Wyllow Hildner, 09

12-5-17
The Gulf of Tonkin

The Gulf of Tonkin

Was the U.S. planning to go to war in Vietnam before the Gulf of Tonkin incident?

On August 2nd and 4th of 1964, North Vietnam allegedly fired a torpedo towards a U.S.
boat, identified as the U.S.S. Maddox. The U.S. reacted by passing the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
and sending troops to Vietnam to begin their attack. Many believe that this was the start of the
Vietnam War. While it appeared that North Vietnam provoked the U.S. to invade and begin the
Vietnam War, numerous reliable sources show that the U.S. Government was discussing and planning to
go to war months before the Gulf of Tonkin Incident.
Before the Gulf of Tonkin Incident in 1964, the U.S. was already discussing the possibility of
using gradual military force to prevent the spread of communism in North Vietnam and surrounding
countries. In a letter sent to President Lyndon B. Johnson from McGeorge Bundy, Special Assistant for
National Security Affairs, dated May 25th, 1964, he states, It is recommended that you make a
Presidential decision that the U.S. will use selected and carefully graduated military force against North
Vietnam. Bundy uses strong language, such as Presidential decision, and a forceful argument to
persuade President Johnson to act against communism. He strongly pushes Johnson to provide the
option of military force. Based on Bundys recommendation and the fact that the letter was sent about
two months before the Gulf of Tonkin incident, it is clear to assume that the U.S. was speaking of the
potential to go to war with North Vietnam.
To add, the only reason stopping the U.S. from going to war with North Vietnam at an earlier
date was the possible negative reactions from American citizens and allies in South Vietnam. In a
telegram sent by the Dean Rusk, of the Department of State, to Henry Cabot Lodge II, of the Embassy in
Vietnam, dated May 22nd, 1964, he states, Publicity seems almost inevitable to us here for any attack
that did significant damage. He then goes on to say, ... We do recognize that something a little
stronger than the present OPLAN 34-A might be carried out on the basis you propose. The U.S.
government found it necessary to take the potential opinions of citizens and allies into account when
speaking of Vietnam combat and was only stopped from following through by the possibility of these
opinions. It is also clear that the U.S. had people stationed in OPLAN already conducting confidential
insertions into the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. They considered this to be too weak. The claims
made in this telegram make it simple to conclude that the U.S. was planning to attack prior to when this
telegram was sent. He adds that the U.S. will continue to ponder this issue and create a revised plan to
be carried through.
While the North Vietnamese did strike the U.S. first, that is irrelevant because the U.S. was
initially planning on going to war. The U.S. was so driven on stopping the spread of communism, that
they would be willing to go to great lengths, including the initiation of combat, to achieve their goal. In a
letter sent to President Lyndon B. Johnson from Special Assistant McGeorge Bundy, dated May 25th,
1964, he states, The U.S. cannot tolerate the loss of Southeast Asia to Communism. He proceeds to
state, Without a decision to resort to military action if necessary, the present prospect is not hopeful.
To add, a Joint Resolution written by the U.S. Congress in response to the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, dated
Wyllow Hildner, 09
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The Gulf of Tonkin

August 7th, 1964, states, ...The United States is, therefore, prepared, as the President determined, to
take all necessary steps, including the use of armed force, to assist any member or protocol state of the
Southeast Asia Defense Treaty The letter shows us that the U.S. was so motivated to expel
communism all together, that they pushed for the choice of military force. The paranoia they had for
communism was so significant that they were simply waiting for something to happen to make their
attack seem logical and called for. Thats where the Gulf of Tonkin Incident comes into action and makes
it appear that the U.S. was defending themselves. After this incident, they sprung to action to receive
permission, through the resolution, to invade and attack North Vietnam.
To conclude, it is accurate that the North Vietnamese fired first in the initiation of the Vietnam
War, but many reliable sources show us that the U.S. Regime was discussing the possibility of going to
war before the Gulf of Tonkin incident in 1964.
As U.S. citizens, we should use this information to keep our government more accountable in
the future and encourage them to keep us informed of possible upcoming events that could not only
affect our American citizens, but the world as a whole.