Vietnam: Four American Perspectives : LecturesThis collection of speeches delivered in 1987 presents the widely diverging opinions of four influential men: an eminent politician, a professional soldier, a government consultant, and a distinguished scholar. The first contributor, Senator George S. McGovern, ran as the Democratic candidate for president in 1972 on a platform that called for the withdrawal of American troops from Vietnam. The second speaker, General William C. Westmoreland, commanded American military forces in Vietnam until growing battlefield casualties and economic costs undermined support for the strategy of attrition in the United States. The third essay is by Edward N. Luttwak, a strong advocate for military reform in the United States and a frequent participant in high-level government discussions about American strategic interests throughout the world. The fourth speaker Thomas J. McCormick, is a diplomatic historian at the University of Wisconsin and an astute critic of American foreign policy. Each lecture is followed by a lively question-and-answer session that highlights the key points of agreement and disagreement with respect to the fundamental issues raised in the lectures. In a stimulating foreword, Akira Iriye challenges readers to think about the Vietnam War in relationship to the current debate about the role that the United States should play in world affairs. As a whole, the volume seeks to answer the multitude of questions raised, above all, by our nation's younger generations: Why did the United States become involved in the Southeast Asia? How did American military leaders and foot soldiers conduct themselves during the bitter struggle? Why did the United States fail to accomplish its objectives in Indochina? What lessons can be learned from the frustrating American experience in Vietnam? This book excites valuable discussion and controversy, for the speakers disagree among themselves over these fundamental questions. Their concise presentation of the issues and arguments will help readers not only to gain a deeper understanding of the Vietnam War but also to participate with greater insight in the current debate about the role that the United States should play in world affairs. |
Contents
| 13 | |
VIETNAM IN PERSPECTIVE | 39 |
THE IMPACT OF VIETNAM ON STRATEGIC THINKING IN THE UNITED STATES | 61 |
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allies Ameri American foreign American hegemony American leaders American military American policymakers American soldiers ANSWER antiwar argues Asian rimlands attack bombing Cambodia capitalist China Chinese combat communist Congress debate decline defeat defense Democratic develop domino effort Eisenhower election enemy Europe fact fear fight foreign policy fought French Geneva going Hanoi Ho Chi Minh Indochina Indonesia interest involved in Vietnam Japan Japanese kill Korea Laos Luttwak Lyndon Johnson major McCormick McGovern McNamara ment mili military forces Minh missiles Nicaragua Nixon North Vietnamese nuclear officers political President Johnson QUESTION role Russians Saigon Sandinista Sears Lecture Senator served South Vietnam Southeast Asia Soviet Union strategic thinking tactics talk tary television Tet Offensive thing tion trade Truman United States Army Viet Vietcong Vietnam War weapons Western Westmoreland White House world policeman world system World War II