Question

4. What were the goals of U.S. involvement in Vietnam?

Answer 1

The intended goal of the U.S. war in Vietnam was to assist the democratic country of South Vietnam and repel the spread of Communism.

In 1961 Kennedy stated that he would begin to fund and supply the South Vietnamese Army with Weapons and begin to send in american advisers. Kennedy wanted to win the war with a less direct approach from the American Military, but as the presidents changed so did the politics and policies of the Vietnam war.

Kennedy believe that another failure on the part of the United States to gain control and stop communist expansion would fatally damage U.S. credibility with its allies and his own reputation. Kennedy was thus determined to "draw a line in the sand" and prevent a communist victory in Vietnam.