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From: rcd@opus.UUCP (Dick Dunn)
Newsgroups: net.politics,net.misc
Subject: Domino theory
Message-ID: <560@opus.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 27-Jun-84 02:19:56 EDT
Article-I.D.: opus.560
Posted: Wed Jun 27 02:19:56 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 22-Jun-84 07:33:16 EDT
References: <279@cepu.UUCP> <1179@rti.UUCP>
Organization: NBI, Boulder
Lines: 31

I'd like to play devil's advocate on this one:

>recall that the original domino theory was that, if we didn't save Viet Nam
>from the communists, that Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and on would go next.
>
>Check who is running Cambodia (kampuchea) and Laos now.
>...[other examples of fall of S.E. Asian countries]...
>Tell me again that the 'domino theory' isn't valid.

Charlie Martin has a point here.  Of course, just because the theory says
"A leads to B" and you have one instance of A followed by B you haven't
proven the theory.  I'd like to pose an alternative theory:

   We didn't prevent the fall of Viet Nam, but we did, in many cases, make
   our presence felt in rather obnoxious ways, for many years.  Recall also
   that we didn't come in at the start - we sort of took over for the
   French.  They had been battling Ho Chi Minh & Co. for decades but
   apparently they finally wanted out of the colony business.  Thus the
   Viet Namese were likely more than a little annoyed with Western troops
   trying to run their show.  They might have been happy to get help from
   anywhere, including Chinese communists.  This attitude could easily
   spill over into adjoining countries.  Is it possible that, had we not
   been there, they would have been pushing the communists out instead of
   taking their help (and getting swallowed in the bargain)?

As I say, I'm mostly posting this to play devil's advocate; I'd like to
hear ideas for/against the domino theory and for/against others of the ilk
I've suggested.
-- 
Dick Dunn	{hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcd		(303)444-5710 x3086
	...Cerebus for dictator!