Wednesday, November 9th, 2011
BK3's essay series on Communism; Part 1
Post World War 2 and United States Foreign Policy: Stopping Communism "By Any Means Necessary" and "The Ends Justify The Means" Mentality
Immediately following the end of World War 2, The United States returned to the "Normalcy" policy that Warren G. Harding called life before 1918 and WW1. I would like to visit three specific points in History where the Government's actions towards stopping the spread of Communism are very questionable. As examples; intervention in Vietnam throughout the 1960's into the early 1970's, along with events in Iran, Guatemala, and Chile in the late 1940's and early 1950's may help shed some insight on not only the very unfortunate implementation of Democratic foreign policy demonstrated by our great nation during this time period, but also a new understanding and sympathy for these so called "Communist" countries people. Hopefully, exposing the real interests that led to these Imperialistic and profit minded invasions around the world will not only give you a reason to learn a little bit more about Communism on your own, but also help eliminate what I like to call; "The Ignorant American Arrogance" about notions that our Country's History and actions have ALWAYS been executed with the interests of both its' citizens and global citizens in mind.
Incidents in Iran, Guatemala, and Vietnam are not only important for understanding the present, but provide information that can help decrease the widely held view that Communism was and still remains the #1 evil in the minds of Americans. If the ultimate goal of R3volution and success after this R3volution is both possible and achieved, this information MUST NOT be taken lightly. The FEAR of Communism has been drilled into the minds of United States citizens since the first decade of the 20th century and the Government has used this FEAR to gain support for its greedy interests and Imperialistic invasions on foreign soil while manipulating every aspect of media and information that the public was exposed to in order to keep Us in the dark, overwhelmed with FEAR. Not until just recently has the threat of Communism drastically reduced in the hearts and minds of American citizens and while remaining confident that we know what Communism is and was, we expose ourselves to turning into mindless robots living in a world of ignorance and total confidence that we "know" our past. My hope is to increase knowledge and curiosity so that you can find out for yourself even ore about United States History that is accepted, but false.
Possibly the most confusing and misunderstood War that The United States has ever been apart of takes place from the years of 1961-1974 (Actual length varies among Historians) and may be the longest War this nation has ever been apart of. Questions regarding the reasons for intervention are now clear and you as a citizen have the right to know.
Communism and its' goals are appealing to those people that are or have been oppressed, suffering, or starving in underdeveloped nations that have had a negative experience with Imperialism. The country of Vietnam has been a victim of all of this since the 1880's when it was under French rule. This happens in 1941 as well when Japan adds it to its empire, and in 1945 it gains Independence during The August Revolution. However once again the people are attacked by the French and once again trying to be colonized. It is an underestimated Vietnamese nation that embarrasses an over confident and arrogant French army in 1954 when the brutal effects of underestimating an opponents ability to defend their HOMELAND (see Revolutionary War) after a French attack on the city of Dien Bien Phu which left the French completely exposed at the bottom of an area of land surrounded by high rising hill/mountains. (see George Washington) As a leader of a now Independent nation, Ho Chi Minh sought out the help of the American Government in a letter to President Truman.
Unfortunately, the President was more afraid of supporting a Nationalist, non-materialistic, agricultural society because of how similar it seemed to a Communist society.
1. What threat to America is a nation with a history and recent past EXACTLY like the colonists who became Independent in 1776, especially since it was obviously not powerful, nor historically insubordinate? THE OUTRAGEOUS FEAR THAT OVERWHELMED AMERICA ABOUT COMMUNISM WAS THE ONLY REASON NEEDED FOR INTERVENTION. Ultimately the French, although pain-stakingly aggressive and inhumane were backed by Truman with a very short reason; COMMUNISM WAS EVIL.
I hope this War is already questioned by you, the reader and if you're not convinced yet, I'd like to suggest to you that the United States followed these actions (funding French invasion and later defeat in Vietnam) by creating a country out of thin air, forcing elections to later re-unite 2 country's (1 invented) by pushing a new leader onto the people of South Vietnam with Billions of dollars in funding, and eventually found it necessary to use Military Force to try and rid this nation of a system of Government that is both not in place, assumed by America, and invented by United States propaganda directors with public support in mind.
The Geneva Accords of 1954 help define the first American implementation of anti-Communism efforts in Vietnam. In 1956, the United States planned on having elections in South Vietnam(created by America)that would have their new puppet for Democracy win and lead the nation, eliminating the threat of Communism. The anti-Communist leader known as Ngo Dinh Diem(spelling?) that America forced on the people did NOT work out and worsened the hopes for stopping Communism in Vietnam. The Billions of dollars in funding was selfishly spent on the "leaders" rich lifestyle and proved ineffective for industry making because 90% of Vietnam was rural or agriculturally dependent and was not going to change. After polls suggest 80% of the vote would go in favor of this "Communism" Lyndon Johnson increased funding for Democracy in the nation and the Catholic puppet Diem (Vietnam was Buddhist and he tried abolishing the practice which failed) was assassinated in a covert mission by the United States Government themselves!!! After trying to indirectly support Democracy and eliminate Communist sentiment, the United States saw Military action as the only option and in 1961, committed 2,000 troops that eventually climbed to over 500,000 in Vietnam. Agent Orange, a chemical sprayed on the foliage to expose enemies was used until 1971 when its effects turned on soldiers surrounded by devastated areas of forest. Soon bombing became the solution and with Operation Rolling Thunder in 1965, more bombs were dropped over the open fields of Vietnam than were used in ALL of WW2 combined. This tactic surprisingly had little effect due to a complex underground system and hidden enemy.
It was not until 7 grueling years had passed that American public support had dwindled to none. Only 3 years prior to 1968, over 70% of Americans supported this War because of their incredibly over exaggerated FEAR drilled into their minds by the Government. It was not until 1974-75 that American troops and foreign policy had been taken out of Vietnam and the War in Vietnam for the United States, after some 14 years, was over. No other War in American History has been more widely misunderstood and met with such confusion. All this Historian wants to state as an opinion is; AMERICAN BUSINESS SUCCESS, ITS PROFIT, AND ITS DOMINATION IN THE MARKET, IF CHALLENGED BY A FOREIGN LEADER WILL RESULT IN A MESSY AND COMPLETELY MADE UP SYSTEM OF SEEING THAT THEIR MONEY IS NOT THREATENED. COMMUNISM? WHAT SAY YOU ABOUT TERRORISM?
IS IT TREASON TO SUGGEST THAT IRAQ/AFGHANISTAN AND THE WAR ON TERROR IS THE 21ST CENTURY VERSION OF VIETNAM? LOOK IT UP!
-BK3-
Very informative! Nicely put together.
ReplyDeleteThe government uses the people's emotional response as fuel to the fire of it's imperialistic ambitions. EX: The American government built the classic "Good vs Evil" scenario, in Vietnam, to help gain the support of American citizens, for a war in preventing a single, agriculturally based, non-industrious, society that posed no current threat, or future threat for that matter, from becoming communist. The government had also done the same thing years later on the "War on Terrorism," to put to rest Osamah Bin Ladens "Evil" regime of terrorists, and Sadam's "Evil" devoloping tyrantesque dictatorship. I believe George W. Bush actually referred to them as part of a axis of evil, however, please don't quote me on this. Back to my point, the government tries to imply to it's people, that what the U.S. government is doing, is "God's will" or the "Right thing to do," in order to gain support for something that is not even important to the American citizen, nor their safe keeping. Yes, there were possible weapons of mass destruction, that were never found, however, who DOESN'T have them these days. America, time and time again, has become a covertly, imperialistic nation, operating under the veil of ignorance, that so happens to envelope the majority of this country. I believe America had become involved in both wars because of resources, and because of deceivingly potential threats to the country in the future, due to the expansion of an ideology that conflicts with its own. I don't believe those who fought died in vain, nor did they die for an unjust cause. I just believe that they were not fighting for the same reasons that were strategically reinforced through the media, that had brain washed a country to believe in its own propaganda. America simply has the interest of its citizens, and the rights of citizens around the world at its best interest? Although I do believe we act as Saints in many countries, I don't believe the reason is simply to help those who struggle. I believe it is naive to believe that a country makes it decisions for anything else other than to preserve itself, or its own beliefs. I'm not calling America out as doing the wrong thing, I'm just simply stating that America has its agenda of self-preservation and self-growth, but has deceived the citizens of its own country to approve of its actions in order to help better establish itself in the future.
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