3. Before the Second World War Vietnam was ruled by France and known as
Indochina. The French rule was unchallenged.
When France was defeated by Germany during the war, the Japanese, German
allies, took over the main resources of Vietnam.
A strong anti-Japanese resistance movement emerged under the leadership of Ho
Chi Minh, the ”Viet-minh”.
When the war ended the Viet-minh controlled the north of Vietnam and were
determined to seize control of the south.
The French came back wanting to rule Vietnam again, so in 1946 war broke out
between France and the Viet-minh.
The Viet-minh kept quiet about wanting a communist government to get support
from USA and other countries.
When the communists took over China and began to help Ho Chi Minh, USA
decided to help France create a non-communist government in South Vietnam.
4. The war in Afghanistan began on October
7 2001 when the US Armend Forces
launched operation ¨Enduring Freedom¨,
with the British Armed Forces and Afghan
United Front in response to the
September 11 attacks on the North and
South towers of the World Trade Center
and the Pentagon.
The goal was to dismatle Al-Qaeda (a
Sunni multi-national organisation
founded by Osama bin Laden), end its use
of Afghanistan as a base for terrorist
operations and to remove the Taliban
(Sunni Islamic fundamentalist political
movement) regime from power.
5. The war in Afghanistan is different from that in Vietnam because the USA is
fighting to defend their country from an attack. During the war in Vietnam
the USA was involved because it wanted to contain communism but it didn´t
affect their country directly. Vietnam never attacked the USA.
Taliban is similar to early Viet Cong. "in the early '60s, the National
Liberation Front, or Viet Cong, did not have broad support. What it had was
funding and organization and an ability to build support against what
became a foreign invader."
10. Osama bin Laden (Al Qaeda)
Hamid Karzai
(President of Afghanistan)
11.
12. The Viet Cong used the method of guerrilla warfare, they wore ordinary
clothes and are difficult to identify. Their weapons were supplied by China
and Russia. They also stayed near the American troops so that they couldn’t
use air backup without killing their own men.
Americans used bombs, artillery, helicopters, napalm and Agent Orange,
killing many innocent civillians. Forced the peasants to leave Viet Cong
controlled areas and made them live in defended, loyal areas. American
troops were sent on patrols and when they were attacked they were
supported by air and artillery which made soldiers realise they were being
used as bait. Search and destroy patrols went out looking for Vietcong
fighters. The patrols were very visible and easy to ambush. This led to
atrocities such as My Lai in 1968.
13. The guerilla tactics used by Viet
Cong during the Vietnam war are
also being used by the Taliban
and Al Qaeda in the war in
Afghanistan.
The americans also have the
same tactics but “Search and
destroy” has changed for “Sweep
and clear”.
14.
15. After reports of American military
abuses, such as the My Lai
Massacre (1968), there was more
support for ending the war in
Vietnam.
There were large political
demonstrations all over USA, the
country was divided.
Americans wanted to know why
peace talks were failing and what
they were fighting for.
16. At the beginning of the war most people
were in favour of sending troops to
Afghanistan.
32% of Americans favoured incresing US
troops in Afghanistan
40% favoured decreasing them
49% believed the USA should “mind its own
bussiness”
Unlike Vietnam, in Afghanistan soldiers
were willing to fight for their country and a
draft wasn’t necessary.
Later a poll done in 2009 showed
17.
18. 2 million vietnamese civillians killed
1.1 million north vietnamese troops killed
200.000 south vietnamese troops killed
58.000 US troops killed
Vietnam was left in ruins due to the chemical weapons and bombing campaigns.
Devastated natural environment and widespread health problems because of the
US army use of herbicides.
It inspired widespread distrust of the US government and made the military less
popular
In July 1976 Vietnam was oficially unified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
19. The aftermath of Afghanistan
will be very similar to that of
Vietnam even though the
current death toll is not nearly
as high as the one in Vietnam.
It has inspired distrust in the
government and the military and
will continue to do so.
Although the withdrawal of
american troops was completed
in December 2016, 8.400 troops
have been left in Afghanistan
indefinitely due to Taliban
resurgence attempt.
20. As a conclusion I believe both wars
share some similar aspects, such as
public opinion and aftermath, but they
shouldn’t be seen as the same as they
have fundamental diffenrences such
as the reasons why the USA is
involved or the type of war it is.
