US Foreign Policy Actions Since 1938
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This study will examine the most beneficial and most disastrous foreign policy actions undertaken by the United States since 1938 as described in Stephen Ambrose's Rise to Globalism. The most beneficial action was the entrance into World War II. The most disastrous action was the decision to enter into the Vietnam War. The criteria are simple and clear with respect to an evaluation of the most "beneficial" and "disastrous" foreign policy actions taken in this period. What action resulted in the worst benefit, and what action resulted in the greatest disaster? The decision which led to the entrance of the United States into World War II resulted in victory over tyrants who would have imposed totalitarian rule on most of the world, in putting an end to the vestiges of the Depression as the nation geared up industrially for the war effort, and established the United States as the number one post-war nation economically and militarily. Certainly no other action taken since 1938 has produced anything near such a list of benefits. On the other hand, the decision which led to the entrance of the United States into the Vietnam War split the nation into rageful camps for almost a decade (some might argue that such a division continues today), cost the United States over fifty thousand lives and billions of dollars for no purpose, ended one Presidency (Johnson's) and dominated the national political debate when other crucial issues required such debate, and did not even result in a
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enter World War II a decision based on the vital interests of the nation? The answer is an unequivocal "yes". Had the United States not entered the war, the nation would have been isolated in a world controlled by Germany, Japan and Italy. In order to literally survive as a nation, the United States had no choice but to enter the war.
It is ironic that one of the leaders who praised the United States for its role in liberating enslaved nations in World War II would within ten years be effectively at war with the United States. Ho Chi Minh would turn out to be one of the most aggrieved victims of the abuse of American power which would follow American success in World War II. We read that "Ho Chi Minh hailed the Americans as the true friends of the oppressed of the earth" (50) after the United States had liberated Vietnam from the Japanese. However, Vietnam was one of many nations which would suffer profoundly as the result of the enmity of the Cold War.
The decision of the United States to enter the Vietnam War was a disaster according to all three standards established for this study. In the first place, it was a decision which was not well-though-out at all. In fact, it could be even be said that it was not a decision at al
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Some common words found in the essay are:
War II, Cold War, Vietnam War, Department Defense, Eisenhower Nixon, Presidency Johnson's, Chi Minh, Italy Japan, United Vietnam, Japan Italy, world war, war ii, world war ii, vietnam war, decision enter, foreign policy, cold war, ho chi minh, enter world, chi minh, decision enter world, enter world war, ho chi, eisenhower nixon, united vietnam war,
Approximate Word count = 1630
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)
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