This course will address the formulation of U.S. policy toward Vietnam from 1945-1973; it will include a brief historical discussion of the French involvement in Indochina and will profile some of North Vietnam’s leaders, including Ho Chi Minh and Le Duan. We will also briefly discuss U.S. policy toward Vietnam during World War II and the competing interests of the United States, Britain and France. The primary focus of the course will be on the formulation of U.S. policy toward Vietnam in the context of the Cold War. We will also examine the relationship of domestic policy objectives and military requirements and how this influenced the manner in which the U.S. military approached the conduct of the war.  We will also explore what, if anything, we have learned from this 30-year conflict, and how it has impacted relations and policy in the 21^st century.  

Recommended Reading: Dereliction of Duty: Lyndon Johnson, Robert McNamara, The Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Lies That Led to Vietnam, H.R. McMaster; The Pentagon Papers; Triumph Forsaken, The Vietnam War 1954-1965, Mark Moyar; Westmoreland, the General Who Lost Vietnam, Lewis Sorley; On Strategy - A Critical Analysis of the Vietnam War, Harry G. Summers.

Registration deadline: Sept. 12