The Making of a Quagmire - Book Report/Review Example

In fact, the unrelenting existence of the American soldiers in the pretext of offering reinforcement and support for the Southern Vietnamese who were being attacked by the North inspired to Vietnam’s the need for sovereignty. Moreover, their brutality on the locals’ property and families further stirred the locals to join hands to drive the common foe away from their territory (p. 12). The fact that they also had a lot at stake compared to the Americans, this made them even more determined to win the struggle.

One person in Halberstam’s the making of quagmire worth mentioning is one Madam Ngo Dinh Nhu, the wife of Ngo Dinh the South Vietnam leader. Due to her mannerisms and behavior, she earned the title “dragon lady”. Her ruthlessness and insensitivity are evident in the adoption of an imperious manner and insensitivity as well as uncaring attitude toward anyone or anything outside the ruling family clique. Indeed, the majority of the Vietnamese considered her as the sex-dictatress.

On a positive note, she can be regarded as a determined woman, who instead of watching her husband and his brother running the country, she is in the forefront of establishing her own female militia, the Women’s Solidarity Movement (p. 32). The book also brings to the reader’s realization that the women behind men in political power are often sources of power themselves. Madame Nhu also seems to portray the picture of a hypocritical leader’s wife who uses her position to jeopardize and intimidate the public.

In fact, Halberstam (p. 32) indicates that presents that “there was a cabinet, whose ministers had responsibility but no power and who lived in mortal fear of Madame Nhu”. An insightful analysis shows that the only party that revealed the truth and was right about the nature of the Vietnam War was the press, Halberstam included.