At the time of America's involvement in the war in Indochina, much of American foreign policy was seen from the point of view of the Cold War; the ultimate victory of the United States over the Soviet Union, Capitalism over Communism and the United States acting on behalf of the `free' people of the world. After 1945 and the end of the Second World War, America had emerged as a dominant power and triggered the development of an American ideal. This ideal was based on national pride, built up on the reality that the United States had never lost an open conflict war and their great economic and technological superiority. This developed into a feeling of responsibility for the protection of liberties, the containment of communism and to act as an example of the perfect democracy for the rest of the world to follow. This American dream was to...