Research Report
Model United Nations Development Programme
Historical Committee
THE VIETNAM WAR
AYHAN OKCAL &
OMER SOYLEMEZ
Committee: Historical Committee (Special Committee)
Agenda Item: The Vietnam War
Student Officer: Ayhan Okcal & Omer Soylemez
Position: Presidents
Basic Overview of the Issue
The Vietnam War was fought between the communist regime of North Vietnam and
its ally the Viet Cong against the South Vietnam and its ally, the U.S. The war began
in 1954 (though conflict in the region stretched much further), after the rise of Ho Chi
Minh and his communist Viet Minh party in North Vietnam, and continued during the
intense Cold War between two global superpowers: the United States and the Soviet
Union. Around 3 million people, mostly Vietnamese civilians, lost their lives during
the war. By 1969, at the peak of U.S. involvement in the war, more than 500,000 U.S.
military personnel were involved in the Vietnam conflict. Growing opposition to the
war in the United States led to bitter divisions among Americans, both before and
after President Richard Nixon ordered the withdrawal of U.S. forces in 1973. In 1975,
Saigon was lost to the Soviets, thus ending the Vietnam War, and the country was
unified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Explanation of Important Terms
Agent Orange
Agent Orange was a potent chemical used by U.S. forces during the Vietnam War to
eliminate forest cover for North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops, as well as crops
that might be used to feed them. Codenamed Operation Ranch Hand, this covert
program sprayed more than 19 million gallons of herbicides over 4.5 million acres of
land in Vietnam for over a decade. It was later revealed to have some serious health
issues–tumors, birth defects, rashes, psychological symptoms and cancer–among
returning U.S. servicemen and their families as well as among the native Vietnamese
population.
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located
in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "The Pentagon" is
often used to refer to the U.S. Armed Forces.
17th Parallel
The dividing line between North and South Vietnam as established during the 1954
Geneva Conference.
Army of the Republic of Vietnam
The national army of South Vietnam, which the U.S. military began to train in 1962.
Central Office of South Vietnam
The alleged command center that controlled all Viet Cong operations during the
Vietnam War. Although U.S. military officials insisted that the COSVN actually
existed, the evidence was circumstantial at best.
Credibility Gap
The term applied to the difference between what the U.S. military was telling the
American public about the Vietnam War and what the American media said was
actually occurring on the ground. As a result of the credibility gap, many Americans
began to question the president’s honesty.
Domino Theory
First popularized by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954, the idea that if one
nation fell to Communism, the surrounding nations would be susceptible to also fall
to Communism, thus starting a chain reaction in which nations fell like dominoes. The
domino theory guided U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War and was used to
justify U.S. involvement in Vietnam.
Ho Chi Minh Trail
The Ho Chi Minh trail was a logistical system that ran from the Democratic Republic
of Vietnam (North Vietnam) to the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), passing
through Laos and Cambodia. The system provided support, in the form of manpower
and equipment to the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army.
Detailed Background of the Issue
During World War II, Japan invaded and occupied Vietnam, a small country at the
eastern edge of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia that had been ruled by the
French since the late 19th century. Inspired by Chinese and Soviet communism, Ho
Chi Minh formed the Viet Minh, or the League for the Independence of Vietnam, to
fight against both Japan and the French colonialism. Japan withdrew its forces in
1945, leaving the French-educated Emperor Bao Dai in control of an independent
country of Vietnam. Ho’s Viet Minh forces rebelled almost immediately, capturing
the northern city of Hanoi and declaring a Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV)
with Ho as president.
Seeking to regain the region, France backed Bao and set up the state of Vietnam
(South Vietnam) in July 1949, with Saigon as its capital. Armed conflict continued
until the decisive battle of Dien Bien Phu in May 1954 which ended in decisive
French defeat by Viet Minh forces. The subsequent treaty negotiations at Geneva split
Vietnam along the latitude known as the 17th parallel (with Ho in control in the North
and Bao in the South) and called for nationwide elections for reunification to be held
in 1956. In 1955, however, the staunchly anti-communist Ngo Dinh Diem removed
Bao from power to become president of the Government of the Republic of Vietnam
(GVN).
Vietnam War: US Intervention Begins
With the Cold War intensifying, the United States hardened its policies against any
communist states, and by 1955 President Dwight D. Eisenhower pledged his
unwavering support to Diem and South Vietnam. With training and equipment from
American armed forces, Diem’s security forces cracked down on Viet Minh
sympathizers in the south, whom he derisively called Viet Cong (or Vietnamese
Communist), apprehending some 100,000 people, many of whom were tortured and
executed shortly afterwards. By 1957, the Viet Cong and other opponents of Diem’s
oppressive regime began fighting back with attacks on government targets, and by
1959 they engaged the South Vietnamese Army forces in firefights.
In December 1960, Diem’s opponents within South Vietnam–both communist and
non-communist–formed the National Liberation Front (NLF) to organize resistance
against Diem. Though the NLF claimed to be an autonomous group and that most of
its members were non-Communist, many in the U.S. assumed it was a puppet of
Hanoi. A team sent by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 reported on conditions in
South Vietnam and advised a build-up of American military, economic and technical
aid in order to help stop the communist threat. Working under the “domino theory,”
which held that if one state fell to communism others would follow, Kennedy
increased U.S. aid, though he stopped before of committing troops for an invasion. By
1962, the U.S. military presence in South Vietnam had reached some 9,000 troops,
compared with fewer than 800 a decade before.
Major Parties Involved
The United States of America
The United States of America (USA), commonly referred to as the United States
(U.S.) or America, is a federal republic composed of 50 states, a federal district, five
major territories and various possessions.
South Korea
As part of their alliance with the U.S., South Korea under the administration of Park
Chung-hee played a big role in the Vietnam War. South Korea sent 313,000 soldiers
between 1964 and 1973 to fight against North Vietnam and the Viet Cong – by far the
second largest contingent of foreign troops after the U.S.
New Zealand
Along with Australia, New Zealand was a key ally of the U.S. as they were members
of Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) and Australia, New Zealand, United
States Security Treaty (ANZUS). During the Vietnam War, New Zealand also sent its
ground troops into Vietnam together with its allies.
Australia
The conflict in Vietnam was the longest armed conflict in Australian history. It lasted
ten year from 1962 to 1972 and involved 60,000 personnel. In the early 1960s, under
the threat from a growing communist insurgency, South Vietnam government
repeatedly sought military assistance from the U.S. and its allies. Following the U.S. –
its most precious ally, Australia responded with civil and military support.
The Viet Cong
The Viet Cong was the name given by Westerners to the National Liberation Front
during the Vietnam War. The National Liberation Front was a political organization
with its own army - People's Liberation Armed Forces of South Vietnam (PLAF) - in
South Vietnam and Cambodia that fought against the United States and South
Vietnamese governments, eventually winning against them. It had guerrilla and
regular army units, as well as a network of cadres who organized peasants in the
territory it controlled.
The People’s Republic of China
People’s Republic of China was the first country to recognize the Democratic republic
of Vietnam led by Ho Chi Minh in January 1950. In the same year, they also sent
weapons and military officials to aid the Viet Minh in their war against the French.
The Chinese interpreted American “aggression” against North Vietnam after the Gulf
of Tonkin incident as against them also and threatened military intervention in North
Vietnam if American forces crossed the Demilitarized Zone.
The Soviet Union
In the aftermath of the World War II, the Soviet Union paid little attention to the
communist Viet Minh’s movement in Vietnam as it wasn’t under its sphere of
influence. The Soviet Union remained neutral in early 1960s under Nikita
Khrushchev even after the Gulf of Tonkin incident. Things changed when
Khrushchev was out of power and replaced by Leonid Brezhnev who favored more
direct involvement to aid North Vietnam.
Chronology of Important Events
Date
Description of Event
1858
French colonial rule begins.
1930
Ho Chi Minh finds the Indochinese Communist Party
(ICP).
August 19, 1945
August Revolution: Ho Chi Minh declares independence
of Vietnam.
1946
France recognizes Vietnam.
December 19, 1946
Shortly Indochina War starts between France and Viet
Minh.
1949
Chinese civil war comes to an end, communists start to
rule.
1953
Laos gets full independence, but Viet Minh forces push
in.
1954
Viet Minh wins the war, Geneva Convention is held.
Vietnam is separated into North and South with 17th
parallel north.
1956
French leaves Vietnam, US starts to train South
Vietnamese.
1959
Weapons moving along Ho Chi Minh Trail to North
Vietnam.
1960
Viet Cong is formed.
1962
US Military employs Agent Orange.
1963
John F. Kennedy is assassinated.
1968
Peace talks start.
November 1968
Richard Nixon is elected as president of USA.
1969
Nixon attacks on Cambodia.
1969
Ho Chi Minh dies.
1969
“My Lai Massacre” news reaches US, taking attention
of large masses of people.
1973
Ceasefire is made.
December 1974
North Vietnam attacks South Vietnam.
1975
North Vietnam takes control of Saigon, ending the war.
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