Viet Nam

Abstract

Since the expulsion of the United States from south Viet Nam in 1973, many have tried to draw lessons from our Vietnamese experience, often considering that the situation in other countries is analogous to the situation that existed in Viet Nam. There are undoubtedly some points of analogy, but in such situations the differences are always greater than the similarities. The principal lesson to be learned about Viet Nam is with regard to the situation here in the United States, not the situation in Viet Nam or in any other country. The lesson is that the United States can not cope in a messy situation. Not attempted to be answered here-although it is a central question-is the question whether that inability on the part of the United States is due to (1) our governmental structure where no branch of government has control of foreign policy and operations, (2) lack of party discipline in political parties, (3) lack of homogeneous society, (4) a practice and tradition of substantial and unreasoning opposition to almost any proposition put forward by governmental authorities, (5) ability of almost any one to secure enormous publicity as long as he ferociously attacks governmental policy and statements, (6) failure of the media to give balanced reporting on almost any issue of importance,-or a combination of all these and other factors. Also, not addressed here is the fact that all of these points contribute to the overall strength of the United States, even if they detract from the ability of the United States to cope in messy foreign situations.