The war 1968-73
In January, 1968 the Tet-offensive was started, which should be launched during the Buddhist new-years-festival because the communists had considered it a cease-fire-day. On 30th of this month the Vietcong and the North Vietnamese army simultaneously attacked 5 cities and 100 capitals of lands or districts. Although the surprising offensive didn't met with success because the Americans could re-seize the occupied areas (the fights dragged only on in Hue and Saigon), it puzzled the public opinion, which was upset without this as well, since more than half million American soldiers stayed in South. In the offensive 50000 Vietnamese fell victim and the attacked party lost a lot as well. The Tet-offensive showed the weakness of the South's defense, shook the American administration, questioned the war-politics. In this time became it unambiguous that the US couldn't win the war. The two parties started peace-negotiations in May, but it wasn't successful because meanwhile the US-Army launched two destructive operations. To answer for this the communists attacked 120 military objects and started rocket attack against Sai Gon for a month. That's why Ha Noi was fired again. However, in South General Westmoreland's position became intolerable. Well, General Creighton Abrams succeeded him.
This year the USA made up the Phoenix-program, which was accused of inhumanity. Many times they just fired into the crowd because it was sure that there was one or two Vietcong there. These arguments had to be face by the politicians who could only say that the program is not the program of the assassins, but the public opinion didn't feel reassured.
In August, 1968 the photos were published that had been taken in My Lai, after the massacre, where American soldiers shot 200 unarmed peasants. This made public outcry and peace movements started. Not only in the Stated, but in Japan and several European country as well. The reason why they did so was not only the humanist thinking, but the lack of success too. Many people went to the movements not because of the war, but the instruments like settle whole villages to an other place, the use of elementary chemical weapons, the defoliant to see the Vietcong's' camps better. The main claims that were composed during the mainly by students made demonstrations were these: the limitation of the operations, the finishing of the destroying bombings, allowing the Vietcong to participate in the governing. The biggest student organizations were the SDS (Students for Democratic Society) and the YIPPIE which was international. They shouted for hours:
What do we want? - Peace!
When do we want it? - Now!Jane Fonda, a star of Hollywood, an activist against Vietnam War got a great publicity when she visited North Vietnam. By that time, the 'Make love, do not war' phrase came into existence, that's a cliché today.
Although the war affected other countries' public opinion, like Japan or West-European countries, the fiercest demonstration were taken place in the USA.
The defenders of the war referred to the prevention of the spread of communism, just like Dulles diplomat: 'Our task is to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia and in the Southwest region of the Pacific ocean henceforth.' If the Vietcong win, the whole Southeast Asia will get under Soviet influence and that might be disastrous for the USA. The other reason was that West-America would be in danger thereby. They want peace, but Ho Chi Minh and his government can't live without the Southern territory, therefore we must defend South Vietnam.
The fact is the demand of demonstrators weren't unfounded, though. Up to that time, 25 thousand American young have died in the jungles and on the battlefields of Vietnam. Bombing North Vietnam has failed: the air defense of the enemy has shot hundreds of aircraft and nothing deterred them. Up to November, 1968 the defense of North Vietnam has destroyed 143 battleships and has shot down 3234 aircraft. To the pressure of the public opinion, Americans started vietnamizing the war. That's training South Vietnamese soldiers against the Vietcong. In 1970, 500 thousand American soldier were taken home, but that wasn't the end of the war at all.
Nixon escalated the war to Southeast Asia. Although North Vietnam invaded Cambodia, to respond the escalating the war, Laos, Cambodia and North Vietnam concluded an alliance with each other against the USA.
On 3rd September, 1969 Ho Chi Minh suffered a heart attack and died. He was widely mourned in North Vietnam and promised to carry out his will: "Fight till the last Yankee goes home!"
In 1971 only 160 thousand American soldiers stayed in South Vietnam. To the effect of the vietnamizing, the South Vietnamese defended themselves the Northern territories. The Americans started the operation in Laos then: they tried to break the Vietcong's supply off, the Ho Chi Minh trail, where many food, arms and personnel were transported to South. That was the first ordeal of the vietnamizing and ended in failure after 43 days. Each of politicians has a different opinion. According to the president of South Vietnam (Thieu) the provision of the injured wasn't well-planned and this brought the failure about. His predecessor (Ky) thought that the planning of the operation was the reason since it was unnecessary. The Secretary of State, Kissinger said later: "The operation is Laos was born between disputes and confusion."
In 1972, when Ha Noi started a more powerful attack (off the border of Cambodia and Laos as well), the USA started the air strike, named as Linebacker. They had only 45 thousand soldiers in the region, though. For this reason, North Vietnam invaded South, but didn't reach significant result. In October, Kissinger almost obtained the peace when he met the North Vietnamese minister, Le Duc Tho, but Nixon revised this and finally there was no peace-treaty. He ordered a 12-day carpet bombing to those Vietnamese areas that were over the 20th latitude to have more advantage at the discussion in Paris. Next year, in January the operation ended and the war came to its end on 15th that month. Ground troops were withdrew, the war was absolutely vietnamized.
On 27th January, 1973 in Paris the conference started with the participation of the USA, North Vietnam, South Vietnam and the Vietcong and the peace-treaty was formed. Participants agreed in the independence of Vietnam, in the withdrawal of the American troops, in cease-fire and in the change of prisoners. USA won't interfere in Vietnam's internal politics. The change of the prisoners started at the end of that year, on 12th December.
The situation wasn't arranged. Cambodia was in question where the fights went on. Ford refused to support it - he was the President who announced the end of the war. In Vietnam, the war continued as civil war. In 1974, the North Vietnamese government planned to finish the war in two years time.