Question:

How well do you think Nixon’s Vietnamization strategy worked? Explain.

Sign in or register to answer this question

Answers:

May 25, 2010

Posted by knowledge

( 0 ratings )

Hi p43boutelle,

Soon after taking office. President Richard Nixon introduced his policy of "vietnamization".

First, it was necessary to reduce American casualty rates and the number of combat troops in Vietnam. The vietnamization plan was to encourage the South Vietnamese to ultimately eliminate the need for American ground forces and to take more responsibility.

It was hoped that this policy would eventually enable the United States to withdraw gradually all their soldiers from Vietnam.

As the US would not withdraw abrubtly, the policy of Vietnamization would require time. The domestic political objective was to convince the public that the Army of South Vietnam could eventually handle the war on their own.

In June, 1969, Nixon announced the first of the US troop withdrawals. The 540,000 US troops were to be reduced by 25,000. Another 60,000 were to leave the following December.

Eventually the plan was a failure though it silenced the critics back home temporarily.

Get more details here