The ignominious retreat from Saigon was 50 years ago. Time to pop the champagne?
Today, April 30, marks 50 years since the Vietnam War ended. At the time, the US engagement in South Vietnam was the longest period of conflict in which Americans had participated, eclipsed subsequently by the US Armed Forces’ efforts to free Afghanistan from the brutal terrorist rule of the Taliban. Both ended badly for the United States. In the case of Vietnam, the Trump administration reportedly declined the annual opportunity to celebrate with the Vietnamese government in the ignominious defeat of America’s will to win in the Southeast Asia conflict.
Withdrawals From Vietnam and Afghanistan
The Biden administration’s bungled retreat from Afghanistan and America’s defeat in Vietnam are emblematic of the US government’s devastating misadventures. What’s to celebrate? One can only wonder if the festivities are in the planning stages for next year’s fifth anniversary of the Abbey Gate bombing at Kabul’s airport. Nevertheless, The New York Times is aghast that Trump would have the temerity to direct the diplomatic mission in Hanoi, Vietnam, to pass on the celebration of one of the darkest days in US military history. Nonetheless, the NYT explained:
“Four US officials who insisted on anonymity to describe sensitive diplomatic decision-making said that Washington had recently directed senior diplomats — including Marc Knapper, the US ambassador to Vietnam — to stay away from activities tied to the anniversary on April 30. That includes a hotel reception on April 29 with senior government leaders and an elaborate parade the next day — gatherings hosted by Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon.”
Several reasons come to mind for the current administration to decline the commemoration of what Vietnam refers to as the “American War.” Foremost among them is the insult it would be to the almost 60,000 American soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice there. In the same NYT article, the writer lauded a plan to expand the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, the result of a “hard-earned bond” between the United States and Vietnam. Additionally, the article enthusiastically pointed out that the museum, “Vietnam’s most visited cultural institution, chronicles American war atrocities.” Is there a museum that venerates how North Vietnam and the Viet Cong brought death and destruction to innocent South Vietnamese villagers? Estimates of civilian assassination deaths during the Tet Offensive in Hue alone amounted to as many as 6,000.
What is sad, however, is that there was no evidence that the Gray Lady acknowledged National Vietnam War Veterans Day on March 29. This blatant failure to revere the sacrifices Americans made could not be more disrespectful. During President Donald Trump’s first term, he declared in a Presidential Proclamation: “To ensure the sacrifices of the 9 million heroes who served during this difficult chapter of our country’s history are remembered for generations to come, I signed into law the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017, designating March 29 of each year as National Vietnam War Veterans Day.” For the NYT, apparently that is not news “fit to print.”
Tariff Negotiations Part of Calculus?
Another factor may be in play: the negotiations on Trump’s tariffs on Vietnam. The current Vietnamese offer is to zero out its tariffs on US goods. RealClear Politics reported, “White House trade advisor Peter Navarro said President Trump is rejecting Vietnam’s offer to zero out their tariffs on American products.” Navarro observed, “When you have a country like Vietnam — let’s take Vietnam — when they come to us and say, ‘We’ll go to zero tariffs,’ that means nothing to us because it’s the non-tariff cheating that matters … What does Vietnam do? They dump into our markets … They engage in intellectual property theft.” Focusing on tariffs alone would not level the economic playing field, and Trump is not interested in meaningless gestures.
“On its own, the decision to bar U.S. officials from next week’s anniversary celebrations is unlikely to inflict serious damage to the bilateral relationship,” The Diplomat concluded. “Over the past two decades, Vietnam and the U.S. have transcended their painful past to become close economic, and increasingly security, partners.” The reconciliation process is well underway, and Vietnam has gained far more from the relationship than the United States. Some suggest that for US diplomats to recognize and participate in Vietnam’s special day would be magnanimous. Those who convey such sentiments forget one thing: Magnanimity is best served up by the winner.
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