The Vietnamization plan provided for a gradual, phased withdrawal of American combat forces, combined with an expanded effort to train and equip South Vietnam to take over military responsibility for its own defense. Toward this end, Nixon and his advisors-including Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird-developed a new strategy they called Vietnamization. troops and publicly expressed a desire to achieve “peace with honor” in Vietnam. ![]() He rejected calls from the anti-war movement to order an immediate withdrawal of U.S. The enemy forces had absorbed tremendous punishment but remained determined to overthrow the U.S.-supported government of South Vietnam and reunite the country under Communist rule.įacing intense pressure from a war-weary public and widespread Vietnam War protests, Nixon sought a way to disengage American combat forces without appearing to abandon South Vietnam to the communists. military commitment seemingly had made little progress in defeating communist North Vietnam and its Viet Cong guerrilla allies. had been sending combat troops to fight in Vietnam since 1965, and some 31,000 American lives had been lost. Nixon took office in January 1969, the U.S.
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