Critical Response

Critical Response

In the selected text that is the subject of this discussion, i.e. “American Perspectives: Readings in American History”, the recollects the events that occurred during the Vietnam War and the consequences that America faced as a result. The article also explains how the Vietnam War helped to uncover major flaws in the American foreign policy. Moreover, it also highlights the devastating effects that the war had on the American government as well as the Vietnamese people.

According to the article, the author explains that the primary motivation of the American government to wage war on the Vietnamese people was to rid them of foreign domination. The growing influence of communism was seen as a major threat to American interests in the region and this is mainly what prompted the government to launch a full-scale military assault on the country. Therefore, Vietnam became the centerfield for America's crusade against the growing threat of communism.

The author also cites how increasing Soviet influence in their country was seen by a growing majority of Vietnamese as unwelcome since most of them were convinced that the presence of the foreigners was merely to exploit the people and plunder the riches of the planet. Therefore, there was growing resentment among the Vietnamese regarding the Soviets. This strong negative sentiment was fueled by decades of economic turmoil and crippling poverty both of which have left the country in shambles.

Recollecting the events of the Vietnam War, the author explains how Vietnam was divided into two portions, communist North Vietnam and non-communist South Vietnam, before the withdrawal of French troops from the country. However, the US-installed puppet regime under the rule of Ngo Dinh Diem proved to be a suicidal decision since he proved reckless and power-hungry. Consequently he was eliminated during a coup that was organized in the ...