A review of the book, America’s Longest War: United States and Vietnam 1950-1975, by George C. Herring.
The paper introduces the book, America’s Longest War: United States and Vietnam 1950-1975, by George C. Herring. Specifically, it discusses three topics from Chapter 6 and then explains each according to what the author writes. It also looks at how the Vietnam War is being compared increasingly to the current war with Iraq and how, as this chapter clearly shows, there are many reasons for the comparison. It shows how President Johnson began fighting an uphill battle as public opinion about the war began to swing against it, just as President Bush is facing growing opposition to the war with Iraq.
The President’s Decisions.` President Johnson, partly on advice from such advisers as Clifford, Westmoreland, and Bunker, decided in late 1967 that new forces should not be sent to South Vietnam, and the country should be more prepared to fight on its own. The author writes, `Johnson’s advisers agreed that from a long-range standpoint the key to achieving American objectives was south Vietnam’s ability to stand on its own` (Herring 239). By early 1968, the President had informed South Vietnam that we would continue to send assistance and equipment, but `limited manpower.` During this time, President Johnson also agreed, heavily leaning on the advice of Dean Rusk, that bombing in Vietnam should be cut back, and peace talks should open again with the North Vietnamese. It seems that many of the President’s decisions were based on guidance from his closest advisors, and somewhat on public opinion.`