Vietnamization

By Crusader1307

A term related to The Presidency of Richard Nixon, ''Vietnamization'' was seen as an invented (non-word). Attributed to Defense Secretary Melvin Laird in 1969. By this time, US involvement in The War in Southeast Asia was seen by many as a morass from which The American Military could not win. Thousands of American casualties and untold Millions of USD had been lost and spent. America's ''Home Front'' was in the throes of Civil Rights Activism and other Social issues, common for The Era. Most Americans saw no good reason for Military involvement in a ''foreign War''. All these, coupled with the on-going Draft of mostly young American Males, forced Nixon to begin a Policy of quick withdrawal from Vietnam and let ''Vietnamese fight Vietnamese''.

This ''de-Americanization'' of Southeast Asia was seen as a slur against the name of The Country, and was thought to served those who were advocates against another Term for US President Nixon. Secretary Lair thought better of the phrase ''Vietnamization''. This term stuck. The Policy was simply. American would begin to accelerate training of South Vietnamese Officers and Speical Operations Units, increase material delivery and deployment and push for a more robust Air Force strike potential against targets in North Vietnam. As these Plans were enacted, US Forces would be removed, starting with their replacement by South Vietnamese Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Forces. By 1971, all US Forces (to include Advisors, in place since 1964) would be removed back to The US.

However, fear of such a ''gap'' in Vietnam would no doubt signaled both China and The Soviet Union to increase their support of North Vietnamese Forces. While America ''wanted out'', She did not want to lose what was gained – namely Strike Bases for The USAF and deep water Submarine Bases located in Cam Ranh Bay.

Although The Plan was deployed, rising tensions would translate into poor command and control by The South Vietnamese Army and a greatly decreased US Presence. Both would be telling when The Capital of The south, Saigon fell to North Vietnamese Forces in 1975 – ending The War.