In communist Vietnam, many saw the war as a fight for national liberation to prevent their country from being subverted by an imperialist power. Ironically enough, Vietnam itself could've had its independence completely subverted by America if things had gone a little differently in OTL. Now, before you start writing how such a scenario wouldn't be possible outside of the LSD-addled fantasies of Alan Moore, remember that there were not one, but two proposals for Vietnam to become a protectorate owned by the United States of America.
The first proposal was made none other by Ho Chi Minh after the end of the Second World War. It was no secret that Ho held a high opinion of America, having played the Star Spangled Banner during Vietnam's Declaration of Independence. In a telegram to Harry Truman, he suggested that Vietnam could join the United States as a protectorate, similar to how Puerto Rico became a territory of America. Ho figured that American rule would've been better than French Imperialism (not that that's saying much) and believed that cooperation with America would allow the young nation to grow and develop.
However, there's no evidence that Truman considered or even read this curious proposal. After all, Vietnam was a nation halfway across the world, in a region where America had few strategic interests. Even if it was accepted, it would be quite awkward for America to allow its territory to be led by a thoroughly communist government, especially during the Cold War. In all likeliness, this proposal was simply a gesture of goodwill from Ho, as a way of showing his country's willingness to cooperate with America.
A more serious second proposal came from the U.S Ambassador to South Vietnam, Henry Cabot Lodge. Lodge didn't have a great relationship with the Vietnamese President, Ngo Dinh Diem, due to Diem's flagrantly corrupt and authoritarian policies. Lodge later encouraged America to support a coup against Diem, but this only caused even more instability as each corrupt leader was overthrown by another in a series of military coups. Upset at this apparent lack of stability, Lodge warned the State Department that it had two options to save South Vietnam.
It could either have Vietnam relinquish its independence and become a protectorate of the United States (which it didn't) or America could increase its military involvement (which it did). But in a scenario where the government of South Vietnam completely collapses into a series of squabbling warlords, the State Department could be forced to consider Lodge's proposal. Looking at our timeline, it's not hard to imagine that the leadership of South Vietnam could become even worse for American interests. After all, the South Vietnamese government was almost overthrown by a communist spy. If something on that scale was successful, cutting out the middleman wouldn't seem like that bad of an option for the U.S of A.
The first proposal was made none other by Ho Chi Minh after the end of the Second World War. It was no secret that Ho held a high opinion of America, having played the Star Spangled Banner during Vietnam's Declaration of Independence. In a telegram to Harry Truman, he suggested that Vietnam could join the United States as a protectorate, similar to how Puerto Rico became a territory of America. Ho figured that American rule would've been better than French Imperialism (not that that's saying much) and believed that cooperation with America would allow the young nation to grow and develop.
However, there's no evidence that Truman considered or even read this curious proposal. After all, Vietnam was a nation halfway across the world, in a region where America had few strategic interests. Even if it was accepted, it would be quite awkward for America to allow its territory to be led by a thoroughly communist government, especially during the Cold War. In all likeliness, this proposal was simply a gesture of goodwill from Ho, as a way of showing his country's willingness to cooperate with America.
A more serious second proposal came from the U.S Ambassador to South Vietnam, Henry Cabot Lodge. Lodge didn't have a great relationship with the Vietnamese President, Ngo Dinh Diem, due to Diem's flagrantly corrupt and authoritarian policies. Lodge later encouraged America to support a coup against Diem, but this only caused even more instability as each corrupt leader was overthrown by another in a series of military coups. Upset at this apparent lack of stability, Lodge warned the State Department that it had two options to save South Vietnam.
It could either have Vietnam relinquish its independence and become a protectorate of the United States (which it didn't) or America could increase its military involvement (which it did). But in a scenario where the government of South Vietnam completely collapses into a series of squabbling warlords, the State Department could be forced to consider Lodge's proposal. Looking at our timeline, it's not hard to imagine that the leadership of South Vietnam could become even worse for American interests. After all, the South Vietnamese government was almost overthrown by a communist spy. If something on that scale was successful, cutting out the middleman wouldn't seem like that bad of an option for the U.S of A.
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