Guenter lewy is a germanborn american author and political scientist who is a professor emeritus of political science at the university of massachusetts amherst. Pdf vietnam war exit of the americans 19731975 american war. America in vietnam by guenter lewy, paperback barnes. America in vietnam by lewy, guenter, 1923publication date 1980 topics vietnam war, 19611975 publisher. His works span several topics, but he is most often associated with his 1978 book on the vietnam war, america in vietnam, and several controversial works that deal with the applicability of the term genocide to various historical events. Lewy contends that the united states actions in vietnam were neither illegal nor immoral, and that tales of american atrocities were greatly exaggerated in what he understands as a veritable industry. Lewy, a university of massachusetts political scientist, aspires to the cold objectivity of a. Maps, charts, tables, appendixes, notes, note on military records. Some evidence, perhaps even important evidence, remains unavailable, but so voluminous were. On strategy a critical analysis of the vietnam war. America in vietnam is frequently characterized as a revisionist guetner of the vietnam war. This is a mustread for anyone desiring a clear understanding of this pivotal time period in american history. Lewy documented his claim with references to statements from the joint chiefs of staff and the state department.
Inevitably, as time passes, scholars will step in with their file cards and begin the autopsy. Based on a variety of classified military records, lewy provides the first systematic analysis of the course of the vietnam war, the reasons for the failure of american strategy and tactics, and the causes of the final collapse of south vietnam. Guenter lewy born 1923, germany is an author and political scientist who is a professor emeritus at the university of massachusetts amherst. Buy a cheap copy of america in vietnam book by guenter lewy. Today such tactics are much less necessary, for communists are welcome in the radical movement and can freely participate in its activities. America in vietnam by guenter lewy and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Guenter lewy summer heat, anne clarke, dec 1, 2002, fiction vicksburg, situated on the bluffs overlooking the mississippi river, has played an important role in the states history, from its heroic participation in the war between the. Cold war and vietnam oah magazine of history oxford. His works span several topics, but he is most often associated with his 1978 book on the vietnam war, america in vietnam, and several controversial works that deal with. America in vietnam is a book by guenter lewy about americas role in the vietnam war. Until the emergence of the new left in the 1960s, in order to extend its political influence the communist party had to establish front organizations or infiltrate and take over established political groups. The united states and the vietnam war the british library. America in vietnam is a book by guenter lewy about america s role in the vietnam war. The book is highly influential, although it has remained controversial even decades after its publication.
In vietnam there were never enough infantry battalions to fully suppress the communists. The book is highly influential, although it has remained controversial. Any war as long, fatiguing, and divisive as the american involvement in vietnam merits whatever clarification new research and analysis can bring. Ho chi minh was more of a nationalist than a communist and therefore, america neednt have worried about losing vietnam. Gaiduk, the soviet unionandthe vietnam war chicago. The truthful picture is very different from the mass media story. Guenter lewy born august 22, 1923 is a germanborn american author and political scientist who is a professor emeritus of political science at the university of massachusetts amherst. America in vietnam may 29, communism in american political life sep, in using the phrases peace activists or peace demonstrations, lewy often puts quotation marks around the word peace, implying alternative motivations for the activism. The person most responsible for this outcome was general william westmoreland. Early in my tenure as his special assistant for vietnam, he declared that the conflict was an intelligence sideshow. Guenter lewy quotes author of the armenian massacres in. Lewy had suggested that his america in vietnampublished inwould clear away the cobwebs of mythology that inhibit the correct understanding of what went onand what went wrong in vietnam. Lewy later said that he could not recall if he had actually seen the alleged report or simply been told of its contents. The complex involvement of the soviet union and china in the war is skillfully analyzed in ilya v.
In 1939 he migrated from germany to mandatory palestine. Mcmahon, major problems in the history of the vietnam war, 3 ed. The vietnam war in history chapter 1 the vietnam war. A conservative anticommunist supporter of the us war in vietnam, lewy argues that the us could not have won the war, and that military. Guenter lewy demonstrates that rolling thunder and linebacker both. The relation between north vietnam s strategy and the effectiveness of u. Assistance command vietnam strictly forbade the killing of unarmed civilians or prisoners of war. Lewy tackles a number of issue, many of which were and still are emotionally loaded. However, guenter lewy argues that such figures were exaggerated and that there were never more than 35,000 prisoners of all kinds in the whole country. America in vietnam by guenter lewy overdrive rakuten. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading america in vietnam. Lewys central argument is that the united states failed in vietnam because of the incompetence of its military. The us limited troops to south vietnam, despite a lot of pressure from the military to go into cambodia, laos, and north vietnam.
Guenter lewy, some politicalmilitary lessons of the vietnam war, from parameters. Guenter lewy born 1923, germany is an author and political scientist who is a professor emeritus at the university of massachusetts. American intervention in vietnam, the role of congress, the executive and the. Vietnam, one of the best documented, most reliable, and most evenhanded of the countless books on. Guenter lewy, america in vietnam, new york, oxford university press, 1978, p. Guenter lewy is at university of massachusetts, amherst emeritus. For examples, see guenter lewy, america in vietnam new york. The main enemy, the existential threat to america and the whole western world, he reminded me, was. America in vietnam kindle edition by lewy, guenter. His works span several topics, but he is most often associated with his 1978 book on the vietnam war, america in vietnam, and several controversial works that deal with the applicability of the term genocide to. Only two scholars deal with the subject at any length, however. America in vietnam guenter lewy oxford university press.
Guenter lewy, in his classic america in vietnam, one of the best documented, most reliable, and most evenhanded of the countless books on vietnam, notes, yet despite the pressure for a high. P e r h a p s the only thing various students of the vietnam war agree upon is that it was a. Based on a variety of classified military records, lewy provides the first systematic analysis of the course of the vietnam war, the reasons for the failure of. As guenther lewy notes in america in vietnam 1978, his groundbreaking defense of americas effort to defend the independence of south vietnam, from the. Four regimes and their lessons, guenter lewy, aug 26. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. See guenter lewy, the war that could have been won, the new york sun, 24 november 2006. Guenter lewy cared enough about the truth to put together this somewhat dry, but engaging, analysis of the facts surrounding the uss involvement in the vietnam war. America in vietnam by lewy, guenter, 1923publication date 1980 topics vietnam war, 19611975 publisher oxford. It should be noted that lewy himself has recently praised moyars book as an excellent contribution to the literature on the war. Atrocities happened, but they were never intentional on a largescale basis. This was and is an official policy of the united states.
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