World Events

Abstract

The year 1965 presented almost every statesman in almost every country with an accomplished fact: Washington possessed awesome fire-power which it was prepared to use anywhere on earth to protect "American interests." At the moment, American interests included peace and order (Washington style) in Latin America, the consolidation of United States military power in the Pacific, and the gradual military reoccupation of Asia. Pursuing these interests in 1965, Washington, without even a nod to the Organization of American States, sent 20,000 Marines into the tiny Dominican Republic. Without a "by your leave" and without a declaration of war, Washington mobilized "the mightiest armada on earth" (the Seventh Fleet), followed by armies of 200,000, to pulverize and pacify first South and then North Vietnam.

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