3rd May 2003, 12:29 AM
Given the situation in the world at the time I very much doubt that ANY president could have avoided a war there. US policy, on all sides, was 'containment' of communism. So we had to stop it from spreading. So no president would just let a nation fall. Eisenhower sent in 'advisors'. Kennedy sent in more... continuing Eisenhower's policy. Then Johnson sent in the army. Since the war had really started years earlier, there wasn't a whole lot he could do -- let the communists win and be crucified at home or send in more troops as the Vietcong resisted harder. Do you honestly think any president would have been able to say "lets let the commies win" and survive in his political life? I sure hope not!
Oh, and Nixon only came up with a 'plan' after years of those annoying constituents protesting finally got to him enough for him to make one up on the spot -- retreat. Not during the campaign... no way...
Oh, and its not DRAMATICALLY longer than our next longest war. Or do you forget that little war called the "American Revolution"?
Oh, and Nixon only came up with a 'plan' after years of those annoying constituents protesting finally got to him enough for him to make one up on the spot -- retreat. Not during the campaign... no way...
Oh, and its not DRAMATICALLY longer than our next longest war. Or do you forget that little war called the "American Revolution"?