Saturday, June 16, 2018

Le Gu Lam: The Fall of Saigon

 

In his inaugural address on January 20, 1969, President Nixon announced that he would end the Vietnam War in honor. He first mobilized the South Vietnamese delegation to attend the peace talks in Paris, and in July 1969 he began withdrawing US troops from South Vietnam in a sequential manner. At that time, US troops in Vietnam was 543 thousand. At the same time, the US helped VNCH strengthen its role in protecting the freedom of the people during the peace talks in Paris.  

Based on the good will of the retreating troops and the resolution of the Vietnam War by peaceful means, in the final year of his tenure (1972), Nixon was a peaceful messenger to China and the Soviet Union to seek end to the end of the Vietnam War.

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2 comments:

  1. Two major events caused the fall of South Vietnam:

    1. North Vietnam never gave up its objective of conquering South Vietnam. They went dormant for a while, gathered strength, and resumed the offensive.

    2. The US did not honor its commitment to provide support to South Vietnam. A few powerful anti-war Democrats insured there would be no funding of South Vietnam. The US was sick of war and divided, but this was a black mark against the US that has tarnished US diplomacy ever since.

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    Replies
    1. Well said, but countries still follow us with their tail between their legs.

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