North Vietnam as a Fourth Rate Country

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North Vietnam as a Fourth Rate Country

Johnson called North Vietnam a “fourth-rate, raggedy ass little

country”. How do sources C, D and E contradict this view?

Source C shows us that in the years 1962 to 1973, 2595000 troops, a

massive number, were in Vietnam, the year in which most troops were

deployed being 1969. This huge number of troops being needed to fight

in Vietnam suggests that the war was of more importance, and that

Vietnam was more prepared and able for war, than Johnson implies. This

evidence contradicts Johnson’s description of Vietnam as being a

“fourth-rate, raggedy ass little country”. Another point that can be

taken from the information in the source which contradicts Johnson’s

view is that the war lasted the long duration of 12 years. This would

not have been so, had Vietnam been “fourth-rate” and “raggedy ass”, as

a country with such characteristics could have been quickly and easily

crushed by America, which was a powerful country. Due to the

information in this source being taken from factual records, there is

little question about its reliability.

Source D shows us US Government Spending in 1968. In this year, 13% of

America’s total expenditure went towards Vietnam Defence, and 4%

towards Veterans of the Vietnam War. This means that the amount spent

on the Vietnam War was more than was spent even on Education in 1968.

This suggests that in this year, the War was of even more importance

than the education of American children, and this again contradicts

Johnson’s view of Vietnam. The fact that so much money was spent on

helping war veterans to recuperate suggests that many American troops

in Vietnam suffered severely, in terms of psychological trauma (many

more committed suicide after their service in Vietnam than were killed

in action) and physical injury. Since Vietnam had such an impact on

the troops, this shows that it was not a pleasant experience, and that

the task they were undertaking in fighting Vietnam was not an easy

one, contrary to Johnson’s implications of Vietnam being weak.

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