Vietnam

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why did it feel, it was necessary to choose to fight the Ho Chi Men lead communists, without even allowing the ese people a chance to elect their own leader under a free parlimentory electoral system. The Secretary of Defense from 1961 to 1968 Robert McNamara saw the conflict escalate from 100 American advisors in 1961 to over 275,000 troops during the time of his departure. was caught in a revolution, not unlike the civil war, split in two, north versus south. The battle lines where drawn, the 17th parellel the boundry, the communist state split to the north and a democratic state to the south. However, Southeast Asia was considored one of the most sensitive places at this time durning the cold war. Therfore North �s communist neighbors� China and Russia, both supplied Ho Chi Men forces. While the south was backed by the United States(which had been funding the war effort since the French conflict). McNamara�s memoirs In Retrospect: The Tragedy and Lessons of describes his ...

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that McNamara had no political or public service record up to that point. In a meeting in early December 1960 President elect John F. Kennedy at his home in Georgetown, Whasington D.C. asked Robert McNamara to serve in his cabinet as Secretary of Defense. McNamara describes himself to be at least timid to accept such an important role in Cabinet, questioning Kennedy to find out why the President elect would want to select him. McNamara upon hearing the request tried to explain to the new president that he was not qualified for the position. Kennedy simply responded with a retorical question "Who is?" McNamara�s lack of political experience will cost him dearly through out the ...

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