Vietnam: An American Ordeal (4th Edition) - Softcover

Moss, George Donelson

3.82

34 ratings by Goodreads

9780130600332: Vietnam: An American Ordeal (4th Edition)

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0130600334 ISBN 13: 9780130600332

Publisher: Prentice Hall, 2001

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This book provides a comprehensive narrative history of U.S. involvement in Southeast Asia, from 1942 to 1975--with a concluding section that traces U.S.-Vietnam relations from the end of the war in 1975 to the present. Unlike most general histories of U.S. involvement in Vietnam--which are either conventional diplomatic or military histories--this volume synthesizes the perspectives to explore both dimensions of the struggle in greater depth, elucidating more of the complexities of the U.S.-Vietnam entanglement. It explains why Americans tried so hard for so long to stop the spread of Communism into Indochina, and why they failed. The Fall of Saigon: The End as Prelude. Vietnam: A Place and A People. The Elephant and the Tiger. An Experiment in Nation Building. Raising the Stakes. Going to War. The Chain of Thunders. The Year of the Monkey. A War to End a War. The End of the Tunnel. For anyone curious to know about the long American involvement in Southeast Asia, 1942-1975.

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From the Publisher:

This text provides a comprehensive narrative history of the U.S. involvement in Southeast Asia -- from the mid-1940s to the mid-1970s. It takes a balanced, unbiased look at all aspects of the war, and discusses why Americans tried so hard so long to stop the spread of Communism into Indochina, and why they failed.

From the Back Cover:

New Topics in the Fourth Edition:

The intentions of John F Kennedy—Examines evidence asserting that had John F Kennedy lived, he would have phased out the U.S. involvement in Vietnam and that there would have been no American war in Southeast Asia.
The Communist perspective on the wars in Southeast Asia and the Cold War generally—Reflects information from archival materials from the former Soviet Union and from China.
The diplomatic strategies of President Nixon—Did he sabotage the peace talks in November 1968 to win an election? Did he prolong the war unnecessarily by stubbornly trying to win it?
Controversial events occurring in the Gulf of Tonkin in early August, 1964 and the intentions of the Johnson administration—Did the U. S. deliberately provoke the North Vietnamese to attack our ships to enable Johnson to get Congressional approval of the air war that Washington was planning to wage against the North Vietnamese?
Vietnamese perspectives now integrated into narrative—Includes information about the conditions of service for the NVA, including women fighters.
Expanded treatment of the role of women in the U.S. military serving in Vietnam.
Recent U.S.-Vietnamese relations—Includes the signing of the new trade agreement in 1998 and the visit of President Clinton in November 2000. Will Vietnam join the global economy thereby putting its antiquated Communist system of political economy at risk?
The influence of Vietnam memories on American political life and foreign policy.