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President Johnson's main strategies in Vietnam were escalation of military involvement and implementing the policy of "Vietnamisation".
President Lyndon B. Johnson escalated the United States' military involvement in Vietnam significantly. He believed that a strong military presence was essential to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia, following the "Domino Theory" which suggested that if one country fell to communism, neighbouring countries would follow. To achieve this, Johnson increased the number of American troops in Vietnam from around 16,000 advisors in 1963 to over 500,000 combat troops by 1968. This massive build-up was intended to strengthen the South Vietnamese government and military against the communist North Vietnamese forces and the Viet Cong insurgents.
Another key strategy was the implementation of "Vietnamisation". This policy aimed to gradually transfer the responsibility of the war from American forces to the South Vietnamese. Johnson hoped that by training and equipping the South Vietnamese military, they would eventually be able to defend their own country without direct American involvement. This strategy was also intended to reduce American casualties and address growing anti-war sentiment back home in the United States.
Johnson also authorised extensive bombing campaigns, such as Operation Rolling Thunder, which aimed to destroy North Vietnamese supply lines and industrial bases. The idea was to weaken the enemy's ability to wage war and force them to negotiate for peace. However, these bombings often had limited success and sometimes even strengthened the resolve of the North Vietnamese.
In summary, President Johnson's strategies in Vietnam focused on increasing military involvement to combat communism, while also attempting to build up South Vietnamese forces to eventually take over the fight. These strategies reflected his commitment to containing communism but also highlighted the complexities and challenges of the Vietnam War.
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