Lines 148–161: Why does King provide so much detail about the political history of Vietnam? Evaluate whether these facts support his central idea. CITE EVIDENCE. Lines 148-161: After the French were defeated, it looked as if independence and
land reform would come again through the Geneva Agreement. But
instead there came the United States, determined that H0 should
not unify the temporarily divided nation, and the peasants watched
again as we supported one of the most vicious modern dictators, our
chosen man, Premier Diem. The peasants watched and cringed as
Diem ruthlessly rooted out all opposition, supported their extortionist
landlords, and refused even to discuss reunification with the North.
The peasants watched as all of this was presided over by United States
influence and then by increasing numbers of United States troops who
came to help quell the insurgency that Diem’s methods had aroused.
When Diem was overthrown they may have been happy, but the long
line of military dictators seemed to offer no real change, especially in
terms of their need for land and peace.