Why did the Americans arm the Vietcong...

[toothrot]

... in order to fight the French?

[anonymous-user]

Probably for the same reason that they armed the Mujahideen to fight the Russkies; internal politics, "Your enemies enemy..." and all that.

Strange thing is that governments NEVER learn from past mistakes, christ knows who we're arming right now that will come back to bite us in the arse 15 years down the line...

[350GT]

The funny thing is that they were happy arming the Mujaheddin back then, but now if they come across these type of chaps they label them terrorists, or enemy combatants, and ignore the Geneva convention. How standards change.

[Spiritual_Beggar]

The Americans always seem to have a problem with France in international politics.

I think France should just ask for the Statue of Liberty back if this is the thanks they get for helping them fight for independence from the British.

[Sheets Tabuer]

The americans had a deep suspicion of colonialism after the second world war and certainly didn't want any empire in the far east having just fought the japanese.

They believed the 1st and 2nd world wars were started because of colonialism. They believed one state was jealous over the expansion of another, they thought if a country were to be strengthen and able to govern themselves they would not become part of an empire and a state would not desire to have an empire because its rival didn't have one.

They put spanners in the works with ours and the french empires.

Edited by Sheets Tabuer on Friday 26th June 22:56

[350GT]

Any links to the US arming the VC against the French?

[Eric Mc]

Spiritual_Beggar said:

The Americans always seem to have a problem with France in international politics.

I think France should just ask for the Statue of Liberty back if this is the thanks they get for helping them fight for independence from the British.

Except when the French armed the Americans in their war of revolution against the British.

[anonymous-user]

350GT said:

Any links to the US arming the VC against the French?

I think the OP might have meant the Viet Minh (who received a fair bit of funding from the US, amongst others, to fight the French occupation), many of the members later went on to join the Vietcong.

[toothrot]

well I called them the VC so that the American readers might understand who I was on about

[Pesty]

never heard of the us supplying the VC.


They did of course also support and arm Sadam Hussain to fight against Iran

[MacGee]

did they arm the NVA...not the VC's.

[anonymous-user]

If you like flying, the Vietnam war, and you want something good to read, have a look at Chickenhawk by Robert Mason. Its truly fantastic.

[350GT]

Pesty said:

never heard of the us supplying the VC.


They did of course also support and arm Sadam Hussain to fight against Iran

And supplied arms to Iran...

[V8A*ndy]

Eric Mc said:

Except when the French armed the British in their war of revolution against the British.

EFA.

[Eric Mc]

V8A*ndy said:

Eric Mc said:

Except when the French armed the British in their war of revolution against the British.

EFA.

Yhey weren't all born in Britain.

[V8A*ndy]

Eric Mc said:

V8A*ndy said:

Eric Mc said:

Except when the French armed the British in their war of revolution against the British.

EFA.

Yhey weren't all born in Britain.

The ones that drank tea were though .

[toothrot]

Eric Mc said:

V8A*ndy said:

Eric Mc said:

Except when the French armed the British in their war of revolution against the British.

EFA.

Yhey weren't all born in Britain.

So what about the "Irish" that have never left Boston?

Can't have it two ways now old chap

[Jimbeaux]

Spiritual_Beggar said:

The Americans always seem to have a problem with France in international politics.

I think France should just ask for the Statue of Liberty back if this is the thanks they get for helping them fight for independence from the British.

Nah, they were paid back in much larger terms about 60+ years ago.

[Jimbeaux]

toothrot said:

well I called them the VC so that the American readers might understand who I was on about

The VC or the Viet Minh; which one?

[350GT]

Jimbeaux said:

Spiritual_Beggar said:

The Americans always seem to have a problem with France in international politics.

I think France should just ask for the Statue of Liberty back if this is the thanks they get for helping them fight for independence from the British.

Nah, they were paid back in much larger terms about 60+ years ago.

There is a large proportion of yanky doodles who forget whet the french did for the US, (which led to near bankruptcy, and as a result, the French Revolution), as well as the British against the french to give them the country they now have. The 'we saved your asses' argument is very old indeed, especially from folks who will give no-one else their due.