Conditions of the Vietnam War Essay Example for Free

Conditions of the Vietnam War Essay When fighting in a war, the brave soldiers are not only up against their enemy, but also against the chaotic obstacles born on the battlefield. The constant noise of slaughter, the gut-wrenching weather and the omnipresent fear of death were all elements of war that the soldiers had to coexist with. The odds of walking home after a war are extremely rare and those who were lucky enough to survive were unlucky enough to have had witnessed indescribable scenes of blood and murder. Those who have confronted the wrath of war are left psychologically traumatised and mentally unstable. The fighting conditions during the Vietnam War were excruciatingly tough. The Australian and American troops were forced to fight in a variety of weathers, including the tropical rains and blazing heat. Fighting in environments and conditions they were not yet accustomed to, they were drained of their energy and were demanded high levels of endurance. For some soldiers, the dry season was particularly difficult to fight in. they were required to fight through a haze of dust that penetrated their clothing, filled their pores and worked its way through their eyes and ears, resulting in conjunctivitis and ear infections. One soldier stated, â€Å"It can be a test of human endeavour inside a noisy metal box all day in forty degree heat, with eighty per cent relative humidity and no one has showered for a week.† Soldiers fought with damages to their bodies such as blisters, sunburn and dehydration, making it very difficult to move around and fight to the best of their ability. Other difficulties they faced were the threat of diseases such as malaria and dysentery which is caused by lack of sanitation and dehydration. Spiders, poisonous centipedes, snakes and leeches were some of the deadly creatures the soldiers tried their hardest to avoid. Proper food and clean water was very difficult to obtain as well. Soldiers ate from used cans and drank from dirt covered drink bottles. In a land where the ground explodes and it rains bullets, death is inevitable. Soldiers would be knee-deep in massacre and the vicinity would be infested with the body parts of comrade soldiers. War does not give time for soldiers to grieve and is constantly tainting the earth in the colour of red. Witnessing the death of a comrade is one thing, but to have to crawl, walk and run knowing that you may die a gruesome death at any moment is just as painfully terrifying. Soldiers who survived the Vietnam war were diagnosed with permanent paranoia and insanity. Whilst fighting an enemy on the battlefield, soldiers must simultaneously fight fear in their minds. Guerrilla Warfare During the Vietnam War, Guerrilla tactics were being put into action. Guerrilla Warfare consisted of small surprise attacks and ambushes instead of operating in major gunfire battles. Setting up booby-traps and tripwires were the preferred option as well as digging up complicated systems of underground tunnels in and around small villages. The Vietcong had the home field advantage, they used the rough terrain, thick forests and uneven landscape to their advantage against the American soldiers as they were unfamiliar to such difficult landforms. The Vietcong used their intelligence and stealth to outsmart the Americans and win the war. They did not wear any uniform so the Americans only saw them as ‘villagers with guns’. The Vietcong would also hide behind innocent civilians and use them as a shield against their enemy. They would also dig up American land mines and use the explosives as bombs of their own. Hit-and-run attacks were common and very effective in the fight against the Americans. With dangerous deft, the Vietcong would stealthy attack the Americans and leave before risking capture- incorporating the element of surprise. The Vietcong would escape through a complex network of underground tunnels, oblivious to the Americans. At the start of the war, the American soldiers had no idea of the tunnels’ existence and their unawareness produced great advantage to the Vietcong. The most extensive of the tunnel system laid in the ‘Iron Triangle’ in the Cu Chi distract, which covered approximately 400 kilometres. The Americans highly relied on their helicopters to combat the Vietcong’s skilfully hidden death traps. However, the Vietcong turned to heavy machinery as a form of retaliation against the American’s aerial attacks. The Vietcong would set up multiple booby-traps, hidden among the jungle floor of the forests. Majority of the booby-traps were covered in poison and venom which will increase the risk of infection. Some booby traps that were crafted and handmade by the Vietnamese villagers included: * The Bear Trap- when stepped on would fiercely clutch one’s foot by impaling it with sharp claws * Grenade Traps- a grenade strapped to a tripwire which will instantly explode, leaving no time to escape when triggered * ‘Bouncing Betty’- designed to cut someone in half, when stepped on would result in either paralysis or the complete amputation of a limb * Foot Trap- a hole that was dug knee deep and planted with stakes coated in poison pointing downwards, making it unescapable * Tiger Pit/ Punji Spike Pit- a hole approximately 5-6 feet deep, with the bottom covered in piercing, venomous stakes. It also has a grenade lying in await to ambush those who try to escape The fighting conditions in the Vietnam war were inhumane for both parties. Soldiers put their bodies through irritatingly uncomfortable situations and fought in fearsome scenarios, all whilst trying to keep their limbs intact. Battles arose within battles, whether it be the vicious weather or the unshakable fear of death, soldiers endured an admirable amount of physical and mental struggle. The rage of the Vietnam War claimed many courageous lives and defiled the minds of those who were able to walk away with the luxury of breath. Bibliography * http://vietnamawbb.weebly.com/guerrilla-warfare-and-war-of-attrition.html * http://history1900s.about.com/od/vietnamwar/a/vietnamwar.htm * http://www.pbs.org/battlefieldvietnam/guerrilla/index.html * http://www.vietnam-war.0catch.com/vietnam_war_nature.htm * http://vietnam-war.commemoration.gov.au/combat/viet-cong-tunnels.php * http://www.securenet.net/3rdbn5th/mike35/booby.htm * http://www.echo23marines6569.org/BoobyTraps.html * http://vietnam-war.commemoration.gov.au/armour/conditions.php * https://session.wikispaces.com/1/auth/auth?authToken=03a2e4971076358d2188756c8108eb2b5

Neural Networks Essay -- Artificial Intelligence Technology

Neural Networks Abstract This paper will provide an introductory level discussion of neural networks within the field of artificial intelligence. This discussion will briefly cover the history of the neural network as well as recent advances within this field. In addition, several real world applications of neural networks will be discussed. Introduction The primary goal in the field of artificial intelligence is to construct a machine with an intellect comparable to that of a human. This pursuit of an artificial intelligence has had a long history. Several different approaches have been attempted as a result of this goal. In particular, the study of neural networks has evolved from this pursuit for an intelligent machine. The field of neural networks involves a new approach to computing that uses mathematical structures with the ability to learn (Zsolutions). These methods were inspired by investigations into modeling nervous system learning (Zsolutions). For example, neurons in the human brain are used to transmit data back and forth to each other. Artificial neural networks use this same technique to process various kinds of information (Fu, p 4). There are a wide variety of applications in which neural networks can be utilized. Primarily, they should be used in areas where standard techniques fail to give satisfactory results (Zsolutions). Neural networks are applied best in situations where information needs to be determined faster and with more efficiency. In addition, neural networks outperform other artificial intelligence approaches in areas where more detail can be learned from inputted data (Zsolutions). Discussion The technology of neural networks has been in existence for approximately forty years ... ...dapt as more data is input into the network. The recent advances within the field of neural networks are just beginning of what may potentially become the solution to creating a truly intelligent machine. The success that neural networks have had in the few areas that have implemented it should be enough to make others realize the strength of a neural network. As neural networks grow in popularity, so too will the advancements in the field. In my opinion, neural networks will eventually be the driving force behind all artificial intelligence attempts. Bibliography 1. Fu, Limin. Neural Networks In Computer Intelligence. McGraw-Hill Inc. 1994. 2. http://www.cio.com/archive/cio_011596_neural_feature.html 3. http://www.inc.com/beyondthemag/between_the_pages/neural.html 4. http://www.merlin.com.au/brain_proj/neur_net.htm 5. http://www.zsolutions.com/

Religious Fundamentalism Essay

To what extent is it true that religious fundamentalism arose as a reaction to the influences of the West? It is true to the large extent that religious fundamentalism arose as a reaction to the influences of the West due to US backing for Shah, Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the support for the Mujahedeen. However, Western influence may not be the only factor as globalisation and the failure of modernization and secularization also play a part in the rise of religious fundamentalism. At that point of time, many Islamist organizations define themselves in opposition to the West, and particularly the United States, especially as the latter’s foreign policy has become ever more interventionist in the region. The death of the democracy in Arab states in combination with the collaboration between the US government and many regimes in the Middle East prevented certain opposition groups from expressing themselves. In effect, they have no say in the running of their countries. As a result, they turn to religion for divine validation. The emergence of the overly anti-American Islamic Republic of Iran reflected the wave of popular discontent with US interference and influence throughout the region. The shah was restores to power by an army coup inspired and paid by the US and the UK, despite his lack of popular support. He pressed on with his ‘White Revolution’, which was ever more dependent of Western capital and political leadership. Therefore, due to US backing of the Shah, it provided aids and military supply to him thus making Iranian to resent the Shah and leading to the rise of religious groups. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan triggered international jihadism. As Muslims around the world, from the Middle East, Southeast Asia in the West volunteered to join the armed struggle. US and Saudi Arabia recruited Muslim volunteers around the world to aid in the jihad with the Soviets. The Afghan experience encouraged individuals such as Osama Bin Laden and Muslim states such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Pakistan to use religious justifications for armed conflict. As the withdrawal of the Soviet Union mythologized as an ‘Islamic’ victory against a secular superpower and strengthened militant  Islamism as an active, energized doctrine through which Islamic political aspirations could be attained. When other Muslims saw this victory, then began to want to be part of the Jihad and thus leading them to creating their own religious fundamentalist group. Therefore, due to the West influence of recruiting Muslim volunteer around the world to go to war, it actually influence s the Muslim and thus leading to the rise of religious fundamentalism. US supports for the mujahedeen in the Afghan war also lead to the rise of the religious fundamentalism. In its fight against the USSR, US not only trained the religiously influenced Mujahedeen elements but also provided arms, economic aid and gave diplomatic support for the Islamic fundamentalist. The jihadi mind set, propagated through training centres throughout the region, began to spread and gain credibility faster than the US had foreseen. The short-sighted nature of American foreign policy in this period helped to create the forces and leadership structures of militant Islamism, forces that emerged as the greatest challenge to US hegemony in the post-Cold War World. The American willingness to fund resistance movements created a cadre of professionally trained, combat-ready Islamists. As a result of its involvement in Afghanistan, the US inadvertently assisted in the creation of a network of highly trained militant. For instance, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the consequent US support for the Islamic militants led to the rise of Taliban in Afghanistan. Taliban spread its ideology to various other regions and as a result, there came into existence a number of organizations and groups championing the ideology of Jihad and other forms of extremist religious forms in different parts of the world. On the flip side, western influence is not the only factor that leads to the rise of religious fundamentalism as the effect of globalisation also plays a part in creating religious groups. In countries that combine some modernization with little or no democratization, religious fundamentalists experience official opposition. They may enjoy an increased capacity to formulate their own agenda and mobilize resources, but have little or no opportunity to promote that agenda in the formal political process. Consequently, regions of the world that have experienced some modernization, little democratization and the widespread diffusion of militant political theologies have produced  radical religious movements such as Al Qaeda and Hezbollah. Globalization increased the capacity of religious actors to project influence, mobilize resources and attract followers across national boundaries. For example, millions of Christian around the world circulated bulletins via email and the internet detailing how their fellow believers were persecuted in far-flung, obscure locales like Orissa in eastern India, Kaduna in Nigeria and Sulawesi in Indonesia. Therefore, due to globalization it then leads to the rise of religious fundamentalism as through globalisation it has made the world a smaller place. An effect of modernization and secularization is another factor that leads to the rise of religious fundamentalism. Modernization, be it gradual or rapid has challenge the religious tradition. Contemporary Islamic fundamentalists incline towards aggressive, politicized and ‘purified’ version of Islamic theology – such as Sharia, argued that the root of mounting social problems in Islamic societies lies in a lack of religious fidelity, corrupting â€Å"secular† elites, ceding to Western manipulation and the absence of a strong universal Islamic community. Christian fundamentalist have made extensive use of political action to promote traditional biblical values and beliefs in the US society, to recreate the US as a Christian nation. Among the governmental secular measure that helped arouse Christian fundamentalism un the US were the proposed Equal Rights Amendment and some key Supreme Court measures, especially the outlawing of prayer in the public schools in 1962 and the granting of abortion rights in 1973. Fundamentalist Christian believes that the Bible forbids abortion and that outlawing the school prayer is an abomination. Therefore, due to the failure of modernization it actually leads to the rise of religious fundamentalism. In conclusion, Western influence plays a big role in the rise of religious fundamentalism. However, the effects of globalisation and the failure of modernization also is one of the factors in the rise of religious fundamentalism.

Did Cold War Confrontation Become Inevitable - 764 Words

No. 1051142 Essay in response to Question 6: When, if ever, did Cold War confrontation become inevitable? Crossing the Threshold: the Inevitability of the Cold War Cold War confrontation became inevitable at 7:00 a.m. on August 29, 1949. However, before embarking on detailed examination as to the date at which the threshold of Cold War inevitability was crossed, it’s necessary to first solidify our understanding of why the threshold was crossed. While it may be easy to assume that the world entered an inescapable trajectory toward Cold War on the day in September of 1864 when Karl Marx appeared at St. Martin’s Meeting Hall to address the assembly of the International Workingmen’s Association, analyzing the Cold War through a lens of opposing ideologies does not provide a satisfactory historical perspective that is reconcilable with later events. It is our belief that the Cold War, in fact, represented the apex of a bipolar stalemate and could have existed even in the absence of an ideological hinge. The threshold of inevitability should, therefore, be seen as that date on which the power of the United States and Soviet Union achieved equilibrium, while the relative power of the rest of the world’s major states faded into shadow. Ideological Views on Cold War Origins The dominant viewpoints that ascribe an ideological inevitability to the Cold War can generally be divided into three camps: Orthodox, Revisionist, and Post-Revisionist. The Orthodox perspectiveShow MoreRelatedThe Cold War And The Soviet Union1462 Words   |  6 PagesWhen the term â€Å"Cold War† was popularised to refer to post-war tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union, interpreting the course and origins of the conflict became a source of heated controversy among historians. 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