The Rest Is History 72. The Vietnam War
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Jul 8, 2021 
Join Andrew Preston, a Cambridge University Professor of American History, as he discusses the Vietnam War's complex legacy. They explore how the war divided America, shedding light on Eugene McCarthy's presidential campaign and the anti-war movement. Preston emphasizes the war's roots in colonialism and contrasts U.S. and Vietnamese perspectives. The moral ramifications of military actions are examined, along with the transformative impact of media on public perception, culminating in a lively comparison of 'The Deer Hunter' and 'Apocalypse Now'.
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Misconceptions about the Vietnam War
- The iconic photo of Kim Phuc, the girl running from napalm, is often misinterpreted.
- The plane and soldiers were South Vietnamese, highlighting the civil war aspect often overlooked.
Anti-Imperial Imperialism
- The US involvement in Vietnam is considered anti-imperial imperialism.
- Americans aimed to establish South Vietnam as a successful non-communist state, countering the Soviet Union.
Shifting Alliances
- Initial American anxiety about Vietnamese communism wasn't high.
- Ho Chi Minh even collaborated with the OSS against Japan during WWII before Cold War tensions escalated.
