Gulf of tonkin
Gulf of tonkinThe USS Maddox was fired on nearby North Vietnamese torpedo boats thinking they were being attacked. The ship was never sunk or actually attacked. The President, Lyndon B. Johnson uses this incident to request more materials and soldiers. The ship that got LBJ involved was only fired upon so this was his excuse to go to war. This is how the US first got involved. Johnson asked the government for a “Blank Check” allowing him to expand the war as he saw fit.
Congress authorized this blank check idea and gave him the full go. There was authority that was to be used for “all necessary measures to repel any armed attack”. This blank check also authorized power to prevent further aggression and take all necessary steps to protect any nation covered by SEATO that might request aid “in defense of its freedom” |
LBJ
Lyndon B Johnson wins the election of 1964. He introduces american troops into combat even though we didn’t declare war. His advisers tell him about “Ouch Warfare”. This consisted of Strategic-Air-power advocates who recommended a massive bombing campaign. He also Claimed could convince Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh to surrender in a month and that this was Believed would improve ARVN morale. He also thought that the US could win the war by expanding money and material, and avoid manpower losses. LBJ wasn’t exactly one way or another he was kind of on the edge until there was a last investigation in South Vietnam, when North Vietnam Cong troops come in and destroy the US military bases which is what pushed us into the war.
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How to bombThere was a lot of criteria that went into dropping the bombs. This had to be a military advantage target. There had to be little risk to American aircraft because they don’t want to get shot down. That could just cause more anger and issues for both sides. There was also the danger of drawing other countries into the war like China because they bombed too close and destroying their land also. This would just get more nations and countries involved which is what is trying to be avoided. There was also the danger of causing heavy civilian casualties. We didn’t want to kill a bunch of innocent people who had no involvement.
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