Korean War Podcast

President Johnson decides to commit American Ground Troops to South Vietnam and to bomb North Vietnam, that is despite his own doubts as to whether a war in South Vietnam can be won, that is shared by Secretary of Defence Robert Mac Namara. There are those in the American Government who oppose this including under secretary of state George Ball, his biography is given.

A biography of General Westmoreland the commander of the American military in South Vietnam from 1964 to 1968. The Viet Cong launch several attacks in the latter part of 1964 but for the first time, regular North Vietnamese Army regiments take to the field in South Vietnam.

North Vietnamese torpedo boats attack an American Destroyer in the Gulf of Tonkin, the attack fails. However it is reports of a second attack which did not take place which makes the congress pass a resolution which allow President Johnson to take what have military action he wishes to in Vietnam, it would be the legal base for the Vietnam War.

A profile of American Secretary of Defence Robert Mac Namara. The gap between the positive view of how the war was going by General Harkins and MACV using doubtful data and that far less rosy view presented by journalists and junior Army officers who had served in South Vietnam and who witnessed the growth of the Viet Cong revolt in the countryside.

Following the murder of Diem there is political chaos in South Vietnam, there is a second coup within just two months as the South Vietnamese Army Generals struggle for power between themselves. This leaves support for the Government of South Vietnam even weaker among the people. President Kennedy is killed and replaced by President Johnson.

As Buddhist protests against President Diem grow in South Vietnam. After much debate President Kennedy agrees to the demand of ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge to arrange a coup to bring down president Diem. As a result of that coup, Diem is murdered in cold blood shot in the back of an armoured personnel carrier.

Even with the Viet Cong revolt in the south going badly for the Government. President Diem now picks a fight with the majority Buddhist population, this leads to violent protest in the Cities of South Vietnam and monks burning themselves to death. The American Government begins to question its support to Diem. A biography of American ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge.

Events in Vietnam and Laos in 1962 and the first week of 1963. Despite the increase in American military support for the South Vietnamese Government, the Viet Cong revolt grows in scale. This is shown in the first week of 1963, when the Viet Cong inflict a serious reserve on the South Vietnamese Army Army near the village of Ap Bac.

Event in Vietnam and Laos in 1961. A biography of President Kennedy. President Kennedy greatly increases the number of American military personnel from less than thousand to over sixteen thousand by November 1963 in order to help the South Vietnamese Government to resist the Viet Cong revolt in the country.

Events in Vietnam and Laos in 1959 and 1960. In 1959 the National Liberation Front is formed by the Communist they became commonly known as the Viet Cong with aid from North Vietnam the Communist revolt in the South becomes much more serious. Details of events in Laos up to the end of 1960 is told. The corruption of South Vietnamese President Diem's brother and sister in law shocks the nation.