> My recollection may be faulty, but as best I can recall, there were
> off-shore oil reserves of some potential that were discussed within the left
> during the war as one of the motivations for continued U.S. involvement. I
> could be wrong about that.
>
If you read the Pentagon Papers you don't have to speculate. Under Eisenhower and Kennedy, US policymakers mentioned various natural resources in Vietnam as reasons for interest in the goings on there among other concerns, includinbg mainly strategic location. By the time of the Johnson escaltion, the reasons mentioned for massive US involvement are pithily summed up as roughly this: 80%, save face, 15%, stop communism, 5%, help our Vietnese alalies have a better, freer life.
--jks