How did the rapid advances in war technology lead the US into the Vietnam War?

Answer 1

It wasn't technology that led to the war, but politics. Usually, in a war new technology is developed because of need, but doesn't lead to the war. Good example of this is the civil war. Many things were developed durning the civil war to improve fighting.

Answer 2

There are many reasons that pushed the US deeper into the Vietnam War that surprised many political scientists and historians. The policies of President Lyndon Johnson were not created in a vacuum. The US Congress seemed all to eager to leave the war's details to the executive branch. This, however, was not a rogue president in action.Many observers believed that the revolution in the technology of war increased the premium placed on the capacity for swift and secret action residing in the Presidency.

And, neither did President Johnson, the US Congress or public opinion see this as executive "overplay". Certainly not in the early years of the Vietnam War. Clearly even up the Tonkin Gulf matter in 1964.

Later critics of Johnson, such as Senator Fulbright wrote in 1961 that as the Commander in Chief the President has full responsibility, which in modern times cannot be shared. Fulbright was not alone.

In 1963, political scientist Richard Neustadt informed a Senate committee that while the Constitution had contemplated that war decisions on peace and war would be a joint effort between the President and Congress. This, Neustadt declared could no longer work in the nuclear world and the rapidity of world military events.

This idea was still in force among political leaders into 1970. Even Eric Goldman, a historian who served in the Johnson administration, saw no alternative to rapid and even secret operations conducted by a US president.