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The US became involved in Vietnam when asked by the legitimate government of South Vietnam to aid in fighting the insidious attempts at its takeover by armed communist forces. Coming in the midst of the Cold War with the Russians (who supported the North), it was initially seen as a struggle to avoid communist expansion in Asia.

The war was not lost, but neither was it won. After the Paris Peace Accords of 1973, the US unilaterally withdrew its forces under the policy called "Vietnamization". The struggle failed because the US government failed to commit resources for a war, but instead tried to fight the communists in a "police action". Eventually the level of military casualties, various anti-war movements, and unfavorable media coverage made the war unpopular. Those who saw communism as a legitimate political movement (rather than as dictators and terrorists) eventually succeeded in preventing the continuation of the American efforts in Vietnam.

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14y ago

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