forces crossed international borders. These precedents were
ignored by the US Congress in regard to the Vietnamese peace arrangements.
(**) Contrary to the chatter of Communist propaganda aptly spread by
their allies in the US, the South Vietnamese army did NOT just roll
up in front of the invading North Vietnamese. In one of the last
major battles of the war, (March 1975) the NVA 6th and 7th Divisions
attacked Xuan Loc, forty miles northeast of Saigon. They were joined,
after being repulsed by the South Vietnamese defenders (the Army
Republic of South Vietnam 18th Division), by the NVA 341st Division,
who unleashed a four thousand round artillery bombardment on the
town. Spearheaded by Russian tanks the three Communist divisions
assaulted the ARVN positions and were again repulsed. Finally with a
force of 40,000 Communist troops assaulting them, the 5,000 ARVN
soldiers were overwhelmed.
(***) In final irony, Vietnam begins to adopt capitalistic model in
late 20th Century, just as U.S. decides it hasn't worked very well
for us and moves (in 2008) toward old Viet Nam model of socialism and
lying to people. Two hundred thirty plus years of American success
was just 'good luck' new administration declares.
--
Phillip Jennings served in Vietnam with the United States Marine
Corps, flying helicopters, and in Laos as a pilot for Air America. He
is the author of the critically acclaimed comic novels Nam-A-Rama and
Goodbye Mexico, and won the Pirate s Alley Faulkner Society first
prize for fiction with his short story, Train Wreck in a Small Town.
A successful entrepreneur, he is currently CEO of Molecular Resonance
Corporation, which is developing technology to detect and disarm
Improvised Explosive Devices. He lives with his family near Seattle,
Washington.
[Plus numerous Reader Comments]
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