Woodrow Wilson

Tracing the origins of the Viet Nam conflict could earn a history student a Phd. (and probably has). The colonization by the French is possibly the beging of the story.

During the Paris Peace Talks following WWI, Woodrow Wilson proposed that self determination be a primary pricipal for the promotion of world peace (lots of lovely alliteration, that). It is said that a young Ho Chi Mihn (then a student in Paris) attempted to talk to him during the conference, but he (Wilson) refused. Eventually the European powers, understandably (I leave "justifiably" moot) concerned about their colonial possessions canned the concept of Self Determination with the rest of the 14 points, the US Senate confirmed that state of affairs by not ratifying the treaty. (What the heck, we solved our imperial problems by anhiliating the indigeonous poplulation).

Failing to get Western support for independence, leaders in Viet Nam and many other territories under imperial rule turned to Marx. Whether one believes Karl to be a devil or saviour, the fact remains that his legacy was in the hands of the rather unsavory Joseph Stalin, and, alternatively and later, the equally nasty Mao.

The US involvement was a poorly considered attempt to prevent these two characters from expanding their relative empires. Eisenhower actually sent the first US military "obsevers", his successors escallated GRADUALLY, forgetting how the US has fought and won all its previous wars: By bringing massive force to bear against a known objective, and overwhelming it by arms or attrition.