briefly: what is vietnamisation?
Here's a quote taken directly from a website, 'history learning site' (try googling it)
Vietnamisation was the term used by Richard Nixon to describe US policy towards South Vietnam in the later stages of the Vietnam War. Vietnamisation was Nixon’s desired policy to enable South Vietnam to take a greater responsibility for the war while America started a planned withdrawal, while at the same time supporting the government in Saigon in its fight against the NLF.'
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Vietnamisation refers to the policy pursued by the United States during the Vietnam War in the 1960s and early 1970s. It aimed to shift the responsibility for fighting and supporting the war effort in Vietnam from American troops to the South Vietnamese forces. This policy was implemented by the U.S. government under President Richard Nixon, who believed that the South Vietnamese should take a more active role in defending their own country.
To understand the concept of Vietnamisation more comprehensively, it's essential to delve into its historical background. Here's an overview of how it unfolded:
1. Context: The United States became increasingly involved in the Vietnam War during the 1960s in an attempt to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. American military forces were primarily responsible for conducting combat operations against North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces.
2. Nixon's Strategy: When Richard Nixon assumed the presidency in 1969, he sought to gradually disengage the United States from the war while attempting to achieve a favorable resolution. Realizing the political and domestic challenges of withdrawing immediately, he devised the Vietnamisation policy.
3. Components of Vietnamisation: The policy involved several interrelated components:
a. Military Training and Assistance: The U.S. provided training, equipment, and financial aid to enhance the capabilities of the South Vietnamese Army (ARVN).
b. Gradual Troop Withdrawal: The U.S. gradually reduced the number of American troops stationed in Vietnam and increased the role of ARVN in combat operations.
c. Strengthening ARVN: Nixon aimed to bolster the fighting capacity, morale, and leadership of the South Vietnamese forces.
d. Negotiating a Peace Settlement: Vietnamisation was meant to create favorable conditions for negotiations, leading to a resolution that would enable the U.S. to withdraw while ensuring South Vietnamese security.
4. Challenges and Criticisms: Vietnamisation faced numerous challenges. The South Vietnamese forces, though improving, struggled to match the capabilities and experience of the American troops. In addition, public support for the war waned in the United States, making it politically challenging for Nixon to sustain the effort.
5. Legacy: The Vietnamisation policy did not ultimately achieve its desired goals. The South Vietnamese government and military were unable to withstand the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces, leading to the fall of Saigon in 1975 and the reunification of Vietnam under communist rule.
In summary, Vietnamisation was a policy pursued by the United States during the Vietnam War to shift the burden of the conflict onto the South Vietnamese forces, allowing for a gradual American troop withdrawal. Its primary purpose was to enable the South Vietnamese to take primary responsibility for their own defense.