HOW DID VIETNAM HAPPEN?

BUREAUCRATIC AND IDEOSYNCRATIC DIMENSIONS

· THE “POLITICS OF INADVERTENCE” OR “SLIPPERY SLOPE”

· INEPT EXECUTION

· PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS

· PRESIDENT’S PLACE IN HISTORY

· GROUPTHINK

· TYRANNY OF THE MILITARY

· FAILURE TO UNLEASH THE MILITARY

CONCEPTUAL DIMENSIONS

· U.S. EXPANSIONISM

· MISPERCEPTION

· U.S. CREDIBILITY AND IMAGE

· ANTI-NATIONALISM

· RATIONAL POLICY: “THE SYSTEM WORKED”