Policy Precedents

<p>This thesis identifies a force inherent in the national security decision-making process which contributed to the American involvement in Viet Nam. Termed policy precedents this force may be outside the control of the unwary decision maker and can result in irrational international behavior on the part of the nation. Once a policy or program becomes totally enmeshed within the governmental organization it becomes such a firm commitment that deviation from within becomes virtually impossible. At this point the means supplants the end and past policy drives present and future policies. Flexibility in decision making is lost and only a force from outside the government can effect a change. To develop this thesis the author employs the historical method and traces the development of American policy as directed toward Indochina and Viet Nam during the period 1944 to 1961. Policies are analyzed to isolate American national interests and objectives to determine the courses of action considered and to identify the stated rationale for selection of the final policy. The classical or pure rationality decision-making model is employed to assist in this analysis. To accomplish this research a great deal of material was reviewed analyzed and isolated. The available literature both the limited primary and voluminous secondary sources were reviewed.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>