Q&A
The most important thing about the Arab-Israeli War of 1973 was its emphasis on strategic surprise. The surprise attack on Israel on Yom Kippur demonstrated that armies and military forces need to be vigilant and prepared even on religious holidays, and never let up for a second lest their enemies take advantage of their weaknesses. The Israeli Army learned that, despite being ambushed in a surprise attack, they were still able to defeat their Arab enemies in a conventional war; however, greater planning and vigilance would have to be maintained to avoid these surprises again.
How did the international security environment change in the period between 1989 and 2001?
Between the Cold War and 9/11, the international security environment was in an interesting place; after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Pentagon and the US military-industrial complex needed to change its strategies to justify their large budgets; to that end, the cultural shift moved from the USSR as America’s enemies to non-state actors like Islamic terrorists, Osama Bin Laden, and more. The Middle East became the new setting for the international security theater, as evidenced by the Gulf War.
What characterized the evolution of US military approaches in Vietnam from initial employment through 1967?
The early parts of the Vietnam War saw America on the offensive, escalating their presence and their attacks quickly with bombing and ground attacks. Attrition was also a significant component of American strategy, as North Vietnamese supplies and resources were constantly denied to them. As the early victories gave way to increasing losses due to the unpredictable strategies of the Viet Cong, the United States began to slowly back out of Vietnam, hoping to shunt the responsibility to South Vietnam as they slowly withdrew from the country.
What were the difficulties involved in executing Vietnamization as an exit strategy?
When it came time to pull out of Vietnam, the US government started to move toward transferring military responsibilities to South Vietnam. However, this proved challenging, as the South Vietnamese forces were not prepared to handle the overwhelming forces of the Viet Cong, the US pulling out because of their own lack of progress and the increasing lack of popularity of the war on the home front. The Army of the Republic of Vietnam did not have proper training and equipment to handle North Vietnam.
What is the essence of George F. Kennan’s article “The Sources of Soviet Conduct”? Why did the Truman administration embrace the concept?
Kennan’s article “The Sources of Soviet Conduct” served to highlight the perceived threat of Soviet Communism as an insidious threat to capitalist America, noting that the Soviet Strategy was not in open war but in taking advantages of weaknesses in capitalism throughout the world to spread Communism like a disease. The Truman administration embraced Kennan’s concepts out of fear that its former World War II ally would serve to overthrow them now that they both enjoyed the military power that their victory in that war enjoyed (and offered a convenient enemy for America to rally against after the Axis were defeated).
How did miscalculations contribute to the outbreak of the Korean War?
Truman was not ready for the Soviet invasion of South Korea, as his military strategists were more worried about Europe’s security than Asia’s after the end of World War II. Despite being concerned about the threat of Soviet Russia, they underestimated the strength of the Soviet’s resolve and their focus on the East as a major hub for spreading Communism. As a result, the US was taken by surprise, and – considering they believed that Japan was the key to control of that region – they decided to intervene in order to prevent that country from being invaded by the Soviets as well, leading to the Korean War.
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