During the presidency of John F. Kennedy, the United States, fearing the spread of communism in Southeast Asia, deployed military advisors to support South Vietnam, a Western ally, against North Vietnam, which was aligned with the communist regimes of China and the Soviet Union. The situation escalated following the Gulf of Tonkin Incident in 1964, when American ships were attacked in what many later considered a premeditated act.
In response, President Lyndon B. Johnson, Kennedy’s successor, was granted extensive military authority to confront North Vietnam. By 1969, U.S. troop numbers in Vietnam had increased to over half a million. However, faced with mounting human and financial losses, as well as increasing domestic and international opposition to the war, the United States was ultimately forced to withdraw. U.S. forces eventually withdrew, transferring defense responsibilities to the South Vietnamese government.
Peace negotiations between North Vietnam and the United States began in Paris and lasted several years, ultimately culminating in a humiliating and unprecedented American withdrawal. Decades later, a similar scene would unfold in Afghanistan. The Vietnamese capital, Saigon, eventually fell to communist forces from the North. The toll on the United States was staggering.
Over 58,000 American soldiers lost their lives in the last four years of the war, and the financial costs were immense. Upon their return, many veterans struggled with severe psychological trauma, and American society became deeply divided. Public opposition to the war intensified, triggering widespread social unrest. The war’s failure also marked the end of President Johnson’s political career. The Vietnamese had previously resisted invasions by France, then Japan, then France again, followed by the United States, and finally China.
Despite the loss of five million of its citizens, Vietnam remained steadfast. During the final phase of the Vietnam War, which ended in 1975, the United States lost over 58,000 soldiers, with more than 150,000 wounded. On the Vietnamese side, two million civilians and one million soldiers were killed. The war also witnessed widespread use of landmines, radioactive materials, and chemical agents whose harmful effects lingered for decades.
According to a Harvard University study, the war resulted in ten million refugees, one million widows, 880,000 orphaned children, 362,000 children without one parent, and three million unemployed individuals. By the end of the war, inflation in Vietnam had skyrocketed to 900 percent. In the aftermath, Washington imposed a boycott on Vietnam and refused to deal with its communist government. However, the two countries began a slow process of normalization in the mid-1990s.
The United States covers an area of approximately 10 million square kilometers, while Vietnam covers just 331,000 square kilometers. It was only half that size at the time it, being one of the poorest nations, went to war with America, which was the most powerful and wealthy nation in history. The struggles of Vietnam, South Africa, Algeria, and even Afghanistan stand as powerful examples of resilience in the face of overwhelming force.
Similarly, the Palestinian resistance, in all its forms, offers valuable lessons that deserve careful study. Total surrender to Israel, as some advocates suggest, would bring consequences far more severe than many can imagine. Several Arab countries have normalized relations with Israel in hopes of achieving peace, cooperation, and prosperity. Yet, after more than two decades, these nations have seen little in the way of tangible benefits.
By Ahmad alsarraf
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