The series is well worth watching, even if you have to hold your nose at points.
Our mistake was letting the French back in after WWII. That was because we tried to curry favor with de Gaulle and his imperialist colonial attitudes. We didn’t realize that France had no intention of giving up any former colonies or transitioning to local rule.
Little still has been said about the political role of Michelin and their rubber plantations in Viet Nam.
When France failed to reassert their military control over Viet Nam, we bailed them out, split the country and took their place.
It was Eisenhower that committed us to Viet Nam and mission creep that we lacked the will to stop.
Kennedy traveled to Viet Nam and knew how corrupt and weak the southern government was and would never be up to the fight.
Kennedy told the Senate on 4/6/54: To pour men, material and money into the jungles of Indochina without at least a remote prospect of victory would be dangerously futile…no amount of American military assistance in Indochina can conquer an enemy which is everywhere, an enemy of the people, which had the sympathy and the covert support of the people.
How could Kennedy have been such fool? He listened to Arthur Schlesinger Jr., Max Lerner, and Walt Rostow.
Some know when it started. Then again a lot think early to mid 60’s. A lot of history there. Thanks.