Word: indochina
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...AMERICAN involvement in Indochina has been long and cruel, both for the peoples of Indochina--torn by the upheaval of revolution--and for the people of the United States, divided over the loss of American lives halfway around the world in a conflict that seemed to be no threat to American security. Finally, it looks as though this long and agonizing commitment is coming to an end and the peoples of Indochina--in Cambodia and Vietnam--will be able to achieve a long-sought self-determination...
American military aid has been largely responsible for stoking the fires of violence and death in Indochina: over $112 billion and 55,000 Americans were lost in Vietnam alone. And now, while President Ford continues to invoke the domino theory as justification for more money for more bloodshed in Vietnam and Cambodia, all indicators clearly show that Congress is prepared to make the final withdrawal of U.S. commitments in Indochina. In the past two weeks it has become apparent that Congress is going to reject Ford's proposal for military aid--$222 million to Cambodia and $300 million to Vietnam...
Despite its recent brief reappearance, the "domino theory" is not a sensible base for U.S. policy; if taken seriously and literally, it might well mean sending U.S. troops back into Indochina sooner or later. The dominoes immediately adjoining Viet Nam may well fall to Communism if the present Saigon government collapses, though what kind of Communism, with what admixture of neutralism or nationalism, is far from clear. Strategically, this would not matter very much to the U.S. The more remote dominoes that do matter-Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines-would probably not be seriously affected (see box page...
What about long-range U.S. aims in the area? Thirty years after the start of the Indochina War, in which nearly 50,000 Americans died and the U.S. spent $150 billion, Washington today seems to have no coherent policy in Indochina, and not very many options...
Almost certainly, a new balance of forces in Indochina will have to come about, with no military but some U.S. economic presence. The U.S. will have to find its own new, relatively minor role in the theater of its past failures and misjudgments. Hard as it may seem to imagine now, it may even be able to share in the rebuilding...