WI: The US made a hearts and minds campaign for the Cold War nationalists

This thread and another similar recent one both have people (myself included) arguing that the US would have been better off supporting Ho Chi minh. At the start he practically begged the US for support:

Our Vietnamese people, after so many years of spoliation and devastation, is just beginning its building-up work. It needs security and freedom, first to achieve internal prosperity and welfare, and later to bring its small contribution to world-reconstruction.

These security and freedom can only be guaranteed by our independence from any colonial power, and our free cooperation with all other powers. It is with this firm conviction that we request of the United Sates as guardians and champions of World Justice to take a decisive step in support of our independence.

What we ask has been graciously granted to the Philippines. Like the Philippines our goal is full independence and full cooperation with the UNITED STATES. We will do our best to make this independence and cooperation profitable to the whole world.
http://rationalrevolution.net/war/collection_of_letters_by_ho_chi_.htm

But Truman never replied...

Some similar situations occured elsewhere, to varying degrees, with post war nationalist anti-colonial movements.

Of course, in OTL, the US ignored the abuses of some prtty horrible governments as long as they opposed communist nationalist movements.

But what if the US instead made a play for those movements? What if there was a realpolitk recognition that they would be the eventual winners over their corrupt opponents, and instead of opposing them, the US tried to draw them in?

What would it take for the US to support:
Mao Zedong
Ho Chi Minh
Fidel Castro
Other similar leaders...
 
What would it take for the US to support:
Mao Zedong
Ho Chi Minh
Fidel Castro
Other similar leaders...

1. Nixon. Alternately, Khrushchev in the 40s, no Korean War, PRC retakes Taiwan, America shrugs and accepts reality.

2. A big falling-out with the French. Maybe some French division runs away, leaving an American flank uncovered, and Patton hasn't cut the other bastard's throat quickly enough.

3. ...doubtful. Cuba is part of America's back yard.
 

Blair152

Banned
This thread and another similar recent one both have people (myself included) arguing that the US would have been better off supporting Ho Chi minh. At the start he practically begged the US for support:


http://rationalrevolution.net/war/collection_of_letters_by_ho_chi_.htm

But Truman never replied...

Some similar situations occured elsewhere, to varying degrees, with post war nationalist anti-colonial movements.

Of course, in OTL, the US ignored the abuses of some prtty horrible governments as long as they opposed communist nationalist movements.

But what if the US instead made a play for those movements? What if there was a realpolitk recognition that they would be the eventual winners over their corrupt opponents, and instead of opposing them, the US tried to draw them in?

What would it take for the US to support:
Mao Zedong
Ho Chi Minh
Fidel Castro
Other similar leaders...
It would have made things a lot easier for us.
 
1 is unlikely. The US was allied with Chiang and everyone backed him.
3 is also unlikely. The US had strong ties to Cuba, so any regime change is out.
2 could happen if someone took self-determination seriously.

Perhaps if Henry A. Wallace becomes president, things like scenario 2 would be likely. (of course, it would weaken the "special relationship" with the UK. It should be noted that IOTL Roald Dahl asked his superiors in London what they would support Henry Wallace being after he got dropped as VP. The only thing they objected to was his becoming Secretary of State, which could conceivably work as well...)
 
I agree with jaybird. Everyone thought that reapproachment between the US and PRC was imminent until the PLA crossed the Yalu River.

OK, so the POD for that would probably have to be that the US doesn't decide to try to conquer the North entirely after Inchon, but returns to the status quo ante or more likely an arrangement with a more defensible border, or probably reducing the North to a shadow of its former self.
 
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