The USA Takes Control Of Vietnam?

In the Graphic Novel,Watchmen..the USA wins the Vietnam war..and takes control of the country..actually making it the 51st state. A rather interesting view of things,in my say. But how realistic is that? Indeed,the USA could have possibly won the war..but take control of the country?

What would have to happen in order for the USA to "win" the Vietnam conflict,and keep the country as a territory? What would China's stance on this be? If Vietnam is a US territory,would it become the most stable country in Southeast Asia?

Let some ideas out.
 

Wolfpaw

Banned
I actually never remember reading that in the comic. Where does it say the US outright annexes Vietnam?
 
It is my opinion that Alan Moore's grasp of the social and political realities of the cold war, especially in America are considerably limited. Puerto Rico still hasn't been made a state in over a century, Vietnam isn't about to do that in less than two decades. Especially after the US military spent the better part of ten years chewing up the landscape there. As with Watchmen, this scenario is borderline ASB.
 
I remember reading that one proposal was the have South Vietnam be declared a protectorate of the United States back in the late 50's/early 60's. However the US wouldn't be able to outright annex both North and South Vietnam, without provoking China. The policy was to preserve the South from becoming communist, not to reunify the nation as a possession.
 
It is my opinion that Alan Moore's grasp of the social and political realities of the cold war, especially in America are considerably limited. Puerto Rico still hasn't been made a state in over a century, Vietnam isn't about to do that in less than two decades. Especially after the US military spent the better part of ten years chewing up the landscape there. As with Watchmen, this scenario is borderline ASB.

We had a guy who could say fuck matter i make my own. Etc. So that changes the social and political and the military realities of the world alot in my opinion
 
Where in Watchmen did it say that Vietnam became the 51st state?I can't remember reading that in the graphic novel.

I suppose the most likely outcome would be for after the war ends, South and North Vietnam split like Korea, the south closely tied to America with large numbers of tropps kept their for awhile, plus American bases.
 
I remember reading that one proposal was the have South Vietnam be declared a protectorate of the United States back in the late 50's/early 60's. However the US wouldn't be able to outright annex both North and South Vietnam, without provoking China. The policy was to preserve the South from becoming communist, not to reunify the nation as a possession.
That was Henry Cabot Lodge Jr's proposal, I think made around the mid-60's.
 
I don't think he was being entirely serious with that bit. It was just a jab at American imperialism.

It wouldn't happen, especially as the 51st state, it would really just fuel the viet-minh who were already accusing independant south vietnam of being an american puppet. Also it would need to be 2 or 3 states
 
The most you'd see is protectorate over SV. Even Territory would be ASB after WWII. As brilliant as Watchmen was as social commentary and deconstruction of the superhero genre, it's not a good source for realistic counterfactuals.

Of course in the WM 'verse with Dr. M. as the ultimate deterrent, I doubt China will do much to stop a US annexation of Indochina.
 
I actually never remember reading that in the comic. Where does it say the US outright annexes Vietnam?

During The Comedian's funeral,the American Flag draping the coffin has 51 Stars on it. Dr.Manhattan also was there to help the USA defeat the Communists.

I remember reading that one proposal was the have South Vietnam be declared a protectorate of the United States back in the late 50's/early 60's. However the US wouldn't be able to outright annex both North and South Vietnam, without provoking China. The policy was to preserve the South from becoming communist, not to reunify the nation as a possession.

I actually remember hearing about something like that,basically like an "American Vietnam" would just be South Vietnam..and the situation in would be like OTL North and South Korea. But the stability of Southeast Asia would be a bit better,due to Thailand being a supporter of the USA and South Vietnam.
 
The idea of a American protected South Vietnam sounds interesting. I would like some more information on it,let's say that SV is made a proterate of the USA. What would NV,Laos and China think? Public reactions? Would SV become the most stable and economically rich nation in Southeast Asia? When would SV get it's independence? Would a powerful SV mean that the NV government might collapse? Like Communist China would let the country possible fall to the South?
 
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