31. Buddies Helping Buddies

The US involvement in Vietnam wasn’t about colonial exploitation, but a response to Cold War tensions. Originally anti-colonial, America’s stance shifted as Vietnam’s resistance against French reassertion post-WWII took a communist turn.

Fearing communism’s spread, influenced by the Domino Theory, the US viewed its role as containing this ideology rather than perpetuating France’s colonial legacy. This perspective led to deepening US involvement despite Vietnam’s desire for foreign withdrawal.