quote:Originally posted by Jack, the Little Death: I could be wrong, but I think the French also still harbor something of a grudge against us for the way they were forced to surrender at Dien Bien Phu. The United States spent a lot of money trying to keep the French in the first Vietnam War, citing the "Domino Theory." Then, when the French had their backs against the wall and were begging us for help, we didn't do anything.
We had good reasons -- personally, I'm not convinced we should've been involved at all. But the French were forced to surrender, and ended up losing Vietnam because of it. Imagine how we'd feel if we lost, say, Hawaii, and could blame it on someone else's fickle aid.
Jack, you are absolutely right on this - my book agrees with you, and it makes sense besides.
