Cold War ideologies shape US. involvement in Vietnam from "summary" of A Bright and Shining Lie by Neil Sheehan
The United States found itself embroiled in a conflict in Vietnam due to the influence of Cold War ideologies. The prevailing belief at the time was that communism needed to be contained at all costs, as it posed a threat to the democratic way of life. This fear of the spread of communism led to the US becoming increasingly involved in Vietnam, as they saw it as a battleground in the larger struggle against the Soviet Union and its allies. The US government viewed Vietnam through the lens of the domino theory, which posited that if one country fell to communism, others in the region would follow suit. This belief fueled American intervention in Vietnam, as they sought to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. Additionally, the US saw Vietnam as a testing ground for their military might and a way to demonstrate their commitment to containing communism. The Cold War ideologies of the time also influenced the way in which the US approached the conflict in Vietnam. The US government believed in the superiority of their way of life and saw it as their duty to spread democracy and freedom to other nations. This ideological stance further justified American involvement in Vietnam, as they believed they were fighting for a just cause. The US government's fear of losing Vietnam to communism also played a significant role in shaping their involvement in the conflict. The idea of a communist victory in Vietnam was seen as a threat to American credibility and prestige on the world stage. This fear of losing face and appearing weak drove the US to escalate their involvement in Vietnam, even as the war became increasingly unpopular at home.- Cold War ideologies played a crucial role in shaping US involvement in Vietnam. The fear of communism, the belief in the domino theory, the desire to demonstrate military strength, the commitment to spreading democracy, and the fear of losing face all contributed to the US becoming deeply entangled in the conflict in Vietnam.
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