History
Discussion 1
During the Second World War, U.S used atomic weaponry against Japan and in 1945, U.S and the Soviet Union planned to attack the Japanese mainland. The combat was based on ending the Japans war and saving the Americans. However, the use of atomic bomb was not successful and U.S was unjustifiable because the bomb only represented the atomic power but was not associated with strategic ways of ending the war (Wainstock, chapter 5). In addition, U.S just decided to drop the bomb which killed innocent people. This was not the best way to end the war since it was an inhumane act. I believe that Japanese were not ready to surrender but they were ready for invasion which they named ‘Decisive Battle’. When the atomic bomb was dropped in Tokyo, Japanese military leaders had a superior power, allied and all resources to invade the Americans (Wainstock, chapter 5). Thus, U.S could not target the Japanese civilians but rather they could fight the armed forces and leave the innocent souls.
Discussion 2
Following the end of Second World War, U.S established the ‘Containment policy’ for the purpose of maintaining national security and preventing Communism. The policy in Asia was based on establishing strong economies of free trade and capitalism (Phillips, 60). Truman wanted the imperial powers of Europe to be brought in East Asia to strengthen the regime. Thus, the containment policy in Asia was adopted from Europe though there was a difference in that Asian countries were under Japanese dominion and they did not have democracy of capitalism (Phillips, 61). However, the Containment policy in Asia did not succeed because the attempt of US administration in forming model states led to the cultural imperialism. In Europe, the Containment policy was proposed by George C. Marshall in 1947. The policy was intended to aid the European economy and fight the Communist parties. Marshall invited the Soviet Union to discuss the matters of financial aid toward the Europe but it refused. The Soviet Union implemented a blockade but the European nations had already created the NATO organization for preventing the attack from Soviet Union (Phillips, 66). Generally, the Containment policy led to Warsaw Pact between Europe and Soviet Union.
Discussion 3
The concept of ‘Organization man’ asserts that year 1950 was a period of conformity. During this period, American businesses were flourishing and White collar workers were required. However, men who existed during the period of great depression and second war entered in the organization and started working (Whyte, 3). Whyte criticized that these men were actual individuals but the American society gave them the opportunity of being ‘organization men’. The concept of ‘organization men’ does not exists today because there are many changes such as technological advances which has brought the concept of ‘The Well Rounded Man’ (Whyte, 4). The anti-competitive collectivism created the new concept associated with functional specialization. The American dream does not exist today following that initially, American dream was rooted from the declaration of independence and the founding fathers asserted that every being should have unalienable rights (Whyte, 6). The government was given the role of defending the rights. The dream does not exist since many have not achieved what they hoped for.
Discussion 4
During the Vietnam War, U.S had strong policies against the Soviet Union and it had a strong military to support South Vietnam. The U.S should not have been involved in the war because the internal conflict of Vietnam did not affect US government (Daum et al, 175). U.S invaded North Vietnam for the purpose of showing their dominant power but they were not supportive since the batter was unwinnable. Both American and Vietnam military were killed since the U.S soldiers were not prepared for the battle. Our current military situation in Middle East has a strong presence and it is well known as the powerful military in Middle East. U.S has deployed a large number with a high level of preparedness. The military uses ‘twin pillar’ strategy in providing security against the Soviet Union (Daum et al, 175). The military in the Middle East is well trained and they have the personal power in fighting the crime. The Armed forces play a major role of maintaining security and defending the country from violence attack. However, the Vietnam military is weak due to lack of effective leadership and coordination. They lack man power strength and the Air Force is inadequate (Daum et al, 178).
Discussion 5
The Soviet had more power and Reagan was interested in removing the ‘evil empire’ which was associated with communism and democracy (McCallister, 3). Reagan used strategic ways of removing the communism and first he ensured that U.S gets the same resources as Soviets. For example, Soviets had missile and bomber design and he ensured that U.S had the same. Then, Reagan realized that Soviet had a weak economy and planned to strengthen his military. Soviets were interested in maintaining the equilibrium by creating a massive military (McCallister, 5). However, its attempt to build a military destabilized the Soviet system as a result f using domestic budget to military purposes. Second, he reinforced the anticommunist insurgencies, democracy and freedom and people rejected the communism (McCallister, 6).
Work cited
Wainstock, Dennis D. The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb: Hiroshima and Nagasaki: August 1945.
New York: Enigma Books, 2010. Internet resource.
Phillips, Steve. The Cold War: Conflict in Europe and Asia. Oxford: Heinemann, 2001. Print.
Whyte, William H. The Organization Man. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2002. Internet
resource.
McCallister, Gerald. Ronald Reagan's Influence on the Fall of the Soviet Union. , 2006. Print.
Daum, Andreas W, Lloyd C. Gardner, and Wilfried Mausbach. America, the Vietnam War, and the World:
Comparative and International Perspectives. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2003.
Print.
