Abstract
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.

From the Paper
""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."

Tags:iraq, president, johnson

Abstract
This paper introduces, reviews, and analyzes Philip Caputo's book about the Vietnam War, "A Rumor of War". The paper points out that Caputo wanted the reader to contemplate the moral ambiguity of the war, the vivid description of battlefield conditions and how Vietnam was an iconoclasm to America's self-image. The paper concludes that Philip Caputo lost all of his illusions about glorious death, meaningful war and service to country in the course of his tour of duty in Vietnam.

From the Paper
"Caputo noted how frustrations mounted as the "rules of engagement" gradually became looser. The commanding officers once restricted return fire unless otherwise ordered so as to prevent accidentally hitting a civilian. Rules such as these were continually softened until gradually the focus was placed wholly on the body count. Caputo summarized command's attitude by relating General Greene's order which was to simply "kill VC". The orders to produce a high body count (as well as rewards of extra beer rations and free time offered by Captain Neal for those men that killed VC) pressured the men."

Tags:idealism, moral ambiguity, frustrations, immersion foot, illusions

Abstract
This paper takes a look at the differences and similarities between the wars in Vietnam and Iraq. The paper discusses the question of whether or not the US is repeating the mistakes it made with regards to Vietnam, in Iraq.

From the Paper
" For example, those who sought war in Vietnam feared China and Communist rule in the area, and the possibility that Communism in the Vietnam region would create a "domino effect", in terms to spreading Communism to other parts of Asia. In Iraq, America sought to interfere with Muslim-based religious and secular power in the region, and a chance to have a (supposedly) democratizing influence in the region, as well as proximity to and control over Iraqi oil. Today, the historical consensus of why America invaded Vietnam is that when the Communists took over North Vietnam (with backing from (as it was then known) "Red China"), America thought it needed to protect its non-Communist interests, and to help defend non-Communist turf, wherever in the world it was. Such an attitude was probably precipitated by McCarthy era anti-Communist paranoia. However ill-advised the Vietnam war was in hindsight, politicians of the day, Democrats and Republicans alike (Truman; Eisenhower; Kennedy; Johnson; Nixon) believed in the "domino theory": if one non-Communist nation fell, others would follow. "

Tags:American, military, strategies, president, public, troops, Saddam, Hussein, terrorism

Abstract
The American media's powerful influence can be seen through its portrayal of major events like the Vietnam War. The paper shows that Vietnam was America's first "television war," meaning that United States citizens were able to watch video clips of virtually uncensored images of war including exchanges of gunfire, atrocities and wounded and dead soldiers from both sides. It describes how the Vietnam War's images haunted the television, magazines, and newspapers. This paper covers issues including propaganda, television images, the massacre at My Lai, Son Thang 4, Trang Bang, the dulling effects of graphic images, and civilian protests.

From the Paper
"On June 8, 1972 during an air raid of NVA fortifications just outside Trang Bang, a picture was taken of a girl running away from the bombings. Kim Phuc, then nine, was wearing no clothes, waving her arms, and had an expression of terror on her face. She and other civilians including photojournalists were mistaken as NVA and targeted by the pilots. Kim received major burns to the majority of her body. Up to this day, a myth exists that it was an American-ordered bombing and was executed by American pilots. This is not true. Both the officer who gave the order and the pilot who dropped the bomb were Vietnamese and operating without the aid of the United States Air Force. Nick Ut, the photographer who took the snapshot, won the Pulitzer Prize that year."

Tags:Viet, Cong, Nguyen, Ngoc, Loan, Stars, and, Stripes

Abstract
This paper analyzes the Vietnam war as a war by the United States, against communism. It looks briefly at the background to the Vietnam War and the reasons for America's involvement in the region. It then discusses the failure of the United States to conduct a war based on ideology and the effect this had on the outcome of the war. The paper concludes that the Vietnam War aided the Communist revolution and was detrimental to the United States foreign policy against Communism.

From the Paper
"The Vietnam War is known as one of the biggest mistakes in United States foreign policy. In an effort to control the spread of Communism, the United States entered the war simply based on principle. The lack of dedication, other than military resources, points to wrongful intentions, inaccurate allocation of resources, and ultimately the disappointment of the South Vietnamese citizens. Even though more than half a million United States troops were deployed in the Vietnam War, it is apparent that the lack of cohesive military strategy and the ability to adjust to environmental factors led to the downfall of the campaign. In essence, the Vietnam War aided the Communist revolution, and was detrimental to the United States foreign policy against Communism."

Tags:McCarthy, foreign, policy, ideology

From the Paper
"The correctness of U.S. involvement in the Viet Nam War is one of the most widely contested questions of America's short history; specifically put, "Was the Viet Nam War an example of the U.S. system correctly working--or not working?" It is the contention of this writer that the war demonstrated that the U.S. democratic system of government enabled democracy to emerge victorious, even if the U.S. did not win what a majority of Americans considered to be an unjustifiable battle.
Evidence for the above hypothesis will be given, as well as evidence against the hypothesis. Ultimately, the hypothesis in favor of the vitality of the democratic system will be shown as correct, in view of all the evidence. It has taken the passage of more than twenty years for an objective perspective on U.S. involvement in Viet Nam to be possible, however. A paper such as ..."

Abstract
This paper reviews different literature discussing the economic implications of the Vietnam War on the U.S. Economy. The books analyzed are "Lyndon Johnson and The Wars for Vietnam", "Nixon's Economy: Booms, Busts, Dollars, and Votes", and "The Economic Consequences of the Vietnam War". The paper concludes with the finding that the U.S. economy was significantly damaged by American involvement in the war and that American presidents of that period were aware of the damage being done to the economy but pursued war nonetheless.

From the Paper
"Perhaps the most eloquent work in this regard is that of Anthony Campagna (1991) with his book titled "The Economic Consequences of the Vietnam War." Campagna in this book traces the historical performance of the US economy along with the country's involvement in the unwanted War. According to him the US involvement began during the Truman administration when the US promised to help the French government in their governance of the Indochina region. The US after the World War II followed a containment of Communism foreign policy and to help the French meant containment of the Asian and China region effectively."

Tags:economic, social, history, repercussions, johnson, nixon, french, government, indochina

Abstract
This paper examines television representation of war including topics such as the compiling of news, bias and policy, political perceptions and restrictions. In particular it covers the wars, Vietnam, The Falklands, Panama and the first Gulf War. It also looks at various issues concerning the coverage of war such as the problems broadcasters face, who is responsible for the portrayal of truth and whether the press should or can remain neutral in wartime.

From the Paper
"Television coverage of the Vietnam War appeared like a morality play, presenting the good represented by the American peace offensive and the evil, represented by Hanoi. The newspapers concentrated on covering Vietnam Policy, including increasing American commitment from the administration and the Congress debate over the prospect of escalation. Television news, however concentrated on one theme the peace offensive. Television journalists were not always restricted to reporting just the official proceeding of the peace offensive, objective journalism was a forgotten rule in reporting from Vietnam, they shifted from "straight" reporting to commentary that was fueled with moral and ideological significance."

Tags:abc, bbc, bias, cbs, cnn, itv, ministry, morality, neutrality

Abstract
The paper discusses the manner in which WWI, WWII and the Vietnam Wars have changed America. The paper discusses how the wars changed society, how these changes were resisted and what the long term domestic results of the wars were on America. The paper places emphasis not on the conflicts themselves but on the evolving and lasting changes they each had upon society, politically, culturally and economically. The paper looks at each war chronologically and discusses aspects of domestic change. An annotated bibliography is included with the paper.

From the Paper
"The period preceding the entrance of the US into WWI was a period known as the progressive era, the era was marked with demonstrative social change regarding the individual. Many changes were in progress and the general feeling of progressive thinkers was of social peace and individual prosperity and social service networks to support those in the economy who could not do so given the current state of employment, an often low paid sporadic and difficult condition. Political isolation also marked the day with a strong sense of independence and self realization. The progressive era was in direct response to the extreme disparity seen in class divisions associated with the industrial revolution."

Tags:war, vietnam, change, progressive

Abstract
The paper explores the Vietnam War from the vantage point provided by a website named "Vietnam War". The paper focuses on the way that the Vietnam War impacted and affected culture and societal perceptions in the United States. The paper highlights the intense debate, confusion and discord that were taking place in American society at the time. The paper demonstrates how major events like the Vietnam War have a far-reaching and profound impact on society and its future.

Outline:
Introduction
Choice of Website
The Vietnam War
American Society and the Vietnam War

From the Paper
"The fact that 58, 000 American soldiers were killed during the Vietnam War was one central aspect of the war's impact on society. This fact was to lead to the criticisms of the war from within the country. Coupled with this was the public knowledge that between one and two million Vietnamese were killed during the war."
"The Web site concisely and comprehensively describes the complex historical causes of the war from a political point of view. "The Vietnam War was in many ways a direct successor to the French Indochina War, sometimes referred to as the First Indochina War, in which the French fought to maintain control of their colony in Indochina against an independence movement led by Communist Party leader Ho Chi Minh. " (Vietnam War)"

Tags:war, criticism, confusion, Johnson, Nixon