Vietnamese Communism: Its Origins and Development (Hoover Institutions Publications, 143) [Hardcover]

Robert F. Turner (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 517 pages
• Publisher: Hoover Institution Press; 1st edition (April 1975)
• ISBN-10: 0817964312
• ISBN-13: 978-0817964313
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,268,606 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We Needed This in the 50's and 60's!, February 24, 2000

By 

Harold Y. Grooms (Prattville, AL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vietnamese Communism: Its Origins and Development (Hoover Institutions Publications, 143) (Hardcover)

Professor Robert F. Turner's book, Vietnamese Communism: Its Origins and Development is the complete account of the rise of the Communist Party in Vietnam from an obscure and unpopular political group, to its current status as the ruling elite of Vietnam. In it, he chronicles Ho Chi Minh's career, highlighting his left-wing political activities in France, his appointment as a Comintern agent, and his ruthless tactics in seizing power by eleminating all potential opposition. His ingenious use of French reward money to both eleminate his opposition and finance his communist revolution would have made his heros, Lenin and Stalin proud!

Professor Turner also describes Ho Chi Minh's involvement in "fighting" the Japanese in WWII. The popular misconception that he actively and effectively fought the Japanese is exposed as a myth.

Communist tactics are described in detail. In short, they followed the Marxist-Leninist line to make any compromise to gain advantage. Appeal to religion, patriotism, nationalism, or desire for land-reform. The end justifies the means by which it is obtained! Later, if and when these groups have outlived their usefulness, they can, and were, denounced as, "enemies of the revolution," and executed. Methods of population control and Communist Party organization sturctures down to villiage level are shown which effectively prevented a counter-revolution.

Professor Turner also describes the delicate dance Ho was compelled to perform, flirting with both Moscow and Peking to insure their continued support. It was here that the U.S. missed a golden opportunity to end the war before it assumed the monsterous proportions it finally achieved. Students of international relations should read this section carefully.

Finally, he describes the "victory" won by the Vietnamese over both France and the U.S. For their efforts the people have been given the "benefits" of collectivized industry and agriculture. Collectivization has produced the same results in Vietnam it has produced elsewhere: inadequate supplies of the most basic needs of society. The ruling class lives well while the masses remain impoverished.

German philosopher Carl von Clausewitz stated in his classic treatise, "On War," . . .intelligence . . .means every sort of information about the enemy and his country. . .forms the basis of our actions." The type of intelligence provided by Professor Turner was completely lacking during Vietnam. It is no wonder our plans and operations suffered accordingly.

Sun Tzu said: "War is of vital importance to the state; the province of life or death; the road to survival or ruin. It is mandatory that it be thoroughly studied." It was not studied before we entered Vietnam. 4 million people died needlessly as a result. The lesson to be learned it is, similar works should be consulted before ever commiting U.S. soldiers to war again.